{"132331":{"#nid":"132331","#data":{"type":"news","title":"ATDC Graduates Eight Companies at 2012 Showcase Event","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBuoyed by encouraging words from Georgia Tech officials, an economic development expert and Georgia\u2019s State Senate majority leader, eight local startup companies graduated from the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) on May 14. The graduation ceremonies were part of ATDC\u2019s 2012 Startup Showcase, held at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPart of Georgia Tech\u2019s Enterprise Innovation Institute, ATDC is a startup accelerator that helps Georgia entrepreneurs launch and build successful technology companies. Each year, member companies that have met rigorous growth milestones are selected to graduate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECalling ATDC \u201cthe flagship\u201d of the institute\u2019s economic development programs, Georgia Tech President G.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson praised the level of support the center offers emerging firms. \u201cSuccess is seldom a one-man enterprise,\u201d he said. \u201cThese companies can now go on to be tremendously successful.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStephen Fleming, a Georgia Tech vice president and executive director of the Enterprise Innovation Institute, outlined ATDC\u2019s history and noted the recent expansion of the entrepreneur-in-residence program, which gives member companies access to CEOs and others who have successfully created their own startup firms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are making use of a lot of the resources from our community,\u201d Fleming said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBill Cronin, vice president of economic development for Invest Atlanta, told the graduating firms they and other companies like them are a vital part of the city\u2019s business culture. \u201cLast year, the companies that were incubated at Georgia Tech directly represented $84 million annually to our local economy,\u201d Cronin said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is only a start, as these companies ripen and mature, they will make money and hopefully reinvest in their businesses and our economy,\u201d Cronin added. \u201cThey will cross-pollinate and create new strains of technology, industry hybrids and innovative business ideas.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EState Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), a 1991 graduate of Georgia Tech, said the eight firms are \u201ca microcosm of what America is all about: innovation, free markets and entrepreneurship.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENina Sawczuk, general manager of the ATDC, mentioned the two new community catalysts \u2013 Jennifer Bonnett and Chip Schooler \u2013 and detailed results of a new survey of ATDC member companies that indicated 98 percent of members would recommend the program to other startups.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2012 ATDC graduates included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3DM Systems\u003C\/strong\u003E (formerly ShapeStart Measurement Systems), which produces an in-ear, three-dimensional scanner for the digital design of custom hearing aids and ear molds.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAsankya\u003C\/strong\u003E (which has been acquired by EMC Corporation), a provider of technologies used by firms offering computer cloud storage.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAxion BioSystems\u003C\/strong\u003E, which makes products used for neural and cardiac toxicology testing and the screening of potential drug compounds by pharmaceutical companies.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBioAutomaton Systems Inc\u003C\/strong\u003E., which designs and manufactures patented automation systems for cost-effective propagation of transgenic tree seedlings.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECeltaxsys\u003C\/strong\u003E, which is focused on the discovery and development of therapeutics to treat inflammation by controlling innate immunity.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDigital Assent\u003C\/strong\u003E, whose technology delivers personalized health information and advertising to consumers in doctors\u2019 waiting rooms and at home.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPreparis\u003C\/strong\u003E, which provides a web-based series of services and apps that build corporate emergency preparedness and security.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESimpleC\u003C\/strong\u003E, which produces technologies that deliver cognitive therapies to those suffering from dementia.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOn the Floor\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGraduation wasn\u2019t the only component of the 2012 Startup Showcase. After the formal ceremony, event attendees moved to an exhibit hall featuring 45 ATDC member companies and Georgia Tech researchers displaying their products and technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteve Dickerson, founder and CEO of exhibitor SoftWear Automation, which produces technology that automates the sewing of garments, said his booth was experiencing a healthy amount of traffic.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also had praise for ATDC, from which two of his other startup companies have graduated. \u201cIt\u2019s the whole level of support [ATDC gives] you,\u201d Dickerson said. \u201cI\u2019ve leaned on ATDC to come up with everything from ideas on investors to company names. I\u2019m pretty darn pleased.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA half dozen Georgia Tech researchers also showed the technologies they were developing:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDouglas Cox, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering: Solar Car.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMaysam Ghovanloo, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Tongue Drive System.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETanya Marlow, School of Interactive Computing: Mobile Music Touch Glove.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJayant Ratti, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Robotic Insects.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPatricio Vela, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Robotic Arm.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGil Weinberg, Center for Music Technology: Robot Travis.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout ATDC\u003C\/strong\u003E: The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) serves as the hub for technology entrepreneurship in Georgia. Founded in 1980, ATDC helps Georgia entrepreneurs launch and build successful technology companies by providing coaching, connections, and community. Through business incubation and acceleration services, ATDC has supported the creation of hundreds of technology companies that together have raised more than a billion dollars in outside financing. Headquartered in Atlanta\u2019s Technology Square, ATDC members benefit from a close proximity to Georgia Tech and connections with other Georgia research universities. ATDC was named one of the \u201c10 technology incubators that are changing the world\u201d by Forbes Magazine in 2010.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 314\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAtlanta, Georgia 30308 USA\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Relations Contacts\u003C\/strong\u003E: John Toon (404-894-6986)(\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or Abby Robinson (404-385-3364)(\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:abby@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eabby@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: Stephen Ursery\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBuoyed by encouraging words from Georgia Tech officials, an economic development expert and Georgia\u2019s State Senate majority leader, eight local startup companies graduated from the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) on May 14. The graduation ceremonies were part of ATDC\u2019s 2012 Startup Showcase, held at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"ATDC, Georgia Tech\u0027s business incubator, graduated eight companies at its 2012 showcase event."}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2012-05-22 17:49:21","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:12:18","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2012-05-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2012-05-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"132301":{"id":"132301","type":"image","title":"ATDC 2012 Graduates","body":null,"created":"1449178659","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:37:39","changed":"1475894759","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:45:59","alt":"ATDC 2012 Graduates","file":{"fid":"194710","name":"atdc-2012-grads.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/atdc-2012-grads_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/atdc-2012-grads_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2046364,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/atdc-2012-grads_0.jpg?itok=dooLjMa7"}},"132311":{"id":"132311","type":"image","title":"ATDC 2012 Showcase - President Peterson","body":null,"created":"1449178659","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:37:39","changed":"1475894759","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:45:59","alt":"ATDC 2012 Showcase - President Peterson","file":{"fid":"194711","name":"peterson-remarks.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/peterson-remarks_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/peterson-remarks_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2288709,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/peterson-remarks_0.jpg?itok=LkcLdLel"}},"132321":{"id":"132321","type":"image","title":"ATDC 2912 Showcase - Dennis  Hayes","body":null,"created":"1449178659","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:37:39","changed":"1475894759","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:45:59","alt":"ATDC 2912 Showcase - Dennis  Hayes","file":{"fid":"194712","name":"hayes-peterson-fleming.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/hayes-peterson-fleming_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/hayes-peterson-fleming_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1476072,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/hayes-peterson-fleming_0.jpg?itok=kOoABpvX"}}},"media_ids":["132301","132311","132321"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"9193","name":"accelerator"},{"id":"4238","name":"atdc"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"4239","name":"incubator"},{"id":"167668","name":"Stephen Fleming"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(404) 894-6986\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jtoon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}