Four companies headquartered in the KC Animal Health Corridor are among 18 young businesses that will present their innovative ideas and growth plans to hundreds of potential investors and partners during the annual Investment Forum.
The event, now in its ninth year, will take place Aug. 29 at the Kansas City Convention Center.
A representative from each of the 18 selected companies will have 15 minutes to introduce their animal health product or idea to a panel of judges and the audience. The “Shark Tank” format will end with a $10,000 check being awarded to the top presenting company, but each participant will gain something perhaps more valuable: exposure to executives and investors in the animal health world.
“In many cases, small companies are where new innovation comes from and this is really a place where you see them showcased,” said Investment Forum emcee Karthik Ramachandran, vice president and co-founder of regenerative medicine company Likarda LLC. “The forum is a unique chance to meet investors, network, and find mentors, advisers and potential partners. It gives entrepreneurs real resources they need to make their dreams reality.”
Back for a second time will be immunotherapy developer Prommune Inc. of Overland Park, Kansas. The forum’s organizer, the KC Animal Health Corridor, counts Prommune among past presenters that earned either investment funds, distribution contracts or other tangible benefits from their onstage performance.
This year, Prommune will try to sway judges and the audience with its plans for small, engineered peptides that target swine influenza by inducing natural immune stimulation without an inflammatory response.
The three other corridor residents presenting at the Investment Forum are:
- Heartland Farm Energy of Ashland, Missouri, which will showcase a technology designed to convert waste heat and moisture to energy in poultry barns.
- Hylapharm Animal Health of Lawrence, Kansas, which will discuss new treatments for cancer in dogs.
- Therio LLC of Manhattan, Kansas, which will explain its superovulatory agent for embryo transfer in cattle.
All 18 presenters are seeking $500,000 to $20 million in funding and have revenue projections of $20 million within five to seven years, according to KC Animal Health Corridor officials.
The other companies and their ideas are:
- Aquila Diagnostic Systems Inc. of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: molecular diagnostic platform designed to monitor livestock health without the need for invasive sampling.
- Auxthera LLC of Gainesville, Florida: prescription-only dog food supplement supporting weight loss.
- Babelbark of Newton, Massachusetts: cloud-based platform with mobile applications to connect pet owners, veterinarians and pet businesses.
- Future Pet Animal Health Inc. of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: software platform designed to automate client communication and intake for veterinary clinics.
- Klox Technologies Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland: proprietary platform designed to address unmet needs and improve patient platforms for animals with debilitating conditions.
- Neurocycle Therapeutics of Sheridan, Wyoming: treatment to provide immediate itch relief in dogs.
- Paradox Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee: chemotherapeutic agent for use in companion animals to overcome drug resistance.
- Principle Imaging Corp. of Bozeman, Montana: radiology utilizing two modalities to enable and automate deep body and orthopedic imaging.
- PupPod of Kirkland, Washington: computer for dogs.
- Sentier of Brookfield, Wisconsin: building upon Vetcorder, a pulse oximeter and ECG monitor, to incorporate at-home monitoring and new technologies.
- Stem Vita LLC of Escondido, California: stem cell factors designed for wound dressings, mucoadhesive films and tablets, eye drops and skin care products.
- Vet Innovations of Miami: tool to address pet obesity through portion-control system.
- ViroVet NV of Leuven, Belgium: anti-viral therapeutics and a line of innovative vaccines targeting livestock disease.
- Vitamfero S.A. of Angers, France: solutions for undermet needs against diseases such as bovine neosporosis and neonatal infections in ruminants and chicks.