TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Florida Venture Forum (http://www.floridaventureforum.org) has selected 19 Florida companies to present at the 21st annual Florida Venture Capital Conference, to be held at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, FL. on January 31 – February 1, 2012. Registration to attend is still open on the website at www.floridaventureforum.org.
The 19 presenting companies, some of Florida’s best early-stage prospects for equity financing, will make 12-minute presentations to an audience of venture capitalists, private equity investors, angel investors, investment bankers, financial intermediaries, service providers and entrepreneurs.
Following are the companies selected to present:
Central and East Central Florida
F4W (http://www.f4winc.com), Lake Mary: Is a developer of enhanced VoIP and Encrypted IP Communications software systems and is a provider of resilient and secure IP communication services. F4W software, systems and services that are simple, flexible, interoperable and affordable. F4W provides critical communication systems and services to Federal Agencies (NASA, FEMA, VA), Fortune 500 companies (BP, GEICO, Shell Oil,), Healthcare (Medical Centers in over 20 states), State and Local agencies (Texas, Illinois, Alabama, Los Angeles, Philadelphia).
JDCPhosphate (http://www.phosphatesustainability.com), Fort Meade: is an intellectual property company licensing its transformational, patented process for manufacturing phosphoric acid. This $30 billion industry has seen little technological change the past 50 years yet faces increasing challenges of scarcity, rising prices, and environmental hazards that parallel those in energy. JDCP’s process uses heat to liberate phosphorus in gas form from phosphate rock rather than mixing it with sulfuric acid. It has been proven in lab, batch and pilot testing and now JDCP will build a demonstration plant to validate the technology at commercial scale. JDCP’s management team has extensive, successful industry and start-up experience.
Nanotherapeutics, Inc. (http://www.nanotherapeutics.com), Alachua: is an eleven year old specialty pharmaceutical company focused on repurposing known compounds, either through indication expansion or reformulation, for infectious diseases, neurology, vaccines and oncology while utilizing proprietary drug delivery and manufacturing technologies in a highly efficient capital model with organic growth through product sales, government contracts and partnering acquired compounds. The company has secured over $100 million in government contracts since its inception and is actively looking for Series A investment partners and corporate partners for its late stage products.
Plansource (http:www.plansource.com) Orlando: helps employees discover and review benefit options with ease, as well as offer tools to help make complex benefit concepts and terminology simple. For Brokers, with the information and tools PLANSOURCE provides, navigating the evolving landscape of healthcare becomes second nature.
Quantum Technology Sciences, Inc. (QTSI) (http://www.qtsi.com), Cocoa Beach: Develops and markets next-generation sensor systems for use by commercial, industrial, military, and government organizations to safeguard highly valued assets and critical infrastructure. QTSI offers unique, extremely sensitive buried seismic-acoustic sensor systems capable of detecting, classifying, and locating intruders and security threats that cannot be seen or heard. Coupled with proprietary state-of-the-art automated analysis, QTSI systems decode the earth’s vibrations to identify threats in real time. QTSI’s groundbreaking security and surveillance systems leverage the expertise, intellectual property, and foundational systems cultivated from a decade of experience in developing advanced military grade seismic-acoustic global and tactical surveillance and reporting systems.
Rivian, (http://www.rivian.com , Rockledge: Is an automotive design, development and manufacturing company located in Brevard County, FL. Rivian is redefining what it means to be a green vehicle by providing a portfolio of vehicles with exhilarating performance, ultra-high efficiency, class leading safety and affordable pricing. The company has developed a highly flexible vehicle platform and manufacturing system that enables a reinvention of the way vehicles are designed, developed and produced. Rivian’s platform technology substantially reduces the significant capital that is typically required for vehicle production and enables a level of versatility not available in the industry today. The company’s platform flexibility allows for a variety of powertrain options including gasoline, diesel and plug-in hybrid.
Vmax Vision, Inc. (http://www.vmaxvision.com), Maitland: Is an eye care technology company with product offerings for an integrated vision correction system. Vmax Vision, (the Company) has developed and currently in market, a transformative technology. It provides a quality of vision beyond that attainable with traditional eye examinations and currently available eyeglass lenses. The company has accomplished this in the two most critical areas: offering the most accurate eye examination and high precision eyeglass lenses.
Northern Florida and Panhandle
Bing Energy International, (http://www.bingenergyinc.com), Tallahassee: Has started from the current state of the art in fuel cell technology and developed innovative new ways of manufacturing a superior “heart” for the fuel cell (the Membrane Electrode Assembly or MEA) in terms of performance, cost and reliability. The Company has developed the technology and is creating a 1kW fuel cell stack as a proof of concept. Based upon the outstanding performance and cost advantages they are achieving, BEI is now ready to scale up operations.
Southeast Florida
Consult a Doctor (http://www.consultadoctor.com), Miami Beach: The U.S. healthcare system is nearing a tipping point. Costs have gone out of control and now Healthcare Reform has passed and 48+ million new consumers are going to be covered by insurance. Studies show that universal coverage will not translate to having timely access to quality care. ER's will become more overused and crowded as access becomes rationed due to major shortages in primary care physicians. Waiting for an office appointment may take weeks or months. Access will be scarce and costs will continue to rise. Technology services like Consult A Doctor (CADR) offering Consumer-Driven Telemedicine, provide an innovative and powerful alternative and business model and position to take advantage of the crisis and flux in the healthcare marketplace by providing solutions that greatly reduce healthcare costs and increase access to physicians.
CoupTessa LLC (http://www.couptessa.com), Miami: is an internet firm providing daily discounted services to high end women, spas, salons, restaurants, fitness, local events and special experiences. The firm is focused exclusively on building a community of women who purchase the services being promoted by CoupTessa, at discounts of 50-90% off retail prices. This provides valuable new CoupTessa clients to local merchants in the 5 cities where they are located. In essence, the business model looks and behaves as if it were the equivalent of "Groupon for Women", only with a much more curated approach to marketing and advertising and customer service.
JumpStart Wireless Corporation (http://www.jumpstartwireless.com), Delray Beach: Provides custom business mobile apps without custom programming. Leveraging patented artificial intelligence technology, we deliver mission-critical mobile apps, for 1/10th the effort of conventional mobile app development, without programming, running on any mobile device. Customers pay $35 per user per month, with our costs at $1. We currently have 1000+ users and execute 600,000 mobile transactions per month, with production apps in use by Fortune 500 companies. The company provides custom business mobile apps without custom programming. Leveraging patented artificial intelligence technology, we deliver mission-critical mobile apps, for 1/10th the effort of conventional mobile app development, without programming, running on any mobile device.
Open English Services LLC (http://www.openenglish.com), Coconut Grove: is an online school created to reinvent the English language learning experience. The company serves a large and rapidly growing global market, initially targeting Spanish speakers in the Americas. Through live instruction with native English speaking teachers and multi-media learning content, all provided over the internet, Open English empowers students on their customized path to English fluency.
PRESENT e-Learning Systems (http://www.presentelearning.com), Boca Raton: is a medical education and communications company (MECC) that currently runs 3 public online education community websites for medical professionals and publishes educational programming and other original content to over 120,000 members. Founded in 2004, it was the first company to combine online multimedia medical education with social networking to create online education communities for healthcare professionals. In combining professional education with community, PRESENT has recreated the experience, online, that physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals are all familiar with experiencing live…that of attending a clinical medical conference.
Southwest Florida
Health Integrated (http://www.healthintegrated.com, Tampa: Delivers innovative health management solutions using a whole-patient approach. Their healthcare programs help members live healthier, more productive lives while enabling employers and health plans to reduce costs by deploying resources more effectively. Health Integrated confronts health, productivity and cost challenges by integrating behavioral health and behavior change into medical and disease management activities.
Laser Spine Institute (http://www.laserspineinstitute.com), Tampa: For those suffering from chronic back and neck pain, daily life can be a painful struggle. Even the most enjoyable activities can be difficult to partake in when every movement brings up unbearable pain and discomfort. It’s extremely common for patients to feel helpless, hopeless, depressed, and out of options when short-term remedies fail to provide relief, and pain medications cause unpleasant side effects. But Laser Spine Institute has great news – our advanced endoscopic procedures can help you rediscover your life without back and neck pain. Unlike open neck or back surgery, our minimally invasive procedures require an incision less than an inch in length. This means our procedures involve a much shorter recovery time than traditional back surgery, and in fact, many of our patients are back on their feet within an hour after their procedure. Laser Spine Institute performs more minimally invasive spine procedures every month than any other spine facility in the world.
Mad Mobile (http://www.madmobile.com), Tampa: The unique MAD-X platform enables companies to transform their current desktop websites to mobile-friendly websites with little or no support from their IT resources. Founded in 2010, Mad Mobile has quickly established itself as a mobile commerce leader by claiming key wins with major brands and retailers. Current clients include Pier 1 imports, Lenovo, Suzuki, TJ Maxx, Citi, Toshiba, Hunter Douglas, Kansas City Steaks, Claire’s, Western Digital, Café Press, Mattel and Panera Bread. Mad Mobile is led by mobile industry veterans and funded by angel investors.
Mustang Vacuum Systems, Inc. (http://www.MustangVac.com), Sarasota: Products include: PECVD metallizers, fast-cycle small batch sputtering equipment, and a full line of "Plug and Play" optical coating systems. The popular Colt 48® small batch fast-cycle dual-door sputtering machine incorporates both sputtering and an environmentally friendly topcoating process in a single chamber. It is designed to work in conjunction with an injection molding press with maximum efficiency, and supports the leanest manufacturing requirements. It has been enthusiastically received as a reliable and economical high-quality coating solution by companies in varying industries, from automotive lighting to decorative to solar cell production.
Postcard Services (http://www.postcardservices.com, Tampa: Is an award-winning technology & marketing company servicing both retail and wholesale distribution channels, whose product output happens to be web-to-print digitally printed direct mail. They develop and deploy automated patent pending technologies to monetize direct mail data for its customers. At both retail and wholesale levels, PCS empowers small to mid-size businesses to integrate their customer data, CRM, e-commerce and financial applications with on-demand direct mail marketing campaigns with reporting.
Quasar Bio-Tech Inc. (http://www.babyquasar.com), Sarasota: Manufacturers high end cosmetic devices for anti-aging skin care and acne. The company sells on-line through leading stores and premium retailers such as Neiman Marcus. In 1Q 2012, the company will launch a new line of cosmetic devices with mass market pricing as it enters the global markets.
About the Florida Venture Forum
The Florida Venture Forum, Inc. is Florida's oldest, largest and most prestigious statewide support group for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneurial networking group, the Florida Venture Forum educates entrepreneurs and assists them in identifying sources of venture capital. Created in 1984 by a group of high-level business leaders and academicians, the Florida Venture Forum helps ensure the success of Florida-based entrepreneurial ventures by offering expert counsel and educational advice. Throughout the year, the Florida Venture Forum provides programs on a statewide basis.
Each year, the Florida Venture Forum presents the Florida Venture Capital Conference, now in its 21st year. Florida's only statewide later stage Venture Capital Conference, the event has attracted more than $2 .6 billion dollars in venture capital funding for Florida-based companies since its inception.
For additional information and to register for the Conference, please call 813-335-8116 or visit the Web site at http://www.floridaventureforum.org.