The G2M accelerator provides advanced training, business resources and services to support Iowa startups developing innovative, technology-driven products or services
DES MOINES, Iowa (August 7, 2023) — BioConnect Iowa and its partners announced today that an Ames-based company is taking part in the fifth cohort of the Iowa Go-To-Market (G2M) Accelerator.
Enceinte Health is developing a software/hardware solution for skilling nursing facilities by building a convenient retrofit kit for bathroom and bedside commodes. The kit integrates weight sensors and audio/video media sensors to automatically collect body weight, bowel, and bladder information for each resident, and provides care staff with complete, accurate and timely data for early identification of potential health issues.
The G2M Accelerator is enabled by a grant to BioConnect Iowa and its partners, VentureNet Iowa and ISU Startup Factory, from the US Economic Development Administration.
“There are many definitions for the word innovation,” said Peter Hong, director of the ISU Startup Factory. “Enceinte Health’s solution to the diagnosis and prevention of serious health problems fits many of those definitions. By recording three bodily functions using existing components combined in a unique way, the company seeks to provide healthcare workers with the data needed to diagnose and prevent the need for costly treatment of diseases that often prove fatal if left unchecked. G2M is providing the Enceinte Health team with the necessary strategic input and network of investors and business service providers to ensure the team successfully navigates the path to full commercialization.”
The accelerator is specifically designed to support Iowa companies developing technology-driven innovative products or services that have participated in another incubator, accelerator, or business assistance program, but could benefit from additional focused, customized guidance getting to market.
“We’re proud to partner with ISU Startup Factory and VentureNet Iowa to cultivate an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship thrive in Iowa,” said Steve Brody, President and CEO of BioConnect Iowa. “As part of a comprehensive strategy to support innovation in Iowa, in partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and others, BioConnect Iowa has been very deliberate in supporting a number of efforts, such as the Iowa G2M Accelerator, to advance and sustain the commercialization of technological advancements.”
The G2M Accelerator now offers three start dates each year. Registration is now open for the sixth cohort set to begin in September. Cohort members will participate in group workshops, receive one-on-one mentorship and benefit from pro bono business support in a range of areas, including law, finance, branding, marketing, HR and recruiting. For more information or to apply, visit iowag2m.org.
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About BioConnect Iowa
BioConnect Iowa works with innovators and entrepreneurs statewide to create a homegrown bioscience industry that is second to none.
Together with the Iowa Go-To-Market program, BioConnect Iowa administers the state’s Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Outreach Program, providing a gateway to federal funding dollars through America’s Seed Fund Program.
BioConnect Iowa’s goal is to support Iowa’s world-class researchers and innovators on their path towards commercialization in a global marketplace. For more information on BioConnect Iowa, visit bioconnectiowa.org.
About Iowa G2M
The Iowa Go-To-Market (G2M) Accelerator program, a partnership between BioConnect Iowa, the Iowa State University Startup Factory, and VentureNet Iowa, seeks to provide follow-on support for Iowa entrepreneurs who are developing technology-driven innovative products or services and need additional support to increase their likelihood of commercial success. The program provides entrepreneurs advanced training in sales, marketing, corporate development, and finance, and facilitates connections with support services and providers across Iowa. For more information on G2M, visit iowag2m.org.
About VentureNet Iowa
VentureNet Iowa connects ideas to resources, management, and investors, to create jobs and build businesses in Iowa. VentureNet Iowa administers Iowa’s Public Innovation Funds, a series of low interest loans for early stage, Iowa-based small businesses commercializing proprietary technology in the IT, bioscience and advanced manufacturing sectors. For more information on VentureNet Iowa, visit venturenetiowa.com.
About ISU Startup Factory
The Iowa State University (ISU) Startup Factory is an 18-week incubator program operated by the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs in the ISU Startup Factory receive formal training, resources, and access to a network of business mentors, with the focus of helping them advance from “tech speak” to “business speak”. For more information on the ISU Startup Factory program, visit isustartupfactory.org.
Contact:
Steve Brody
515-322-7928, steve.brody@bioconnectiowa.org
BioConnect Iowa
666 Walnut St., Suite 1285
Des Moines, IA
