Local Business
Venture Forum showcases inventions
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Highlighting cutting-edge technology from the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Venture Forum held a day-long Bricktown Capital Conference last week.
The Monday forum allowed those affiliated with the two major schools to showcase their inventions.
Prior to the luncheon, Mindy Young, OVF's executive director, said this portion of the day was a chance to "showcase the emerging technology" coming out of OSU and OU.
"Some are students, some are graduate assistants and some are professors," Young said. "They're trying to support and commercialize the new technological advancements."
Young continued, saying that this portion of the program helped "create awareness" of what entrepreneurial inventors are working on and developing at OU and OSU.
"All of the presenters are from Oklahoma-based companies," she said. "That's a requirement."
One company that got its start at OU in 1999 and is going strong today is Inoveon Corporation. Kerry Davis, representing Inoveon, said the company came out of the Dean McGee Eye Institute, affiliated with OU's Department of Ophthalmology.
Specifically, Davis said Inoveon's technology helps "detect, stage and monitor diseases affecting the eye." This, includes diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma.
"There is very low compliance among the diabetic population" when it comes to getting their eyes examined, Davis said. Many of the eye problems associated with diabetes are avoidable. With Inoveon' diagnostic service centers and their new mobile unit, Davis sees compliance among diabetics improving as they get yearly retinal evaluations and help prevent vision loss.
"There's lots of interest with the government," Davis said, noting the Veteran's Administration is particularly interested in Inoveon's innovative diagnostic technologies.
Another company to come out of OU is Base Velocity. Based in Norman, representative Mike Wolfenbarger explained that their invention, RadarScope, is available as an "app" for Apple iPhone's. RadarScope allows a person to view radial NexRad weather radar on an iPhone or iPod.
"It's a top seller among weather apps," Wolfenbarger said.
OSU's presence was highlighted as well. Their creations included the Novel Water Softening Company, created by Dr. Allen Apblett, associate professor of chemistry at OSU's Stillwater campus.
And then there was DAC Company, which also got its start at OSU, thanks to Dr. Alan Cheville, associate professor of electrical engineering at OSU's Stillwater campus. They invented a radio-frequency (RFID) device -- the RFID Soap Dispenser -- which monitors a hand washing count by individuals to promote hand washing among employees, particularly in restaurants.
And while the two universities were part of the OVF program, others were featured as well.
For more information about the Oklahoma Venture Forum, visit www.ovf.org.
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