SCRA Technology Ventures Announces New SC Launch Companies
September 24, 2014
Five Companies, One Resource Partner Accepted into Program
COLUMBIA, SC – SCRA Technology Ventures today announced the acceptance of five new companies and one new Resource Partner into its SC Launch Program. Charleston-area companies NanoScreen, MedAlly and Leukogene Therapeutics, Greenville-area company College Select and Columbia-area company PPI Pharmaceuticals became client companies this month
College Select is a simple to use, step-by-step, web-based technology that automates the college planning process. Maintained on any device, College Select has a proven methodology that enables families to take advantage of all possible means of funding for their child’s college education. College Select provides an efficient structure that allows all students and families to take ownership of their college preparation, further simplifying the planning process.”
Leukogene Therapeutics Inc. (LTI) is an oncology drug discovery and development company focused on developing the next generation of treatments for patients with incurable blood cancers like Multiple Myeloma.
Med-Ally is a design, development and high volume manufacturer of active medical devices. The company has developed VersaStim® neuromodulation platform systems to treat a variety of therapeutic indications. Med-Ally leverages and enhances their engineered technology by partnering with companies, medical practitioners and clinical researchers to introduce new therapeutic indications globally.
NanoScreen creates and delivers high value solutions for the Life Sciences. The Hanahan-area company has 15 employees that develop user-centric, sensor-based and data-driven “Ambient Intelligence” solutions and laboratory automation systems for pharmaceutical drug discovery, cell culture and genetic testing applications.
PPI Pharmaceuticals has obtained an STTR award to advance REPLACE, a University of South Carolina-developed drug discovery technology, and apply it to molecular targets in cancer. This technology allows for pharmaceutical development against targets previously inaccessible through conventional methods and facilitates next generation cancer therapeutics.
Also joining the program as a Resource Partner is Counts & Huger, a general practice law firm located in Charleston, S.C. The corporate practice includes attorneys with both public and private company experience who focus on strategic transactions, contracts, disputes, corporate governance, start-ups and established businesses.
“We welcome these new companies to the SC Launch program,” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “The high caliber of companies in the program helps us fulfill our mission to grow South Carolina’s Knowledge Economy.”
SC Launch client companies are accepted into the economic development program and will receive mentoring and support services. Companies may be eligible to receive matching funding or larger investment funds. Resource Partner companies provide business support services to SC Launch companies.
ABOUT SCRA TECHNOLOGY VENTURES
SCRA Technology Ventures helps innovative companies grow and develop new technologies, creating jobs and advancing the Knowledge Economy throughout South Carolina. This SCRA business sector provides support and mentoring to early stage, start-up technology companies through its flagship SC Launch program. Since 2006, SCRA has deployed over $82 million in funding for entrepreneurs and infrastructure to support over 290 high-tech, early-stage enterprises. SCRA has directly invested over $19 million into the program’s top 71 South Carolina start-ups, attracting over $301 million in add-on, private investment. The sector also supports commercialization and growth by facilitating the transfer of intellectual property and accelerating the transition of inventions to the marketplace.
Multiple economic impact studies show SCRA’s cumulative output on South Carolina’s economy to be over $16.6 billion, and that the company has helped create approximately 15,000 technology-related jobs in the state, with annual wages averaging between $55,000 and $77,000.
