Grubstake Breakfast Recap

I attended Thursday’s interesting Grubstake Breakfast, hosted by the George Mason Business Alliance. The event included a diverse assortment of companies hoping to raise early stage funds.

Eye Controls
Eye Controls is a biometric identification company using iris scan technology. The company got its start selling iris scan technology to airports such as Heathrow, Frankfurt and Charlotte Douglas. They’ve since moved into the hospital market as a way to secure patient records, reduce benefit fraud and ensure that the selected medical record belongs to the right patient (apparently hospitals make this mistake 7% of the time).

Pixelligent Technologies
Pixelligent shared their new nanotechnology offering, which allows manufacturers to double the amount of transistors that can be placed on a single chip using a process called double-patterning (described by Dan Gordon of Valhalla as a “better goo” than what materials manufacturers are currently using). Though the product is not quite finished, they claim to be on track with their R&D goals. They’ve also received more than $2.5M in grants from NIST and NSF – and recruited an impressive roster of lithography specialists -- to aid in their R&D efforts.

Mingle360
Mingle360 allows users to electronically exchange identity information using a small keychain-sized device called the MingleStick. This technology allows users to better control and manage their contacts without exchanging business cards or fumbling for a pen and paper. Mingle360 is targeting tradeshows, association meetings – even dating events. The technology has been demonstrated at several events around the country including a recent Women in Technology event here in Tysons Corner.

SitScape
SitScape clearly differentiated itself as the presenter with the best buzz. As maker of the personal business dashboard, SitScape touts itself as the “iGoogle for business.” They presented at DEMO’s Fall ’08 show and have also been recognized by Red Herring and IDC.

ChicksWithKidz
Last but not least, ChicksWithKidz presented the first BDA or “baby data assistant” to help working parents monitor their children’s medical, sleeping and eating schedules. Their product, the BizzyBee, is in trials with the March of Dimes and St. Judes. It will be available for sale later this year.


- Katie Hanusik