Winners Announced in the 15th Annual Utah Innovation Awards
Salt Lake City, UT — Eight innovations were announced as winners in the 15th annual Utah Innovation Awards, presented by Stoel Rives LLP and the Utah Technology Council. This statewide program, the first of its kind, recognizes innovations and the Utah companies that created them. The program is sponsored by Webb Audio Visual Communication, STEM Action Center of Utah, Utah Business Magazine, Grant Thornton, GENCOMM, Chase Busath Films, The Governor’s Office of Economic Development, The Leonardo, GoEngineer, USTAR, ConsultNet and BioUtah. Winners were announced during a sold out Awards Dinner April 20 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center.
The 2017 Utah Innovation Award winners are as follows:
CLEAN TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY
Vutiliti Pulse by Vutiliti
Vutiliti gathers and provides real-time information on utility usage (electric, gas, water, renewables) so that consumers, businesses, and governments can monitor and budget utility usage. Vutiliti’s mobile and web programs guide consumers to actual consumption reduction, saving them money while reducing usage of water, gas, and electricity generation.
COMPUTER HARDWARE/ELECTRICAL DEVICES
KiBand by Kilife Tech, Inc.
Kiband, developed by KiLife Tech, is different. We currently hold 2 patents pending and 1 provisional application for mobile proximity, mesh networking, and child safety. Kiband begins with BLE, then adds accelerometer data, machine learning, and multi-path fading technology to improve the resolution of radio proximity measurements by 12X. Allowing parents of small children to adjust mobile boundaries that alert both parent and child within about 4 feet of accuracy.
CONSUMER SOFTWARE
Taxzilla by Taxzilla
Taxzilla starts by gathering some basic information about you and how you earn your living. From there, we match you to CPA’s in your area who specialize in your line of work. Once you are matched, your CPA and Tax Team help you create goals and plans to make sure you can keep as much money as possible in your pocket. Taxzilla provides tools like receipt keeping, coaching and training to help you track on your goals week by week.
ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE, CLOUD AND BIG DATA
Lucidchart by Lucid Software, Inc.
Lucidchart is the web's leading diagramming and flowchart application. This intuitive, cloud-based solution is redefining the way people drive innovation through visual thinking and real-time collaboration. Lucidchart is utilized in over 175 countries by more than 10 million users.
LIFE SCIENCE: BIOTECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICAL
Computationally Intelligent Discovery Engine by Recursion Pharmaceuticals
Recursion Pharmaceuticals has combined the best elements of automated biology and artificial intelligence to create a computationally intelligent drug discovery platform that is capable of finding new drugs and new ways to use old drugs, while simultaneously working on many diseases in parallel.
LIFE SCIENCE: MEDICAL DEVICE
Xenocoscope by Xenocor
Each year, more than 7 million patients throughout the world undergo laparoscopic procedures, more than two million women undergo diagnostic hysteroscopies and more than a million patients undergo video assisted thoracoscopic procedures in the US alone. The benefits of such direct visualization laparoscopic techniques are well documented and include convenience, accuracy, and patient acceptability.
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS/CHEMICALS/MANUFACTURING
ProSlab 155 Automated Turf Harvester by FireFly Automatix, Inc.
The ProSlab 155 automated turf harvester leverages sophisticated controls to enable a hybrid of electric and hydraulic systems. It robotically cuts and stacks turfgrass with improved quality and less fuel. With GPS guidance and connectivity, it is literally on the cutting edge of agriculture.
OUTDOOR AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS
SNO-GO by SNO-GO
SNO-GO merges skiing with downhill mountain biking. The familiar motions of mountain-bike riding are paired with snow skis designed for all types of snow conditions, creating an experience for riders of any skill level.
A committee of approximately 80 professionals from private industry, government and higher education evaluated and voted on program finalists and winners. The more than 100+ nominations were put through a rigorous evaluation process during which committee members evaluated each innovation against a wide range of criteria addressing elements such as novelty, market need, market disruption and potential/current economic impact. Votes were tallied by the accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP.
400+ individuals attended the Awards Dinner at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center. The program receives support from the Association of Corporate Growth, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, MountainWest Capital Network; VentureCapital.org, and the Women Tech Council. For more information about the Utah Innovation Awards program please visit www.utahinnovationawards.com.
About Stoel Rives LLP: Stoel Rives is a leading U.S. corporate and litigation law firm. One of the largest national firms focused on energy, natural resources, environmental and climate change, Stoel Rives also serves the agribusiness, food and beverage, health care, life sciences and technology industries. With more than 350 attorneys operating out of 10 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia, Stoel Rives is a leader in regulatory and compliance matters, business, labor and employment law, intellectual property, land use, real estate development and construction law. For more information, follow us @stoelrives or visit www.stoel.com.
About Utah Technology Council: The Utah Technology Council is the essential resource for Utah’s over 5,200 science and technology companies seeking to develop management talent, improve Utah’s business environment and raise investment capital. Members can connect and share insights with industry peers, venture capital firms, professional service providers and government and academic leaders. Visit www.utahtechcouncil.org or call 801-568-3500.