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Research for our original business plan suggested that Northeast
Ohio and the surrounding region could be expected to generate
and attract high quality businesses in life sciences, technology,
and materials—particularly with a manufacturing component.
This has proven to be the case. We envisioned that we would
deploy about one-third of our capital in each sector, and
that is what we have done.
Life Sciences | Technology | Materials
Life Sciences
Life science companies require more capital and time to get
to market than other companies. For this reason, we have invested
in fewer individual life science companies, but have deployed
as much capital.
AxioMed Spine Corporation was formed to develop surgically
implantable spinal products and spinal implant instruments
to treat degenerative disc disease and other diseases or
traumatic injuries of the spine. AxioMed Spine is focused
on the restoration of the spine’s normal mobility while
relieving chronic back pain. The company was founded in 2001
by James Kuras and Charles Birchall, entrepreneurs with over
20 years of combined experience in the development of spinal
implant products.
Imalux is developing imaging devices based on optical coherence tomography, a
fundamentally new modality that uses infrared light to provide high-resolution
medical images. The new technology is particularly good for rapid examination
of soft tissue in the detection of carcinoma and in the definition of the borders
of a tumor.
Simbionix' mission is to become a leader in computer assisted endoscopy.
The company is striving to set the standard for minimally invasive surgical
training and performance for the 21st century. Moving toward this goal, Simbionix
Training Division is active in the development and sale of medical training
simulators for endoscopy. The Clinical Division, which was launched in 2000,
is developing computerized video systems that will provide the surgeon with
improved ergonomics and safety in endoscopic procedures, thereby transforming
the operating room, as we know it today.
Technology
Early Stage Partners has developed significant expertise in evaluating and investing
in technology companies, particularly enterprise software and hosted software.
Among the exciting companies in our technology portfolio are:
Ayalogic has created the pioneering product Imvox, an enterprise-class,
universal, secure press-to-talk messaging system. Imvox enables
voice and data messages to be sent from PC to PC or from
PC to phone.
TOA Technologies provides the hosted software product ETAdirect
to tier 1 companies in the telecommunications industry.
Unitask creates, sells and supports software products to
users of Oracle’s e-Business Suite to eliminate implementation
and operational risk, improve the quality of the application
and accelerate the time-to-value of their investment.
NineSigma identifies, qualifies, and matches R&D buyers
and suppliers. In an era of increasing outsourcing, Nine
Sigma helps organizations find the best research and development
partners to supply R&D or buy their research capabilities.
The company's deep experience within the R&D community has
resulted in Internet-based solutions that enable corporate
R&D functions to shorten internal development time by sourcing
leading edge science and technology.
Convenient, professional computer and technology service
is what PC On Call is all about. Our commitment to quality
and reliability is the hallmark of our business and your
assurance of a job well done. Whether you need strategic
technology solutions for your business network or repairs
and upgrades at home, PC On Call is always ready to assist
you. In fact, we're the leading partner to small and medium-sized
businesses for outsourced IT services, computer hardware
and upgrades. Our certified technical teams are trained to
optimize the performance of your computer technology system
- anytime, anywhere.
PROCURI provides self-service strategic e-sourcing solutions
to Global 1000 companies. Procuri offers a range of collaboration,
automation and negotiation features on a single Web-based
platform. Using the unified Procuri solution, customers can
streamline their entire strategic sourcing process and institutionalize
best sourcing practices throughout the enterprise. Procuri’s
customers includs industry leaders such as Eastman Kodak,
Procter & Gamble, and Scientific-Atlanta.
Secure Interiors
provides managed network monitoring and security services
that enable today's Internet-connected businesses to operate
online safely. The company focuses on the small and medium
sized enterprises, providing a level of security previously
available only to corporations that could afford expensive
solutions.
Supplier Insight is an independent, online source for comprehensive
qualification and rating information on business-to-business
suppliers. SupplierInsight works with private and independent
exchanges to implement an Internet-based supplier qualification
methodology. SupplierInsight checks supplier business references,
speaks to company representatives and visits their facilities
to complete the rating.
As a leading network integrator and field service engineering
organization since 1984, Telsource provides worldwide network
care including managed network services, equipment installation,
and on-site maintenance for voice, data and video networking
for both wireline and wireless networks. Flexible and responsive
to your specific needs, Telsource has field-proven experience
successfully deploying and maintaining voice and/or data
networking projects of all sizes ranging from one site to
thousands. Our customers rely on us for innovative cost-effective
service and product solutions to support them throughout
their network lifecycle.
Materials
Early Stage Partners has been a leader in identifying and financing the materials of the future. Among the leading edge companies in our materials portfolio are:
Thin Battery Technologies, Inc. is developing thin printed
batteries based on technology licensed from the Eveready
Battery Company. Thin printed batteries have potential applications
in many industrial and consumer markets. The Company has
attracted a team of executives with more than eighty years
of battery development experience, who have formalized development
collaborations with two industrial partners, prioritized
and targeted profitable applications, and successfully developed
prototypes for a broad array of possible commercial applications.
Early Stage Partners founded the Company in partnership with
two successful Cleveland-area entrepreneurs with strong backgrounds
in advanced materials. Thin Battery is ESP’s first
technology validation transaction, and was formed with the
intent to capitalize on the strengths of Northeast Ohio’s
traditional battery industry.
EcoSMART Technologies, Inc. develops and markets proprietary
pesticide products derived from natural plant oils. EcoSMART’s
proprietary products are the first alternatives to synthetic
pesticides with proven efficacy, equal or better performance,
broad spectrum activity, significantly lower environmental
and mammalian toxicity, and competitive pricing.
| Excera Materials Group, Inc |
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Excera is a maker of a patented composite material, ONNEXTM,
that blends ceramics and metals to create high-strength,
tough, light-weight, stiff products at a competitive cost.
The materials can be tailored to meet specific customer
demands for strength, hardness, density, complex dimensions
and thermal and wear resistance and for electrical and
thermal conductivity
| Five Star Technologies |
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Five Star Technologies is commercializing advanced nano-
and micro-structured materials using its patented Controlled
Flow CavitationTM process technology. This is a high volume
method that enables materials to be fabricated to exceedingly
small but uniform particle size. This capability has benefits
in many markets, including catalysts, pharmaceuticals, chemicals,
advanced polymers, and fuel cells. Five Star, based in the
Cleveland area, appears to have a superior, low cost, scalable
technology that is ready for market.
OPTEM was formed to become the premier technological innovator
and marketer of high-performance functionalized engineered
plastic materials in North America.
SkinKlinic is the place to go to visibly improve the way
skin looks, acts, and feels. In private, spacious rooms with
a serene, minimalist atmosphere, medically trained skin practitioners
provide a wide variety of advanced skin treatments.
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