Lipid-Nanotechnologies employed lipid microarray technology to miniaturize the pharmaceutical screening process, allowing for reduced materials costs and increased throughput. I was one of four founders and served as Chief Data Officer.
We incorporated in 2012 after winning the Innolevation competition, which was sponsored by the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and Florida State University College of Business. We developed a promotional video explaining the technology, created a comprehensive business plan for commercialization, and pitched our idea to investors. After three rounds, we emerged from the 78 competitors victorious, receiving $150,000 in funding and services.
As Chief Data Officer at Lipid-Nanotech, I focus on developing automated method for assessing lipid microarray fluorescence. Our technology dramatically increased the number of compounds that could be screened, which necessitated automated segmentation of liposomes and cells, as well as quantification of their fluorescent content (such as in the left image). However, since LNT was a startup, I work on everything from website building to patent negotiations.
Lipid-Nanotech entered into an option agreement to license nanointaglio patents from the University, submitted an SBIR application to the NIH, and pitched our innovation to follow-on investors. The company’s progress stalled during license negotiations with the University, but I learned an immense amount from the experience, and it ignited my passion for translational research.
You can read a press release about our $150K funding here and watch our original pitch video below.