ANNOUNCING THIS YEAR’S NOMINEES
INVESTMENT OF THE YEAR
ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS
EMERGING HIGH TECH
Buffalo Automation Group: The company raised nearly $1M to commercialize unmanned systems for water-based shipping and transportation.
Token (Security): The company raised $4 million of Series A venture funding in 2018 for its biometric-based wearable ring designed to help users to make payments, power up a computer and part doors.
Incodema: The company raised $10 million of Series A venture funding for direct metal 3D printing services designed to serve aerospace and aviation industry.
Ursa Space Systems: The company raised $5.7 million for its geospatial data and analytics services to gather data from radar satellites.
PostProcess Technologies: The company raised over $6 million for development of its automated industrial software and machinery designed to revolutionize the additive manufacturing process.
MEDTECH
Quadrant Biosciences, Inc.: In June, Quadrant Biosciences sold 10% of its common equity for $12.5 million and in September the company was awarded a $2 million Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Unlimited Tomorrow: The company raised $1.5M of crowdfunding and formed substantial industry partnerships to bring this cutting edge startup to Rhinebeck and the Hudson Valley.
MimiVax, LLC: MimiVax continues to make significant progress in connection with its development of a novel immunotherapy (SurVaxM) used to treat a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma and raised $800k earlier this year.
OncoTartis: The company raised $6 million of venture funding to continue developing anti-cancerous drugs designed to help patients recover acute leukemia.
Adarza BioSystems: The company raised $17 million of Series C venture funding to expand production capacity and fund final development and commercialization of the company’s first immunoassay product consumable and instrument platform.
Vaccinex (NAS: VCNX): The company raised $40M in an IPO to fund its business developing of human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic vaccines and other biologic products designed to discover and develop targeted biotherapeutics.
CLEANTECH
Graphenix: GDI is developing industry leading high energy density electrodes for supercapacitors and has raised $4M.
Conamix: The company raised $2.78 million in 2018 for the manufacturing of nano-structured silicon intended for use in lithium-ion batteries. The company’s silicon increases the performance of lithium-ion batteries, enabling users to access advanced battery materials for their lithium-ion batteries.
NOHMs Technologies: The company raised $1.85 million to develop lithium-sulfur batteries designed to offer energy storage materials.
Vital Vio: The company raised $4 million for its LED disinfection recessed lighting products designed to reinvented disinfection by continuously killing germs indoors with the flip of a light switch.
Anellotech: The company raised $15 million of venture funding for developing proprietary thermal catalytic biomass conversion technology created to produce aromatics and petrochemicals.
SOFTWARE
Spincar: Spincar closed a $22M growth round in 2018. Stonehenge led the seed round investment in 2014 with the Stonehenge Innovate NY Fund. Devin and Mike have led the company on a strong growth path and they secured a significant growth investment in 2018.
GiveGab: The company raised over $2 million in funding to build out its sales and engineering teams and refine its SaaS platform for its online fundraising and supporter engagement platform
Audios Ventures: The company raised over $1 million to fund development of its software platform.
Plowz & Mowz: The company raised $5 million for its on-demand lawn mowing and snow plowing platform designed to lessen the burden of home chores.
Bio-Optronics: The company received $31 million of development capital. The company’s medical practice software and clinical trial management systems are designed to eliminate the complexity in clinical trial software.
ACV Auctions: The company raised $31 million for its online auction platform intended to help dealers to purchase wholesale vehicles.
Ascension Gaming Network: The company received $10 million of development capital to develop new and innovative technologies serving the multi-billion dollar collectible industry.
FOOD/BEVERAGE/AGTECH
Grainful.: The company raised funding to expand its food-based business providing natural steel cut oat-based frozen food created to bring the goodness of oats for dinner.
Agbotic: The company raised over $5 million to develop robotic technology designed to facilitate environmental restoration and agriculture.
Cheribundi: The company raised funds for its online platform designed to sell tart cherry juice products.
MANUFACTURING
KanJam: The company, a manufacturer of outdoor gaming products and accessories, was acquired by Wild Sports.
U-C Coatings: The company, a manufacturer and supplier of specialized emulsion coatings and wood protection products, was acquired by High Road Capital Partners.
Multisorb Technologies: The company was acquired by Filtration Group.
WorldWide Electric: The company received development capital from Graycliff Partners for its manufacturing and distribution of electric motors and electrical supplies.
CleanFiber: The company raised nearly $5M of venture funding to produce cellulose-based insulation material.
SI Group: The company was acquired by Addivant, via its financial sponsor SK Capital Partners, through an LBO on October 15, 2018 for an undisclosed sum. JPMorgan Chase Bank, HSBC Securities (USA), Deutsche Bank Securities, Bank of America, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Citigroup Global Markets, and Citizens Bank provided debt financing for the deal.
Taylor Made Group: The company, a developer and manufacturer of performance additives and intermediates, was acquired by Lippert Components.
OTHER
Splyce: The company raised $2.6 million of venture funding for its esports platform.
FirstLight Fiber: The company, an installer of fiber optic cables, was acquired by Antin Infrastructure Partners.
Buffalo Games: The company, producer and developer of jigsaw puzzles and party games serving specialty, craft, hobby, bookstores, online retailers, was acquired by Mason Wells.
CHA Consulting: The company was acquired by First Reserve. The company provides design, engineering and consulting services to customers across a variety of end markets including utility infrastructure, energy, industrial, transportation, environmental, facilities, water, sports and aviation.