CONVERGE
News and Notes from around The Park
September 21, 2021 | Issue 6
Alabama Power Sponsors Emerging Entrepreneur Showcase

On August 23, 2021, Alabama Power sponsored at Startup Showcase in the new Research and Innovation Center in The Park at Auburn

Six Auburn start-ups, including two faculty-led companies and four student-led companies, had a chance to share their stories with Alabama Power executives, university leadership, as well as key members of the government and business sectors from around the state interested in learning about successful startups emerging from Auburn University.

The event was driven by Alabama Power’s Southern Division Vice President, Leslie Sanders and represents their long-standing commitment to economic development in the state. The companies showcased were drawn from the New Venture Accelerator, a vibrant element of Auburn’s entrepreneurial ecosystem operated jointly by the Harbert College of Business and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation and located in Auburn Research Park. 

The six featured startups covered a range of sectors—from utilities, health, health and beauty for minorities, point of sale and inventory systems, to global banking. Attendees had the opportunity to hear five minute presentations from the leadership of each company and, at a brief reception afterward, to chat with these talented Auburn entrepreneurs. 

Events like this highlight the intellectual and creative capacity of Auburn University faculty and student experts, as well as the effectiveness of the mentors and programs in the New Venture Accelerator. The thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem at Auburn helps move discovery, technology, and bright ideas from the laboratory or drawing board to the marketplace, fueling the engines of our economy and improving quality of life.

“We are grateful to Alabama Power for their role in supporting entrepreneurship at Auburn and for raising awareness for the role universities and university research parks play in contributing to economic development throughout the state and region,” said Cary Chandler, senior director of the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation and New Venture Accelerator mentor.
Cary Chandler leads visitors through the New Venture Accelerator during the Startup Showcase
Register for the 2021-22 Tiger Cage Business Idea Competition

Entrepreneurial-minded students looking to secure early-stage seed funding are encouraged to register for Auburn University’s annual Tiger Cage Business Idea Competition.

The program—which kicks off with skill-building workshops this semester and concludes in the spring with multiple rounds of pitch competitions before industry professional judges—allows student teams to compete for a share of $50,000 in startup capital, sponsored by the Harbert College of Business, and a $4,000 innovation award sponsored by the Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management.

The 2021-22 Tiger Cage kicks off with a pair of recruitment and information events, Friday, Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. inside Horton-Hardgrave Hall’s Innovation Lab, and Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. at the Auburn University New Venture Accelerator.

Students interested in participating in this year’s Tiger Cage Business Idea Competition are encouraged to contact Lou Bifano at loubifano@auburn.edu.
Lapping the Competition: Auburn autonomous racing team makes history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Autonomous Tiger Racing team members (from left to right) Brendan Schretter, Elizabeth Keefer, Will Bryan and Stephanie Meyer pose with their autonomous vehicle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team will compete in the first-ever Indy Autonomous Challenge on Oct. 23, 2021.

Last month, Auburn Engineering’s world-renowned autonomous vehicle research program literally lapped the competition — and made history in the process.
Comprised of students in Auburn’s GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Lab (GAVLAB), Autonomous Tiger Racing (ATR) was the first to run the Dallara AV-21 autonomous race car around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in preparation for the first-ever Indy Autonomous Challenge on October 23rd. 
 
“Dallara, as an engineering company, has always had a worldwide impact on innovation and technology,” said Stefano DePonti, CEO of Dallara USA. “We know the importance of collaborations with universities in continuing to support and grow innovation. We are pleased to learn about Auburn University’s recent performance achievement at the track and we look forward to seeing the results as other university teams meet the challenge.” 
Autonomous vehicle research is one of an array of transportation-related research that takes place in Auburn University's Transportation Research Institute.

Established in 2021, the Auburn University Transportation Research Institute provides a unified presence and strategic direction for promoting the renowned transportation-related research conducted within the academic departments and research centers in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Thanks to the reputation of the units under the Institute’s umbrella — the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) and its affiliated asphalt test track, the Highway Research Center (HRC), the Alabama Transportation Assistance Program (ATAP) and the GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory (GAVLAB) — extramural funding for transportation is greater than any other single topic within Auburn University’s research footprint.
Staff Spotlight
Leslie Parsons Chapman

Leslie Chapman is the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation's Director of Strategic Initiatives and Public Relations.

An Auburn alum (and now proud Auburn parent) with more than 20 years of experience working on campus, Leslie led a re-branding effort at The Park that's turning heads across the state and region. A skilled strategist and communicator, she's looking forward to spending the next year growing The Park community through placemaking, professional meetings and networking events.

In the meantime, Leslie's always ready to pitch in on "other duties as assigned", whether that's photographing startups or putting a drone in the air to check out a new roof.
Turning Complex Ideas into Reality: The Innovation and Research Commons

The Auburn University community can now access high-end tools, technologies, and
in-person expertise to support innovative research and teaching thanks to the Innovation and Research Commons (I&RC) on the first floor of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library. This nextgen makerspace is helping Auburn researchers turn complex ideas into realities with tools that range from extended reality to a liquid galaxy display.

Aaron Trehub, assistant dean for technology and research support for the Auburn University Libraries recently sat down with CONVERGE for a quick interview about the new IR&C.

What is the Innovation and Research Commons and where is it located?

The Innovation and Research Commons (I&RC) is a new collaborative space on the 1st floor of RBD Library. It was created with support from Alabama-based EBSCO Industries and opened for business in August 2020. As its name implies, the I&RC is a place for turning innovative ideas into reality. Its purpose is to help faculty and students find new ways to incorporate digital and analog technologies into their classroom and research projects. It is also designed to serve as a campus-wide incubator for interdisciplinary research ideas and projects. The I&RC has seven fully staffed service areas: the Adobe Creative Space; the Audio Studio; the DataSpace; the Liquid Galaxy digital wall display; the MakerSpace; the Technology Lending Space; and the Extended Reality (XR/VR/AR) Space.
The IR&C's Liquid Galaxy Display
Auburn Startup XO Armor featured on
Tiger Tailgate Show

Auburn-based startup, XO Armor, is scoring big with teams in the SEC, Big XII, and NFL who want to give their athletes the edge that only custom 3D-printed protective gear provides.

Recently, founder and chairman, Dr. Michael Zabala had a chance to share the XO Armor story on the Tiger Tailgate Show (video below.)

To learn more about XO Armor, follow them on social media or visit their website at: xoarmortech.com.

Also, be sure to check out XO Armor in the news: "Auburn University, XO Armor sign three-year contract"
Licensed AU technologies improve detection time and efficiency for home blood testing

Blood test data is required for 70% of clinical medical decisions. For patients with chronic conditions like heart disease or failing kidneys that means frequent trips to a doctor’s office or lab. In-person appointments can be difficult to arrange, lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, and expose patients to other illnesses.
 
Auburn University researcher, Chris Easley, the C. Harry Knowles Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics, in partnership with Philadelphia-based InnaMed are collaborating on a novel and reliable way for patients to perform blood tests at home. Regular in-home assessments allow health care providers to track patient health more closely and frequently, leading to early detection and treatment.
 
Blood testing methods with high accuracy, efficiency and ease of use have long been of great interest among biotech firms seeking to take these advancements to the home healthcare market. However, a significant challenge with protein biomarker detection is that the bodily fluids used for detection are highly complex, making it difficult to detect the biomarker. There are ways to clean up biological samples to improve detection, but these take time and add cost, and the biomarker of interest can be lost during the process.
Easley’s work in protein detection addresses that challenge using a group of technologies that can detect biomarkers faster and more accurately than most currently available home testing methods. His electrochemical detection platforms can even detect biomarkers in the highly complex environment of raw serum samples, minimizing sample processing, time and cost.
CONVERGE: News and Notes
from around The Park is a publication from Auburn Research Park. CONVERGE aims to connect with members of The Park community and in turn, help them connect with one other and with university expertise.

Our goal is to highlight innovative activity in The Park and on campus, and link you to resources that may be useful to your organization.

Earlier this month, The Park received an unexpected donation--a lovely Baldwin grand piano. The piano has been placed in the lobby of the Research and Innovation Center adjacent to the New Venture Accelerator. It's now not uncommon to hear a student playing quietly--taking a break from working a startup company to fill the lobby with the Baldwin's characteristic warm tones.

Beyond being a beautiful and remarkable instrument, the new piano may serve as inspiration to our own entrepreneurs. Founded in 1861, Baldwin pairs innovative construction with an evolving business model that has resulted in the production of award-winning instruments of peerless quality. We are grateful to be able to share our new piano with tenants and guests.
Thank you for checking out this issue of CONVERGE. You can stay up to date between issues by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and by keeping an eye out for us in your inbox.

Thank you, again, for your role in making the Park the place where innovation begins,

Leslie Chapman
334.844.6147
Students, faculty, staff and guests are enjoying the Research and Innovation Center's new Baldwin Grand Piano generously donated by a member of the Auburn Family.
Looking for a place to get together this Fall? From business luncheons to evening celebrations, 540 at The Park is poised to make your event a success.
You bring the vision, we'll do the rest.
There's always been something special in Auburn.

It's a place like no other — a feeling, an orange and blue sky, a "War Eagle" and a nod.
Beloved traditions, world-class academics, life-changing research, community engagement, a stellar student experience and heart-pounding athletics.
It’s all these things, woven through all we do, that moves us upward — and forward.
And it’s that special something, found only IN AUBURN, that truly moves us.
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