KNODE

"What if you could connect with anyone based on WHAT they know, not just WHO they know?"

The Challenge

Knowledge-intensive enterprises require convenient and rapid access to expert information and the experts who generated the information. The ability to access expertise within and beyond an R&D organization is critical for success. Existing solutions - whether traditional enterprise search or 'business-oriented' social networks - fall short. To truly address this challenge, we believe that a new approach is required.

Traditional Approaches

Existing solutions include traditional enterprise searches or 'business-oriented' social networks. To truly address this challenge, we believe that a new approach is required.

Our Solution

Enlight developed KNODE based on an understanding of the challenges faced by the industry. The software connects users with experts and their content using a simple tool embedded within the everyday work flow. The approach and expertise-focused solution is unique: "Not just who you know, but who you should know".

SAB & Board

Anhai DoanSAB; Associate Professor Computer Science UWISC; Chief Scientist, Walmart Labs; Expert in knowledge-bases schema and ontology matching

Team

	David SteinbergCEO		Steve BaronVP Products		David TharpHead, Business Development
	Charbel Abdul MassihVP Engineering		Steve SianKnowledgebase Lead		Nilesh KuchekarSenior Software Engineer

Akili

"What if a video game could be your new first line therapy?"

The Challenge

Executive function (e.g., attention, working memory), which is a key component of cognition, is impacted in numerous neurological and psychiatric conditions (e.g., ADHD, Alzheimer’s Disease) that affect millions of people. Subtle declines in executive function are often very difficult to detect making early intervention difficult. We believe that a huge unmet need exists for a safe, effective way to measure and improve executive function in multiple populations.

Our Solution

We are combining cutting edge neuroscience and gaming to create a diagnostic and therapeutic mobile video game. The approach not only has the potential to help millions of people who struggle with deficits in executive function, but the idea of prescribed mobile games represents an entirely an innovative form of therapeutics. We believe that our approach is on the forefront of the digital health revolution which has the potential to transform the fundamental practice of medicine.

SAB & Board

Adam GazzaleySAB Chair; Co-founder; Director of Neuroscience Imaging Center at UCSF; Leading expert in cognitive neuroscience

Daphne BavelierSAB; Professor at Universities of Rochester & Geneva; Leading authority on cognitive effects of videogames

Ben ShapiroBoard Member

Team

	Eric ElenkoActing CBO		Scott KelloggVP Clinical Operations		Eddie MartucciVP Research & Development
	Matthew OmernickExecutive Creative Director		Adam PiperLead Designer/Engineer		Jeffrey BowerSenior Manager Data Analytics & Statistics

Peerin

"What if we could find experts and distill their critical insights…all at the click of a button?"

The Challenge

Social media generally, and Twitter specifically, are the new sources of real-time information in any industry. What’s more, the discussions are being driven by actual industry insiders. We believe, however, that it is nearly impossible for the average business professional to tap into these discussions, as social media is still structured as too much information with no way to find that “in crowd” of experts.

Our Solution

Peerin has developed a Twitter application to allow professionals to quickly and privately discover insights most important to their industry. Peerin allows users to explore full discussions driven by industry-specific experts on virtually any topic. The core technology leverages a proprietary expert identification process combined with algorithms to rank and display high-value conversations and industry trends.

Team

Peerin is working with a team of leading academic thought leaders and industry veterans. More information to follow soon.

	Eddie MartucciCo-Founder		Oren KaganChief Software Architect		Josh FertikCo-Founder, Director of UX Design
	Dan JohnsonTechnical Lead		Abby MarshUI Developer

Entrega

“What if a smart pill could replace chronic injections and deliver payloads for sophisticated diagnosis and treatment?”

The Challenge

Diagnosing and managing chronic health conditions often requires repeated injection of small molecules or biologic drugs. This imposes a major burden on the healthcare system, reduces patient compliance, and cuts off potentially fruitful avenues of drug discovery. We believe that effective oral delivery of these substances could be transformational, but traditional approaches – like chemical enhancers, complex biological mechanisms, and micro- or nano-scale devices – have fallen short. In fact, no existing approach to oral delivery of complex payloads can yet be broadly applied.

Traditional Approaches

We believe that traditional approaches to this difficult drug delivery problem have relied on a combination of chemicals, complex biological mechanisms, and micro- or nano-scale devices that are narrow in their application or hard to scale.

Our Solution

Entrega's proprietary technology may solve the oral delivery problem with a simple and elegant engineering solution that protects the payload and delivers it at the right place and time for high bioavailability. The technology has the potential to deliver a wide variety of biological molecules, drug substances and nanoparticles. Entrega's platform enables innovative applications in a variety of fields, such as disease management and tracking in the burgeoning mobile health arena. Entrega is collaborating with pharma and non-pharma industry partners to develop the platform for innovative therapeutic and diagnostic modalities.

By making existing and new molecule classes orally bioavailable, Entrega may transform treatment and management of chronic disease conditions.

SAB & Board

	Robert LangerSAB Chair; Board Member; Professor at MIT; World’s leading drug delivery expert		Colin GardnerSAB; Former CSO of Transform, Former, SVP & Site Head, J&J; Former VP & Global Head of Pharma R & D, Merck		Samir MitragotriSAB; Board Member; Scientific Founder; Professor of Chemical Engineering, UC Santa Barbara; Director of Center of Bioengineering
	Howie RosenBoard Member; Former President of ALZA; Director of AcelRx, Pearl Therapeutics, PaxVax, CNS Therapeutics		Rob ArmstrongBoard Member; Former VP head Global External R&D and Chorus Early Development Groups, Eli Lilly; Former Head of Small Molecule Discovery, Amgen		David SteinbergBoard Member; Acting CEO

Team

Jonathan BehrCOO

Endra

"What would be possible if researchers and clinicians could use the same fast, quantitative, and safe imaging method?"

The Challenge

Most research and clinical imaging methods require ionizing radiation or are dependent on specialized probes and tracers. Ultrasound and optical systems have limited resolution, whereas CT, PET and MRI are expensive and require specialized facilities and probes. Drug developers need an imaging system that provides high-resolution images from live animals for longitudinal studies, yet is translatable to clinical imaging.

Our Solution

Endra, Inc., has developed and commercialized a preclinical scanner using photo-acoustic imaging - where pulsed light creates detectable sound waves. This conveniently provides high-contrast images at depth and spatial resolution far exceeding existing techniques - without ionizing radiation. Endra is currently developing thermo-acoustic enhanced ultrasound for medical imaging, which may bring many of the same advantages to the point of care.

SAB & Board

	Lihong WangSAB Chair; Prof. Washington University; Academic leader in photoacoustics		Katherine FerraraSAB; Chair Department of Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis; Expert in ultrasound and molecular imaging		Robert KrugerSAB; Adjunct Professor of Medical Physics, IUPUI; Inventor and photoacoustics pioneer
	Sam GambhirBoard member; Professor, Director of Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford		Alexander TokmanBoard member; CEO of Microvision; Former General Manager of Global Molecular Imaging & Radiopharmacy, GE Medical Systems		Daphne ZoharBoard Member
	David SteinbergBoard Member

Team

	Mike ThorntonPresident, COO		Paul PicotDirector, Technology & Product Development		Timothy MorganProduct Manager
	Richard MossManager of Commercial Operations