Welcome To The Springboard Corner

Summer is in full swing in San Diego and Springboard companies continue to thrive. The Springboard Corner is designed to highlight and share recent milestones of life science and hi-tech startups which we have worked with through Connect’s Springboard program.

Here’s the latest from Connect’s Springboard companies!

BuildFire – founded in 2014, BuildFire is a leader in the mobile app development industry, with a software platform which makes it easy for any business to create their own tailored mobile apps without requiring prior coding experience. The company was recently awarded several “Leader” badges and additional honors in several categories in G2’s summer 2022 report, a site which regularly reviews software services.

Guru – founded in 2015, Guru Experience Co. is an innovative technology company which has developed a holistic storytelling platform to enhance visitors’ digital experience at cultural destinations including museums, historic sites, zoos, public spaces and more. Partnering with institutions across the world, including well-known SoCal destinations such as Balboa Park, Battleship USS Iowa, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, San Diego Museum of Art, among others, Guru recently announced a partnership with the History Colorado Center to develop a digital concierge to tell the stories of Black communities across the State of Colorado.

Inhibrx – a clinical stage biotech company, Inhibrx was founded in 2010. Using proprietary protein engineering and discovery tools, they are developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of various cancers. One of their four drug candidates recently completed Phase 1 combination dose escalation trials with encouraging results, setting the stage for the next part of the trials.

Nascent Biotech – founded in 2008, the company is a clinical stage biopharma company which develops monoclonal antibodies to treat several cancer and viral infections. Their lead product, Pritumumab, received FDA orphan drug designation in 2015 and is currently undergoing Phase-1 clinical trials. Last month they completed three cohorts in dosing patients for glioblastoma (brain cancer), which paves the way to the fourth and possibly last cohort.

NeuraLace Medical – a leader in developing non-opioid pain reduction systems, we highlighted them previously when their Axon® Therapy system received 510(K) clearance by the FDA. The American Medical Association (AMA) has now approved a specific CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code effective January 1, 2023. This is a significant step forward, as it will now allow healthcare providers to use this therapy on chronic pain patients and to receive reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid and other commercial health plans.

Transcend Air – founded in 2009, Transcend is an aviation company developing the next generation of innovative VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft designed for short-haul travel between metro hubs. The company was recently awarded a Phase-2 STTR contract from AFWERX, the U.S. Air Force’s program which advances innovation within the service. The company is developing VTOL aircraft for both commercial and military sectors, and this latest award will continue their development around control software for high-speed flight scenarios which would allow the aircraft to fly undetected.

We look forward to what next month will bring!