AirPhoton and Phoenix Operations Group are the newest bwtech@UMBC companies to win Maryland Incubator Company of the Year (ICOY) awards. AirPhoton won best technology product company, and Phoenix Operations Group won best data analytics company at the awards event held June 21 at the American Visionary Arts Museum. Six other bwtech@UMBC companies were recognized as finalists.
AirPhoton produces customized scientific equipment for air quality data collection. The instruments they build are employed on the ground, in aircraft, and on satellites.
“AirPhoton is very excited to be recognized with this award, especially given the other very fine companies that were selected as finalists,” says Lorraine Remer, CEO and research professor of physics at UMBC. “We hope to continue growing and contributing to the incubator program and the Maryland economy.”
Phoenix Operations Group offers data analytics, cloud application design and administration, and platform optimization services to the intelligence community. Devin Edwards, director of strategic development, says the research park has served the company well.
“The cyber incubator at bwtech@UMBC was able to provide Phoenix Operations Group with access to industry professionals to help set up our infrastructure,” Edwards says, “thereby allowing us to compete and grow within our domain in a matter of months, surpassing companies that have been in the industry for years.”
The event’s keynote speech by Andy Jones, managing director of the Maryland Venture Fund, centered on advice for new entrepreneurs. Stay focused on a small range of products or services and embrace board meetings as opportunities to take stock, he said. Also, “growth is your friend,” because revenue gives a company leeway to try new things. Perhaps most important, “Surround yourself with good people,” he told emerging entrepreneurs. “It really is a marriage, so pick your partners carefully.”
Previous ICOY winners from bwtech@UMBC include:
2014
Light Point Security (Best Cyber Company)
2013
Plasmonix, Inc. (Best Technology Transfer Company)
2012
Noxilizer (Best Life Sciences Company)
StormCenter Communicaitons, Inc. (Best Cyber/Homeland Security Company)
SemaConnect, Inc. (Best Green Company)
2009
Oculis Labs, Inc. (Best Information Technology Company)
2007
Lentigen Corporation (Best Life Sciences Company)
BDMetrics, Inc. (Best Graduate Company)
2006
Profectus BioSciences, Inc. (Best Technology Transfer Company)
2005
AVIcode, Inc. (Best New Incubator Company)
TechGuard Security, LLC (Best Information Technology Company)
2004
BDMetrics, Inc. (Best New Incubator Company)
2003
Scientific Products & Systems, Inc. (Most Promising Technology Transfer)
2002
Columbia Technologies (Best Innovative Technology Company)
In Vitro Technologies, Inc. (Best Graduate Company)
Header image: Andy Jones gives the event’s key note.
Other images: AirPhoton team members accept their award (top) and Phoenix Operations Group team members accept theirs (bottom).
Photos sourced from www.mdincubatoraward.com
