On May 15th and 16th of 2019, GOOSE participated in the Texas A&M New Ventures Competition for the second year in a row. The competition, organized by Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas A&M University System, and a growing number of sponsors (including GOOSE), aims to promote and commercialize Texas based companies with innovative ideas. The competition recognized companies focused on emerging technologies, with high-growth potential. GOOSE and other sponsors provide cash and investment prizes to help the companies execute their ideas and advance the product development.
The prize pool for this year’s competition was the largest yet, exceeding $500,000. Twenty-two Texas startups competed for the prizes. This year, Spark Biomedical was awarded the grand prize: $50,000. Spark Biomedical is a medical device company developing non-invasive neurostimulation solutions for opioid withdrawal and addiction.
Goose members David Klein and Larry Lawson judged the competition and were very impressed with the competitors. GOOSE awarded PolyVascular a $25,000 prize with potential for more. PolyVascular is developing a polymeric transcatheter valve for children. The transcatheter polymeric valves by PolyVascular are unique, because they expand as the child grows. That eliminates the need of repeat open heart surgeries for children with congenital heart disease. In addition to the GOOSE investment prize, PolyVascular won three other awards:
- 1st place in the Elevator Pitch Competition – $5,000
- Biotex Investment Prize
- Amerra Visualization Services Prize
GOOSE is very optimistic about the future of the company. We look forward to working with PolyVascular.
David Klein awarding the GOOSE invetment prize to PolyVascular. From the left: Chris Scotti, PolyVascular Team: Daniel Harrington – CSO, Kwonsoo Chun – CTO, Henri Justino – CMO, David Klein – GOOSE.
