admin – Page 30 – Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors

Kingsbury & Associates Still in R&D Phase for Massive Packing Plant Project

Kingsbury & Associates had recently set out to build a giant beef packing plant capable of processing up to 8,000 head of cattle a day. They anticipate this plant will take about three years to build and will eventually employ about 2,500 people. If successful, it would become the single-largest beef processing plant in the country.

The company has recently announced a new partner – Farmers Union Industries. The project will be linked to a facility that will be operated by Farmers Union. This facility will be set next to the packing plant and designed to handle byproducts out of the facility, using meat and bone meal and making tallow and grease products for the feed ingredients industry.

The project is still in its R&D phase, while the company works to tackle challenges in construction, efficiency, and optimization. For instance, the company is working with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, as well as others, to bring in technology that would manage odors from methane. This phase will require extensive research into the optimal design and layout, followed by additional R&D during construction. Currently, the company is working to get approval for the location and operation of the facility before moving into next steps.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Nutramax Laboratories Set to Expand in Lancaster

Nutramax Laboratories has been researching and developing high-quality nutritional supplements for over 30 years. In an effort to continue this work, the company has announced their plans to expand operations in Lancaster County. This expansion – and the $30 million investment that goes with it – will create approximately 200 new jobs.

In addition to three existing locations in Lancaster, Nutramax Laboratories’ new facility will be located at 785 Fort Mill Highway in Indian Land and will house additional warehousing, distribution and future manufacturing capabilities.

“We are pleased to continue to grow in Lancaster County. With this newest expansion to the Indian Land area, we will continue providing a positive impact that goes beyond our economic development commitments. For 30 years, we have been blessed with a fantastic team of employees committed to delivering the very best to our consumers. Our values of glorifying God, serving our people, supporting our community and pursuing excellence have created an unwavering guide to fulfilling our mission.” said Nutramax Laboratories President and CEO Todd Henderson, DVM.

Nutramax develops and provides safe, effective, quality products meant to improve the user’s quality of life. They have formulated supplements for both humans and pets and quickly grew as an industry leader in setting and adhering to high standards in manufacturing and quality control. In fact every supplement is tested by 80 quality checks backed by scientific studies. Their product line includes supplements to promote joint health, digestive health, and overall wellness.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

MindImmune Therapeutics Secures $12.4M in Series A Funding

Hawaii Patent of the Month - November 2021

MindImmune Therapeutics, Inc. is at the forefront of discovering mechanisms of neuroinflammation that may be targeted for breakthrough therapeutics for brain disease. With such ground-breaking research, it’s no surprise that the company has raised $12.4 million in Series A financing.

Their research is focused on the science around blocking aberrant immune system activity. This activity is an effector of nervous system disease, and blocking it may have positive impacts around the cause of symptoms and progression in many devastating neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Collectively, the co-founders bring over a century of experience in drug discovery. The founders are experts in neuropharmacology, neuroscience, and pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.

MindImmune’s scientists are bridging knowledge of both the nervous and immune systems in an effort to discover previously unrecognized immune effector mechanisms underlying brain disease. To support this endeavor, the company has decided to actualize their knowledge in the form of a facile drug discovery engine. Their flagship program may herald a breakthrough therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition wherein the immune system becomes inappropriately activated. Then the inflammatory response fails to resolve this activation. This inappropriate immune response usually manifests as innate immune first responder cells infiltrating into the brain, where these cells cause damage to synapses. This synaptic damage underlies both the cognitive symptoms and the relentless progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

MindImmune has identified the key innate immune cells that infiltrate the brain in these instances. Armed with this knowledge, the company began developing an antibody therapy to block this infiltration and ameliorate the synaptic attack.

Investors participating in the Series A funding round include Dolby Family Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), Trend Venture, RightHill Ventures (an affiliate of the Slater Technology Fund) and several private investors. The funding will go towards supporting the company’s lead program in preclinical development, targeting Alzheimer’s disease as the primary indication.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

This Academic and Corporate R&D Matchmaker will “Astound” You

Birmingham-based Astound has set their sights on supporting R&D in Alabama. This platform is dedicated to connecting academic researchers with companies in order to streamline how industry-funded academic research gets off the ground. Astound comes out of Mark Two Venture Studio – a Nashville-based firm focused on tech startups.

The bridge between academic research and commercialization has long been a hard one to cross. This means many breakthrough technologies struggle to be brought to life. Getting funding is a process with many hoops to jump through.

Dr. Joel Berry, founder of Astound, describes landing research funding as a “labor-intensive and high-friction” process. Even once the funding is secured, there are further roadblocks and bureaucratic hurdles associated with tracking contract agreements and project status.

Berry said work on the idea really started as a “scholarly exercise” to better understand the market surrounding industry-funded academic research. While Berry and Mark Two have been working on the concept since last August, Astound closed its $1 million seed round from Mark Two and officially incorporated this May. The team plans to fully launch the platform in early 2023.

The team, currently made up of 6 employees, has gone through its long customer discovery phase and is now in the process of testing its prototype platform with more potential corporate sponsors.

The system will provide an automated and confidential system to match university research expertise to corporate R&D needs. With initial focus on the life sciences research community, the company intends to expand to address a broad spectrum of disciplines including engineering, computer science, and agriculture.

With an automated marketplace and smart matching algorithm, the process of finding funding can be made more efficient and streamlined. Partnership negotiations through a templated and simple system will also speed up negotiations.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

PAI Life Sciences Begins Phase 1 Trial for Snail Fever Vaccine

PAI Life Sciences, a Seattle biotech startup, has started a phase 1 trial for their schistosomiasis vaccine. The trial has an expected end date of April 2024. This tropical disease, also called snail fever, is caused by parasitic flatworms that enter human skin when in contact with contaminated water. This infection, if untreated long term, can cause damage to livers and kidneys, infertility, and bladder cancer.

The phase 1 trial will evaluate both safety and immune response in healthy volunteers at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. The study will be conducted as an open-label, dose-escalation trial with a sample size of 45 healthy adults between 18 and 55 years of age. Five treatment groups, each including nine subjects, will receive three intramuscular injections at different doses. One group will receive the vaccine without an adjuvant (which acts to increase immune responses) and four will receive the vaccine with an adjuvant.

Currently, there are drug therapy approaches for treatment of the infection but dependence on these treatment options alone is inadequate. This treatment option has minimal impact on the reduction of disease transmission and, as such, infection rates continue to be high. Beyond this, there is an ever-present risk of the development of drug resistance by the parasite.

If proven effective and safe through clinical trials, this vaccine would build up the arsenal against the disease and contribute to the reduction in infection rates. At present, the vaccine has shown to ameliorate disease, kill adult worms, and reduce fecundity in preclinical animal models. The company is hoping to prove this again in full clinical studies.

The condition “is second only to malaria among parasitic diseases with the greatest devastating economic impact,” said PAI’s vice president Sean Gray.

PAI Life Sciences have focused their expertise on antigens for diagnostics and vaccines. They provide developmental and translational research necessary to bring products from the laboratory to the bedside.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Biomotum Receives $300K as First Place Winner in Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience Investment Program

Biomotum has been announced as the winner of Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience in Portland. This win comes with $300,000 in investment funding for the wearable robotics startup.

The company has dedicated themselves to developing solutions which optimize human mobility. Their solutions include the development of intelligent and intuitive wearable systems. These exoskeleton solutions are designed by expert engineers which can offer mobility solutions to physical therapists, orthotic and prosthetic professionals, and individuals who experience walking impairment and disabilities.

The exoskeleton is designed with an ankle actuator built from ultra-lightweight carbon fiber. This component achieves finely-tuned mobility with both plantar-flexor and dorsiflexor torque. Torque angle sensing optimizes control and monitoring. A waistpack stores the brains, battery, and motors of the exoskeleton including lithium-ion batteries. With a control interface available on any device, the device transforms mobility rehabilitation, helping those with walking impairments to live without limits.

The company was up against four other finalists including:

Savorease Therapeutic Foods – a startup focused on creating finger foods for people with swallowing or chewing difficulties;
Inherent Targeting – a startup developing fluorescent imaging agents to visualize nerves during surgery;
StoneTable – a startup developing a way to increase vaccine stability with a silica coating.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Gener8tor has Opened Applications for their 2022 Reno-Tahoe Accelerator

Gener8tor has announced the opening of their Reno-Tahoe Accelerator Program for 2022. Companies can apply to the investment-for-equity accelerator for a12-week in-person experience. In addition to the benefits of the in-person mentorship program, each startup will receive a cash investment of $100,000 and access to Gener8tor’s global network of mentors and investors.

The cohort will accept 5 high-growth startups from applicants. Since the program is both industry and business-model agnostic, all startups are welcomed to apply so long as they do so before July 10, 2022.

The benefits of the program will include:

Twelve weeks of in person individualized coaching and mentorship from the gener8tor team during bi-weekly, one-on-one meetings.
Introductions to 100+ mentors including serial entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors.
Weekly cohort programming featuring topics including understanding market size, choosing a revenue model, and how to pitch investors.
$100K of guaranteed funding. $20K in exchange for 6% common stock equity plus $80K of guaranteed follow-on capital into your current round (if raising) or via uncapped convertible bridge note to be converted into your next round (if not currently raising).
Opportunity to build relationships within the cohort of five companies, and the community of gener8tor alumni.
$1M + in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk, Hubspot and Microsoft.
Curated pitches to our network of investors to help you raise follow-on capital.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Skymount Medical to Receive Silver Stevie Award from the Annual American Business Awards

Skymount Medical has been awarded a Silver Stevie ® Award in the Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning Solution category of the 20th annual American Business Awards. This award is based on the company’s work developing its DeepDrug™ AI platform.

The company utilized an AI platform developed by Louisiana State University (LSU) researchers to repurpose and build new drugs for innovative new therapies. Their DeepDrug™ AI platform is designed to accelerate drug discovery and development for the entire industry.

Alongside this platform, the company is working on developing combination therapies to fight COVID-19 and all coronavirus strains. Their focus extends to other infectious diseases as well as new antibiotics that target antibiotic-resistant bacteria and rare diseases.

The American Business Awards is the premier business awards program in the United States. All organizations operating in the U.S. are eligible to submit nominations, whether they are public or private, for-profit or non-profit, large or small.

“We are honored and gratified to be among the elite group of companies recognized for their achievements,” said Zubin Kothawala, chief executive officer of Skymount Medical. “It is especially meaningful that the judges’ comments included words like ‘revolutionary’ and ‘sophisticated’ when describing our computer-aided drug design software that uses key components to deliver an efficient, state-of-the-art compound generation that significantly shortens the timelines and reduces the cost for new drug development. Receiving this prestigious award validates our commitment to the important work of advancing the development of improved medicines using DeepDrug™ and providing greater access to cutting-edge therapeutics.”

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

GoX Labs and WearTech Center Unveil Exoskeleton to Protect Workers

Arkansas Patent of the Month - September 2021

GoX Labs, creators of a workforce injury prediction platform, have just unveiled their wearable exoskeleton technology called PhenEX. This suit will help workers squat and lift heavy loads with less impact on the body.

Development was achieved in collaboration with the WearTech Applied Research Center and mechanical engineers from Arizona State University. The project will involve the use of a first of its kind exoskeleton testbed at the WearTech Center which was unveiled back in September.

The lightweight exoskeleton suit is designed with specialized sensors which assist in measuring ergonomic factors to promote safe movement and reduce workplace injuries. The sensors activate spring elements when workers need to perform these physical activities. The quasi-active exoskeleton unlocks when the worker is at rest or doing something that does not require support (eg. driving, walking etc.) so that normal motion is not hindered.

Testing protocols for the vastly expanding exoskeleton market will provide a great service to the industry. GoX Labs has now developed and validated a testing regime that can serve as a product that can be used in a new exoskeleton test bed at the WearTech Center. GoX Labs and AKE will test out PhenEX on local employers like Amazon, Lucid Motors, and other industry partners through WearTech.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Benchmark Space Systems to Expand Internationally

Vermont’s own Benchmark Space Systems has announced their plans to expand globally, opening a new location in England. While growing internationally, the company intends to continue to grow its business in Vermont.

The company makes products that propel small satellites in space using hydrogen peroxide. This solution provides a cleaner satellite propellant as compared to industry alternatives. They intend to develop solutions that target pain points in propulsion systems. While their non-toxic propellants tackle a major pain point, the company has also tackled thrusters, propellant tanks, modular control electronics, and intelligent GNC integration frameworks. Combined, they have developed a plug-and-play solution customizable to mission objectives.

The new location will support the scale up of their manufacturing in order to meet industry demand. Along with this new location, the company has signed a contract with UK startup Space Forge and plans to add more to the list.

“We’re engaged with a handful of companies, nothing that I can announce officially today,” he said. “But we do have some new contracts that will be coming up here shortly that hopefully we’ll be able to announce by the end of the summer.”

The company has experienced rapid growth since their founding in 2017. In 2021, the company built three propulsion systems. They are on track to build 7 in 2022 and expect to build 80 in 2023. While the international expansion will help with this, the company is also doubling the space of their Vermont operations.

Benchmark has also had support from the federal level. In the past three years, the company has received over $2.8 million in federal contracts and grants from both NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as a $200,000 loan from the Paycheck Protection Loan Program (PPP) in April 2020.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.