Borden Dairy Company Makes a Comeback with a New R&D Center

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Founded more than a Century ago, Borden Dairy Company has re-emerged with new leadership, ownership, a focus on its people, a confident vision to regain its position as the undisputed front-runner in the dairy sector, and a new research and development center that will allow them to launch new, groundbreaking products.

As you may remember, Borden is a legacy dairy firm, credited with inventing the use of glass milk bottles more than 130 years ago and also being the first American Dairy Company to utilize the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspection Shield back in the 1960s.

As it makes a comeback, the new CEO at the company is Tony Sarsam, who boasts more than 30 years of experience in the food sector having worked with companies such as Nestle and PepsiCo. Before taking on Borden, he was the CEO at Ready Pac Foods where he managed to guide the firm to an astounding 60 percent growth in less than five years.

Better yet, to help Borden reclaim its position, Sarsam re-established the sales and marketing functions, then added a new R&D team that will help the firm unveil new products.

At the center of this intense comeback is also Borden’s iconic spokes-cow, the Mascot Elsie, who has been awarded a new modern look. Elsie first appeared in 1936, and was soon after named by AdAge as one of the Top 10 Advertising Icons of the 20th Century.

“Despite not having made marketing investments in recent years, the Borden brand still holds a lot of equity, driven by over 150 years of dairy leadership,” said Joe DePetrillo, Borden’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Elsie remains a beloved and iconic representation of this proud heritage with people of all generations. For these reasons, we wanted our brand refresh to be evolutionary in nature rather than revolutionary. We were mindful to respect the familiarity and trust Elsie has earned, while ensuring that our brand stays relevant to today’s consumer.”

Life Science in Texas Experience Exponential Growth as a Result of Funding

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A recent report by CBRE Research has found that between 2014 to 2017 Houston, Texas is the third – fastest growing life science market. With an increase of 14% within the workforce as well as several strong academic institutions the state’s capital has more than 200 life science companies.

In 2017 the state received $1.16 billion in funding .The steady progression in Houston’s life science sectors can be seen as the result of funding and incentives by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Texas is due to receive  more funding the next few years for a collaborative 30 – acre biomedical research campus being developed jointly by the Texas Medical Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The project is expected to generate over 30,000 new jobs and a $5.2 billion return when the project opens in 2022.

Through seeing a sector that was once completely associated with Texas grow into one of the bigger industries, there is no doubt that government initiatives aid in the progression and developments. Being the centre of an exponential life health sector boom, companies should leverage R&D tax credit options available to them now.

To find out more on whether you are eligible contact us today

Notorious Plant Killer?: Dallas-based startup OrchidBox develops terrariums for the lackluster green thumb

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If you don’t have a green thumb, growing plants can be an absolute nightmare. The day has come where anyone, anywhere (yes, this includes the person who overwatered their grandmother’s African violet) can grow a variety of plants, thanks to Dallas startup OrchidBox.

“It’s sad, I don’t think young people understand just how diverse our wildlife is, and we are losing more and more plant species every day,” Hollis said in an interview.

OrchidBox was developed by Nathan Hollis, who has a background in computer science and a love for plants. Hollis’ creation, an acrylic box that has high-power LED lights, a water indicator level, and a water level viewing window, promises that any user will never kill a plant again.

The OrchidBox comes with built-in intelligence and is Wi-Fi enabled. This allows the box to coordinate with sunrise and sunset times, and send watering alerts straight to a smartphone. The case will also let you know when to water the plant (if you see a red light on the case, you should really water the plant). According to the company website, the OrchidBox uses over 400 lumens over a 4” x 4” x 7” area that includes light flux levels that are approximately 50% of the sun’s intensity on a sunny summer day—a design feature that cannot be found within any other growing device. The sensing technology has been designed to last, so users can grow plants over the years to come.

“While most people think of the stereotypical store-bought orchids, there are actually 50,000 species of orchids, some that are very, very bizarre. Most people don’t know that, and some don’t even know what an orchid is, so we wanted to take the opportunity to teach people,” Hollis said.

The terrarium box comes with: the OrchidBox, a power adapter, base substrate, soil of choice, watering cup, a pipette, and a fertilizer sample. The application supports Facebook and Google logins. Users can add terrariums to an account. It also allows users to view the water level remotely.

OrchidBox’s mission is to increase conservation and conservation awareness by developing microclimate-controlled devices for plants. The OrchidBox is still in its development phase.

More information about the innovative startup can be found by clicking here.

Creating an innovatiove, quirky desk accessory? Did you know that you can receive up to 14% back on your research expenses with the R&D Tax Credit? 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 a Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

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

The Flood of the Boxes: Dallas-based delivery startup Fetch makes apartment package delivery easier, more convenient

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If you’ve ever lived in an apartment complex or have been a property manager, packages can overtake a leasing office or lobby in the blink of an eye. Thanks to an innovative Dallas startup, property managers will no longer need to ‘sail’ through a mass flooding of packages in their apartment complexes.

Fetch, created by Michael Patton, collects parcels that are mailed to apartments at off-site warehouses and then delivers them to residents at a convenient time. “The e-commerce explosion has flooded apartment buildings with packages. I saw what a pain it was for the property managers, and that was an eye opening moment for me,” Patton said.

Fetch works in a simple, yet innovative way. Users redirect their deliveries to a Fetch warehouse. Once the package has arrived at the warehouse, users then receive instant notifications, hours before it would normally arrive at an apartment complex. Patrons can then request their package to be delivered on their schedule—convenience at its finest, especially for bulky or large items that take a bit more effort to deliver and coordinate.

Fetch has signed 15 contracts with various properties around Dallas. The startup currently manages packages for roughly 5,000 apartments, according to an article on 512tech. Property managers are charged $10 per unit on a monthly basis. The service is available in Texas, but it plans to expand rapidly across the country.

For more information on Fetch, please click here.

Are you developing a platform that benefits employees? Did you know that you can receive up to 14% back on your research expenses with the R&D Tax Credit? 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 a Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

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

An Unmanned Future: Austin-based SparkCognition creates UTM solutions

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If you have ever wondered about (or even feared) how unmanned airplanes, air taxis and drones will not crash into each other when on a flight path, wonder no more. Boeing Co., the aerospace manufacturing giant, will partner with Austin-based SparkCognition Inc. to create unmanned traffic management (UTM) solutions. To achieve this, Boeing will use SparkCognition’s AI and blockchain technologies to track and create unmanned traffic routes to ensure safe travel conditions for unmanned air transportation.

“We partner with the world’s largest organizations that power, finance, and defend our society to uncover their highest potential through the application of AI technologies,” mentioned a blurb on the SparkCognition website. Solutions developed by the company are “agile” and can “streamline operations of any size, making it easier to accomplish goals and meet objectives in an expedited manner. These solutions can be seamlessly delivered via the cloud or on devices, and can also run on top of a client’s interface of choice.” It’s also worth mentioning that SparkCognition’s AI solutions lowered the cost of maitenance and improved available for a major aviation operator by 35%.

The company’s AI solutions can also warn of aircraft and asset failures before they occur, thus maximising fleet availability, minimizing unscheduled maitenance, and extending asset life. The company also provides simulated environments in which a user can train and control algorithms and evolve swarm tactics using reinforcement learning.

This promising partnership will also bring about a standardized programming interface to support package delivery, industrial inspection and other commercial applications. SparkCognition has its focus on a number of industries, such as cyber security, manufacturing, financial services, maritime, oil & gas, utilities, defence, and of course, aviation. “The world’s number one aviation leader partnering with the world’s most innovative industrial AI company means that unparalleled experience in safety, innovation, scale, and reliability will be brought to bear to address this monumental opportunity,” Husain said.

For more information on SparkCognition, please click here. For information on this innovative project, please see the video below.

Are you developing UTM solutions? Did you know that you can receive up to 14% back on your research expenses with the R&D Tax Credit? 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 a Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

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

ScaleFactor: the Antidote to Mid-Month Accounting Blues

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A former employee of a Big Four accounting firm was frustrated with the lack of innovation in the accounting and financial sectors.  His solution? Quit his job and start something new.

In 2014, Kurt Rathmann began ScaleFactor from his living room table in Austin with the vision of making traditional back office functions more efficient, especially in accounting and payroll. Rathmann carried out field research, essentially going door-to-door to investigate the needs of small businesses and incorporated his findings to develop a state of the art accounting software solution.

From bookkeeping, invoicing, to tax filings, ScaleFactor automates these time-consuming tasks to make them more efficient and to offer small business owners greater insight into the health of their business.

One of the startup’s key features is real time reporting. Most accounting firms release financial statements at the end of the month, making the first 10 to 15 days of the month “crazy busy,” explained Rathmann. “That forces the accountant to get into a phase of just trying to get it done. There are long hours, they’re not making it home for dinner, they’re just trying to complete the work.” On top of that, the data is about 30 days old and may not be as relevant. Instead, by using real time data analytics, a company can get advanced insight into its business. Rathmann said, “The data cycle gets cut from 30 days to just one or two days, and the business owner can really dictate some future actions they’ll make, and tactically navigate the business, rather than just react to it.”

Rathmann identified other bottlenecks in traditional accounting. “A lot of people dread interacting with their accountant, for whatever reason,” he said. “We’re really trying to change that.” When an owner has a pressing question, they don’t want to wait for their accountant to respond in one or two days – they expect immediate answers. Using machine learning, ScaleFactor determines how to send real-time notifications to facilitate better communication between the small business owner and the accountant.  Important messages will be sent via text message while less urgent correspondence would be sent by email.

“It’s a response to a younger generation and less personal relationships that are part of a millennial-type generation,” Rathmann said. “It’s also that people are less patient for access to data and to information that is theirs. If there is something financial-related to their business, it’s very personal to entrepreneurs and small businesses. It’s more of, ‘I want it now,’ and, ‘Why can’t I have it now? I’m supposed to have it now.’ That’s a lot of the reactions we get in the connected world we live in. People expect faster.”

Are you developing new solutions to optimize office operations? Did you know your R&D activities could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you could receive up to 14% back on your expenses? 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 Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

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

 

 

There’s no stopping its growth: Texas Business is Still King

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The results just in: Texas Business is still King!

CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business” 2018 study has declared the Lone Star State as No.1. The study ranked American states based on 10 metrics ranging from economy to quality of life. Data was collected from official government sources, business and policy experts, CNBC Global CFO Council, and other sources. The verdict? 2018’s study proved that Texas Business is still King.

Texas is the only state to have ever received the top spot four times. The last time Texas was declared No.1 was in 2012 though the state consistently scores well across the board, having never ranked below the top 5.

The energy sector is a major driving force for the economic boom in Texas business, with oil prices rising 60% and the sector creating over 350,000 jobs just last year. According to its rankings in specific categories like infrastructure (the state ranked No.1), access to capital (No.3), technology and innovation (No. 9), and cost of living (No.11), Texas business is looking pretty good.

CNBC isn’t the only one that’s recognized Texas’ economic dominance. A “2018’s Best & Worst States to Start a Business” study by WalletHub also acknowledged that Texas Business is still King. After evaluating all 50 states according to business environment, access to resources, and business costs, the study determined that Texas was the ideal location for new businesses.

Are you engaging in research activities to keep Texas businesses at the leading edge of the competition? Did you know your research activities could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you could receive up to 14% back on your expenses? 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 Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

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

No Rabbits Here: Austin-based HOPZERO battles cybercrime with hops

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Cyber-security is one of the most pressing challenges companies around the world will have to address in the coming years. Here are some recent statistics on cybercrime from thebestvpn.com:

– In 2016, the U.S government spent $28 billion on cyber-security, compared to $7.5 billion in 2007.
– According to Microsoft, the potential cost of global cyber crime to the global community is $500 billion, and a data breach can cost a company $3.8 million.
– Ransomware attacks increased by 36 percent in 2017.
– According to Warren Buffett, cyber attacks are the biggest threat to mankind, and in his opinion, this threat surpasses nuclear weapons.

With disturbing statistics like these, what can be done? An Austin-based company is developing a promising solution.

HOPZERO provides cyber-security by monitoring hops through its cloud-based service, Hop Sphere Radius Security. “For the last two years, I’ve been developing this technology to limit how far data can travel, and we do that by hop count,” Bill Alderson founder and CEO of HOPZERO said. For context, hops are one portion of the path between a source and a destination. By way of the internet, a data packet passes through bridges, routers and gateways that connects network devices, and thus the passing of a data packet is called a hop.

HOPZERO controls the number of hops a packet of data can make before it expires in a network—this means data is directed to destroy itself before it is used for pernicious or malicious purposes. “Every packet has a toll value in it, and we limit that toll value based upon our analysis that looks at every device it’s going to, and we record the hop count to and from all their peers,” Alderson continued. If a data packet is moving more hops than the set amount, HOPZERO will cease any further data movements. The hops technology controls distance, while firewalls control access, and when together, they make for an innovative defense system.

It is worth mentioning that a web server can be restricted to a local area, all the way up to another country. This is called a device hop radius. Any network device can be restricted to a set safe zone, even if a firewall is not present.

HOPZERO also wants to develop protections for various devices, including the copious amount of existent IoT devices out there. “We are automating to bring it to thousands of systems. We believe we have found the solution that everyone has been looking for that will significantly protect our government, businesses, homes and personal devices from hackers and malicious malware,” Alderson said.

Are you developing new cyber-security technologies?

Did you know that you can receive up to 14% back on your research expenses with the R&D Tax Credit? 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 Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

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

Access Beyoncé in the Blink of an Eye: Austin-based Blink Identity materializes biometric admissions technology

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Waiting in massive lineups to access venues may be a thing of the past. Austin-based startup Blink Identity has the solution we’ve all been waiting for: biometric access to a concert that is quick and seamless. “Blink Identity has created a fast, accurate and user-friendly identity service for live entertainment venues, solving the bottleneck problem and creating a preferential experience for consumers and venue owners alike,” said Jordan Fudge of Sinai Ventures, a lead investor of Blink Identity.

The company was conceived in January 2018 by Mary Haskett and Dr. Alex Kilpatrick; both of which have impressive qualifications. The duo has over a decade of experience designing, developing and deploying large scale biometric identification systems internationally for the Department of Defense, according to the company website.

Blink Identity technology works by identifying people at a normal walking pace–a revolution in itself. The system can verify the identity of 60 people per minute via a sensor and can do so in any lighting conditions, according to reports. Not having to stop and verify multiple identities allows the technology to be applied to events where tens of thousands of people gather—perfect for an entertainment company like Live Nation. “It is very notable that today we announce our partnership with, and investment in, Blink Identity, which has cutting-edge facial recognition technology, enabling you to associate your digital ticket with your image, then just walk into the show,” a Live Nation press release stated.

“Blink is revolutionary. Currently, commercial biometrics are almost nonexistent—primarily because other systems are high friction, difficult to use, inaccurate and vague about privacy/data protections. Our unique experience at large-scale/in-motion identity, combined with our focus on usability and privacy, will allow us to lead adoption in the commercial sector as well as open up new markets,” Haskett said in a statement.

The development of facial recognition technologies like the Blink Identity system can provide personalized user experiences, from VIP access to tailored advertisements. More information about Blink Identity can be found by clicking here.

Developing a way to streamline crowd admissions with biometrics? Are you using biometrics for other technological purposes? Swanson Reed wants to hear from you! Did you know that you can receive up to 14% back on your research expenses with the R&D Tax Credit? 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 a Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services to the state of Texas. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & 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.

Reducing Agriculture Footprints in Dallas: Eden Green Technology develops Crisply, an optimal plant growth process

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A Dallas-based vertical farming company is revolutionizing how food is produced. Eden Green Technology’s Crisply is flaunting its lush, emerald green produce as a cleaner and safer alternative to traditional agriculture methods.

Soil, which can contain E. coli and Listeria, both of which have had their shining moments in American headlines as of late, poses more risks and has less of a yield when producing greens. In comparison, Eden Green’s vertical farming techniques require less water and land than traditional soil methods. The company has reportedly also reduced its cooling costs by one-eighth when compared to other greenhouse methods.

Free of pesticides, herbicides and chemicals, Eden Green uses a vine system where each plant is enclosed in a microclimate bubble. “We perfected this transformative vertical closed-loop solution to flow water, nutrients, oxygen and sunlight into the plants’ microclimate at the perfect ratio, in order to optimize the natural powers of photosynthesis to maximize output for people who need it most,” the company website boasts.

The seeds used are organic and non-GMO. All plants are grown under natural light and grow year-round. Eden Green expects to grow 10 to 15 harvests a year with a crop loss of 1%. This is a massive improvement when compared to traditional soil-growing, which yields two harvests with a crop loss of 30%. With these facts and figures, Eden Green is believed to be the first vertical farm with the scalability to meet the produce needs of regional food distribution systems.

“We pick our produce, package the same-day, and stamp the date when they are harvested on the package, so consumers know exactly how fresh their salads are. We also make it possible for our retail partners to put our produce on their shelves immediately after they’ve been harvested, in some cases that same day. No other company does that,” said Jaco Booyens, Eden Green’s co-chair.

The Crisply line will debut in Texas Walmart stores come mid-July. More information about Eden Green Technology and Crisply can be found by clicking here and here respectively.

Are you developing agriculture solutions? Are you reducing environmental impacts within agriculture? Did you know that you can receive up to 14% back on your research expenses with the R&D Tax Credit? 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 a Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services to the state of Texas. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & 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.