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Nanotech and Manipulating Light: Fort Worth’s SolGro develops material to foster plant growth

SolGro, a Fort Worth startup, has developed a greenhouse material using nanotech that converts sunlight from all colors of the spectrum into red and blue light, which just so happens to be the best colors to grow plants under. “What we’re able to do is convert those unused color bands into red and blue,” said Tyler Sickels, the CEO and founder of SolGro. Traditionally, other colors of light are wasted and can even be harmful to plant growth because it aids the growth of bacteria and fungi.

The SolGro technology has proven to be so effective, it has increased some crop yields from 20 to 300 percent. “We can increase food production by at least 50 percent,” said Wei Chen, a member of the four-person team, and a physics professor who specializes in nanotechnology and material sciences at the University of Texas at Arlington.

To have astounding growth numbers like the ones mentioned, the greenhouse material was developed with emphasis on nanotechnology. SolGro couldn’t give many details away, but the nanotechnology doesn’t require batteries or a power source. “It’s just the additive that we put in the plastic that’s doing all the work. It’s a great technology that doesn’t require any energy,” Sickels said.

The company is currently focusing on smaller projects, specifically grow-ops in states where marijuana is legal. This is great news for producers of marijuana products since growing marijuana indoors requires more energy consuming features, such as lights and electricity. The technology allows for more effective outdoor growth and with less infrastructure, thus reducing production costs. An innovation like this could completely revolutionize how food is grown and how much of it can be produced–particularly important since the world population is expected to hit 8 billion by 2025. “It’s more expensive than traditional greenhouse plastics, but your payback is very quick so it’s an easy sell,” Sickels said. Sickels also wants to sell smaller applications in hardware stores. It will be a material that can be used by everyday people who have access to a rooftop garden or to a space that can accommodate a greenhouse.

Are you improving food production techniques with nanotechnology? 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.

Preventing School Shootings in Texas: App encourages youth to collaborate with officials

In a world dominated by smartphone usage, a developer has created a solution for bridging the gap between an unlikely duo: law enforcement officials and students. How so? By way of an app, of course.

Developed by Microassist, a primary training vendor for the State of Texas, the DPS (Department of Public Safety) application, iWatch Texas, will allow teachers, students and parents to report anything deemed suspicious, which in return could save numerous lives.

“It’s the first statewide mobile app of its kind in the U.S. that helps citizens track, identify and report on potential criminal activity. With the rise of the mobile generation, organizations with mission critical content – like DPS – greatly benefit from expanding their reach to a wider and technologically oriented audience,” said Microassist’s CEO, Sanjay Nasta in an official press release on the company’s website.

“Making sure the information is forwarded to the correct agency is a big part of this. Before, the information might now go to the right people, might not go in a timely manner, might not be there when the information is needed,” said Lieutenant Nick Bristow of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office. “[The application] gives law enforcement and school administrators a chance to intervene before it’s too late.”

The app already encompasses useful features, such as information on most wanted fugitives, sex offenders and human trafficking. Reports are transmitted to the Austin Regional Intelligence Center (North Texas Fusion Center in McKinney for the Dallas/Fort Worth area) where the information is then vetted and passed along to analysts from local, state and federal agencies. The information is used to gather intelligence and vet security threats, and is then passed on to local law enforcement agencies and school districts, respectively.

The suspicious activity reporting feature mentioned in this article will have a separate application in the future, according to an article by NBCDFW. The iWatch Texas application, along with an official overview, can be found by clicking here.

Are you developing an application that can save lives? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can 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.

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“We want to build Texas into a global brand” – F&R Distilling Co. opens Whiskey Ranch in Fort Worth

“I think people don’t realize what it takes to make a great whiskey,” Leonard Firestone said. “It’s a little bit of art, it’s a little bit of science. It’s time, of course.” Firestone is one of the owners behind Firestone and Robertson Distilling Co. founded in 2010. The company is known for its TX Whiskey and TX Straight Bourbon. The owners recently opened a huge Whiskey Ranch five miles from downtown Fort Worth. The facility was four and a half years in the making and will offer Texans and tourists an immersive whiskey experience.

In explaining why they started the company, Robertson said, “An ah-ha moment when we were in the process of building the company and kind of putting all the pieces together was the fact that Texas is the second largest consuming state of whiskey in the country, but very little of it was made here.” To change that, F&R developed its own distillery. It first debuted its signature TX Blended Whiskey in 2013 which went onto win the Best American Craft Whiskey title as well as double gold at the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco that same year. As the Robb Report described the whiskey, “With a luscious array of flavors—chocolate, orange, cinnamon, and clove—yet a surprising lightness on the palate, the 82-proof whiskey is ideal for sipping neat or on the rocks—though it also makes an excellent cocktail.”

Robertson explained, “It’s important to know the reason all of this was done. We have a vision to distribute our whiskey around the world. We want to build Texas into a global brand.” When F&R first started, there were only about 10 active distillery licenses. Now, there are over 100. With the Whiskey Ranch, F&R hopes to solidify its reputation as one of the pioneers in the Texan distillery scene. The ranch Is expansive, stretching 112 acres of land and comes complete with a bar, a store, event space, an 18-hole golf course, and even a secret entrance leading to a speak-easy style dining room. It is currently only open on Thursdays and Fridays until December. Public daily tours will commence in January 2018, allowing visitors to see how whiskey is made from fermentation to bottling. Of course, visitors will also be able to sample the whiskeys. The new facility is expected to increase the company’s production from three barrels to 40 a day.

Did you know that the experimentation involved in creating a whiskey recipe as well as building the Whiskey Ranch facility could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit? If you are also developing similar experiments, you could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit, even if your whiskeys aren’t yet in production. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

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

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Clean and Pristine: Fort Worth-based Clarus Glassboards Changing the Way We Write on Walls

Ever been ready to brainstorm with your team but you end up spending more time cleaning the conference room’s filthy whiteboard that still has smudges from the past decade? Clarus Glassboards understands that frustrating feeling and created innovative dry-erase glass surfaces so that “Yesterday’s presentation will no longer be today’s distraction.”

What began as an idea born out of a Fort Worth garage in 2009 has since expanded across the country and the globe. Founded by Robby Whites and Jeremy Rincon, Clarus Glassboards’ major clients include AT&T, Macy’s, Apple, Texas Instruments, Tesla, Twitter, and Amazon. The founders, along with Clarus President Andrew Philipp, were recognized in 2015 as EY Entrepreneurs of the Year.

Whites and Rincon started the company after they lost their jobs in the financial services industry. Because of their experience during the Great Recession, they pursued manufacturing instead of high-tech because they wanted to build a product that was more hands-on. As Whites described, “When we lost our jobs, we want to make something tangible; if you dropped it on your foot it would hurt.”

Made from Vitro’s Starphire glass, Clarus Glassboards would not only hurt if you dropped it on your foot, it probably won’t break either. The Glassboards are anti-glare, durable, and as easy to clean as a bathroom mirror. Better yet, these surfaces come in customizable sizes and colors to fit clients’ diverse needs, whether it’s in the classroom, the office, or the hospital. The company even developed a limited edition ping pong table.

Part of the secret to the company’s success? It builds its product right here in the United States rather than outsource. Whites explained, “Clients appreciate our being able to make a product and ship it quick; they appreciate customization; they appreciate high quality. We have to own and control the manufacturing process.” When Amazon requested hundreds of Glassboards within a few days for its newly opened office in Romania, Clarus was able to respond immediately because it manufactured at home. “No one else in the world could have done that for [Amazon],”Philipp said.

Clarus Glassboards’ product and manufacturing process are a result of constant innovation. Did you know the company’s innovative experiments are considered R&D and could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit? If you are conducting similar experiments, you could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

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Fort Worth Entrepreneur Making Things a Little Sweeter with Lisa’s Lemonade

Lemonade was a family favorite in Lisa Freeney’s home. Yet, as a single mother of a son diagnosed with ADHD who cannot consume sugar and preservatives, Freeney understands the importance of a healthy diet for her family. She hoped to find a product suitable for her family’s needs but the market failed to provide one. And so, Freeney decided to come up with her own recipe. The result? Lisa’s Lemonade.

Launched only just last month, Lisa’s Lemonade has already made quite the splash in the organic food market. With frozen lemonade mixes from carrot ginger to strawberry lemonade, the company offers a unique, organic, and sugar-free take on the American classic drink. Most of her products are sold out on the company’s website.

With her son as the first client, Freeney knew she had to come up with a beverage that was healthy without compromising on taste. It took years to develop the right balance. Freeney described the process as challenging: “My file with failed recipes is packed, dog-eared and now filled with so many great memories of ‘No, not that one!’ with puckered faces and half-finished glasses of lemonade down the drain.” After much trial and error, she discovered the right recipe. As she stated, “Eventually, the perfect recipe emerged and after an almost year’s search for just the right organic sweetener manufacturer, I found them as well. So I’ve done the work, you just sit back and enjoy the flavor. Deal?”

The company maintains that its products are made without pesticides and with organic ingredients, including the sweeteners such as Stevia, erythritol, and a dash of agave. Lisa’s Lemonade is on track to securing the USDA Organic Certification soon.

Speaking at the Entrepreneur Summit in Fort Worth earlier this week, Freeney said, “I had a real passion for this. It was not just to make a product but also to make a difference.”

Did you know Freeney’s trial and error process, even the failed recipes, is considered research and development, and is therefore eligible for the R&D Tax Credit? If you are conducting similar experiments, you could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

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18 billionaires from Dallas-Fort Worth make Forbes’ 400 Richest Americans List in 2017

Forbes released its annual 400 Richest Americans list on Tuesday, October 17 and the verdict is in: 18 of the 34 Texans who made the cut call Dallas-Fort Worth “home”.

The richest Texan is Alice Walton, 68, the Walmart heiress who resides in Dallas-Fort Worth and whose estimated net worth is at $38.2 billion. She ranks No. 13 on the Forbes 400. She is an active curator of art, serving as Chairman of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas and having supported the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.

Texas’ economy is diverse but its main sources of wealth are oil, gas, and pipelines. The Forbes 400 reflected this with Robert Bass, Ray Lee Hunt, Trevor Rees-Jones, and Sid Bass among DFW residents in the Top 400 whose fortunes were built on oil. Others like Andrew Beal and H. Ross Perot Senior and Junior made their wealth through real estate. Sports also played a role, with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, worth an estimated $5.6 billion, rounding out the top three richest Texans and No. 95 in the country. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has an estimated $3.3 billion, making him the 21^st richest Texan. Cuban is also an investor on the television show, “Shark Tank.”

Bill Gates remains the richest American, with $89 billion. Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, claimed the No.2 spot with $81.5 billion, replacing Warren Buffett who previously held title for fifteen years and now sits at No. 3 with $78 billion. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg rounded the top four Richest Americans with a net worth of $71 billion.

2017 has proven a successful year for the country’s wealthiest Americans. Forbes’ 400 criteria jumped from 2016’s $1.7 billion net worth threshold to $2 billion. The Forbes 400’s total net worth is $2.7 trillion compared to last year’s $2.4 trillion.

Despite the minimum increase, 22 newcomers made the Forbes 400 list with 14 of them being self-made entrepreneurs. Notable innovators include Don Vultaggio, founder of Arizona ice tea and Tito Beveridge who created Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Netflix founder Reed Hastings also notably landed a spot on the Forbes 400 with an estimated $2.2 billion.

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur in Dallas-Fort Worth engaging in R&D to develop new products and maybe one day make the Forbes 400 Richest Americans List? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and can receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

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Fort Worth plastic surgeon’s non-invasive CoolSculpting demonstrates R&D in cosmetic surgery industry

Most people wouldn’t immediately think of research and development when they think of cosmetic surgery, but this Fort Worth-based plastic surgeon’s decision to introduce CoolSculpting in her practice demonstrates otherwise.

In a press release earlier today, Kirby Plastic Surgery in Fort Worth announced that it will offer CoolSculpting as a fat reduction treatment. Citing safety and efficacy for her clients, Dr. Emily Kirby asserts that CoolSculpting has improved in recent years and offers the product needed by clients. FDA-cleared, the procedure reduces fat by using cryolipolysis to freeze the skin and destroy fat cells without harming surrounding tissues. It reduces isolated fat bulges without the need for needles, incisions, anaesthesia, and there is no downtime for patients. From a process of research and development, CoolAdvantage was also developed. Building on the findings of CoolSculpting, CoolAdvantage treats more parts of the body, including thighs, chin, and arms, in addition to the abdomen and flanks. It is also faster than its predecessor, cutting down treatment duration from one hour to 35 minutes.

The procedure is non-invasive and more comfortable than traditional plastic surgery treatments. Dr. Kirby states, “A growing number of patients have expressed interest in minimally invasive alternatives to surgery to address effects of genetics, aging and childbearing on their bodies. My priority is to provide patients the results they want in a safe, predictable way.” Plastic surgery is on the rise, with over 11.6 million nonsurgical procedures conducted in 2016 in the United States, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. New technologies are constantly being developed.

Are you also developing new or improving existing body sculpting technologies? Did you know this constitutes R&D? If this sounds like you, you could be eligible for an R&D Tax Credit, even if your experiments and trials haven’t been successful. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

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On the road in Texas and need a bathroom? Buc-ee’s High-Tech Tooshlights Got You Covered

If you’ve ever driven along the North Freeway on the way to Fort Worth, you’ve probably stopped by Buc-ee’s, the famous roadside store with its quirky finds, tasty Beaver Bites, and world-renowned bathrooms. Now, the company is adding an even “smarter” upgrade: high-tech bathrooms with Tooshlights.

Jeff Nadalo, Buc-ee’s general counsel, announced that by next year, the company’s 33 stores across Texas will have a whole new system of high-tech bathrooms developed by Tooshlights, a Los Angeles startup. Providing relief for the tired traveler, Buc-ee’s bathrooms are known for their pristine cleanliness and spaciousness as well as its iconic Texas décor. Nadalo has emphasized that clean restrooms are truly “one of the most important pieces of our customer experience.”

With the new Tooshlights technology, Buc-ee’s will take the bathroom experience one step further. Tooshlights was founded in 2013 by Allen Klevens who came up with the idea while he was waiting for a bathroom stall at the Hollywood Bowl. Finding the wait time incredibly long and wearisome, Klevens came up with a system to manage bathroom traffic. Each stall in the Tooshlights system is equipped with a “smart latch” that connects to a colored light above each stall. These ceiling lights indicate whether a particular stall is occupied or vacant. Green indicates unlocked and empty while red signifies locked and in use. There is also a blue light for handicapped-accessible stalls. You don’t need to awkwardly knock on bathroom stalls anymore. Additionally, the Tooshlights software can monitor cleanliness of stalls and send notifications to staff about when it is time to clean a bathroom stall. It can also monitor when a stall has not been occupied in awhile and one that would require further attention.

Tooshlights’ ground-breaking approach to improving bathroom traffic makes it a perfect fit with Buc-ee’s reputation as a provider of extremely immaculate toilets. As one of Buc-ee’s billboards declares, “Your Throne Awaits. Fabulous Restrooms – 32 miles.” Who knows what new innovations are in store for Buc-ee’s next year?

Experimenting with high-tech ways to manage bathroom traffic like Tooshlights and Buc-ee’s? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

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Fort Worth Company NanOlogy Leads the Way to Treating Prostrate Cancer

Last week, NanOlogy, a Fort Worth-based pharmaceutical company, made headlines when it enrolled its first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial to test a new chemotherapy method to fight ovarian cancer. This week, the same company is changing the game again: this time to treat prostrate cancer.

27,000 American men die from prostrate cancer each year and about 3 million are currently diagnosed with the disease. Only patients at a higher risk for the disease’s progression are treated while those who are considered “low risk” are monitored closely and not treated. Prostatectomy is a common treatment but it is known for its side effects that decrease a patient’s quality of life, such as incontinence and impotence.

NanOlogy, in contrast, is developing a more convenient alternative with its patented intratumorally-injected NanoPac (nanoparticle paclitaxel). Currently in Phase 2 of its clinical trial, NanoPac will be monitored for its effects on safety and efficacy. Clinical Director of NanOlogy, Shelagh Verco, told Business Wire, “If we are successful, we may offer a treatment option for moderate or high risk patients with localized or non-metastatic disease without a negative impact on quality of life.” While mainstream treatments are limited to metastatic disease, NanOlogy hopes this can treat the disease before metastasis occurs. Dr. Gere diZerega, NanOlogy’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, explained, “Systemically administered paclitaxel has been shown to be effective for prostate cancer but is limited to metastatic disease. This clinical trial is the first study in humans to examine whether NanoPac injected intratumorally will effectively and safely treat the tumor with a high locally sustained concentration of the drug.”

NanOlogy is a collaboration among Fort Worth’s DFB Pharmaceuticals as well as Kansas’ CritiTech and California’s US Biotest. The firm aims to develop and improve the safety and efficacy of drug delivery by using nanoparticle technology to treat cancer. Other projects for the ambitious firm include developing treatments for lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, and others.

Are you also developing new chemotherapeutic treatments like NanOlogy using R&D? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

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