From Fudge to Face Masks: How Businesses are Adapting During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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A health crisis, like the one we’re facing now, can very quickly turn into an economic crisis. Across the country, state governments have taken action in an effort to enforce social distancing. In some states, enforced business closures are taking place, and there’s an across-the-board push for people to stay home. But, as we retreat and self-isolate, many ‘non-essential’ businesses (basically anything other than grocery, gas or medical) are seeing a decrease in customers, and therefore income. Consequently, people are losing their jobs and companies are closing up shop.

So, in a time of chaos, how do we stay afloat? One Texas company says it’s all about adapting.

Sweet Shop USA has been hand-making chocolates for more than 40 years. And, with more than 100 varieties sold at 7,000 retailers nationwide, it’s the largest handmade chocolate manufacturer in the country. But when the entire global population is being told to stay home, chocolate, truffles, fudge and toffee aren’t seen as necessities. So the company was at a crossroads: try to get by, or adapt.

It took the adapt route.

A quarter of the company’s 80,000 square foot facility will now be dedicated to making PVC face masks, called ‘Waymaker Facial Shields’. This way, employees are kept, trained in a new skillset, and given plenty of work. And, it comes at a time when hygiene and safety is of great concern, and more worryingly, healthcare workers are seeing a massive shortage of PPE products. The FDA-approved shields are designed for environments where there’s a high splash risk, like pharmaceutical, laboratory science or manufacturing.

Sweet Shop USA’s Angie Moss told KTBS, “we’re just delighted to be able to help in this wartime effort so to speak. We’re just grateful for the opportunity and just to keep our employees working, pay our bills, and get us through this time. Chocolate is our business and we’re still making chocolate.”

It’s not the only company adapting to the situation:

Are you developing an innovative product to help in the global crisis? Your work 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.

Meet the Company Innovating Ear Treatment

Global Microbiology Industry Projected to Grow Due to R&D Expenditure and Innovation

While the phrase ‘ear wax build up’ may bring about images of Shrek fastening himself a candle, for some people it brings that horrible itchy, painful feeling.  And ‘some people’ in this instance means millions of Americans;

  • roughly 10% of the U.S. adult population (25 million) has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year,
  • approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) report some trouble hearing, and
  • five out of six children experience ear infection (otitis media) by the time they’re three years old.

With ear-related issues causing so much hassle and harm, logically there should be plenty of medical products to assist, right? Unfortunately this isn’t the case.

Texas based biotechnology company Eosera saw this market gap, and decided to do something about it. The company specializes in ear care products, with a focus on addressing underserved medical needs.

The Company’s Evolution

In 2015, Elyse Dickerson and Joe Griffin suddenly lost their jobs at a big pharma company, and rebounded by building a biotech company. The pair partnered with Tech Fort Worth and went through months of development and more than 200 formulations to create their first product, Earwax MD.  In 2017, the over-the-counter earwax solution went on sale on Amazon and in CVS stores all around the country. By the end of 2019, Eosera had added six more products to its line and expanded to a larger facility. Now, it sells its products in more than 13,000 stores across the U.S.

And rapid growth isn’t the only thing the company’s proud of. Eosera’s majority owned and operated by women, and empowering women in STEM is a big deal to the female CEO. It also manufactures all products in house, and practices ‘conscious capitalism’, a principle that companies should do more for their customers, investors, employees, and the environment than make money.

The company was founded because Elyse and Joe believed big pharma had it wrong. They believed people were worth more than just what they contributed to the bottom line, and they believed people were more than numbers. Creating a culture and an environment where people were valued, appreciated, heard, and treated fairly was and is extremely important to the pair. Before they even had a product, Elyse and Joe agreed upon starting their business that they wanted to put people first and money second. Echoed through the office is the manta “put people first and the profits will follow”. Having doubled Eosera’s sales year over year for the past 3 years, it’s safe to say they’re are doing something right. Eosera is innovating the industry by developing effective, long-lasting products and prioritizing people over profits.

The Products

The story behind Eosera’s products is actually simple; where there’s market need, the company finds a way to create it. A lot of products, specifically Ear Itch MD, Ear Itch MD Nighttime and Ear Clean MD, were created because of consumer market research. During this market research, the company found 77% of 25- to 44-year-olds reported that they are motivated to buy Eosera products to keep ears clean on a routine basis. 70% of consumers feel that ear health and cleaning ears consistently is important to them. With those statistics, how could Eosera not create a routine ear cleaning product? Additionally, in the same consumer market research, ear itch products were requested. So, Eosera delivered. And its premium ear care products are welcomed in a market where there aren’t a lot of options.

  • Earwax MD is the company’s core product – a specialized drop solution. It’s the only one of its kind designed to dissolve ear wax in 15 to 30 minutes with a once-off treatment.
  • Wax Blaster MD sounds futuristic, and in a way it kind of is; the ear irrigation kit is an innovative solution to help in extreme cases of ear wax impaction.  The spray-bottle-esk product includes a bottle, long spout, soft tips and a wash basin, eliminating the mess of cleaning ears, and allowing for safe, accurate spray.
  • Ear Itch MD was made to help overcome that annoying, itchy feeling, and the safety issues around sticking cotton buds or fingers in ear canals. And, because all heroes need a side kick, the company created Ear Itch MD Nighttime, to be used nightly to moisturize and soothe itchiness.
  • Ear Pain MD was made for when irritation passes the point of discomfort. Unlike most pain relief, this product is in the form of a drop, so can target the pain’s source. The company also developed a version for kids’ ears too, who are some of the worst impacted when it comes to ear infections and related issues.
  • Ear Clean MD is Eosera’s most recent development – a product designed for consistent weekly use. It came from many years of research, and a realization that we clean our face and teeth on a daily basis, but not our ears.
  • Earwax Pet means that furry friends are not left behind. This product is specially formulated for monthly cleaning of our pets’ ears (especially the ones likely to be rolling in dirt).

Product innovations are carefully thought out by scientists, tested, formulated, and marketed before they hit the shelves in stores like CVS and Rite Aid. Time is spent thinking and asking the market what it needs, and creating from there. Scientists at Eosera carefully and safely develop innovative products for consumers, in a market where there has been little to no innovation in decades.

Are you developing innovative health products? Did you know your work 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 preparation and 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.

Battling Health Problems with Mother Earth

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With the world in utter turmoil over health concerns, we’re all looking to how we can improve our immune systems, and look after our bodies. But, this isn’t the start of this trend. In the past few years, there’s been a push for cleaner, healthier diets.  Whether it be vegan food or less chemicals, millions of people are making better choices, and it’s having twofold impacts on both health and the environment. In fact, now more than ever we’re realizing how vital it is to have fresh, healthy nutrients in our bodies.

Medical company Mother Earth Labs understands the value in this, and has done for more than 15 years. The company crafts premium nutritional health products using the earth’s finest whole food ingredients – superfoods, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and botanicals – to help people replenish naturally.

The Company

From its founding in 2003, the Texas based company has endeavored to combine natural ingredients with science. The company is made up of experts with backgrounds in health sciences, pharmaceutical and nutritional health industries. Not only that, but it prides itself on small batch production to guarantee fresh and pure products. And, these products are free from gluten, soy, GMOs, and artificial flavors, sweeteners, and colors. The company works with like-mind suppliers and growers who share values of sustainability and traceability, and take pride in producing pure, high-quality, organic and non-GMO products. Even vegans, gym junkies and pets are taken into account…

Mother Earth Labs creates:

  • multi vitamins – single, one-ounce shots that are filled with potent natural vitamins, ionic minerals and other whole food ingredients,
  • humic and fulvic acid solutions, for GI health,
  • hormone-free, grass-fed whey or plant based protein powders, and
  • pet supplements.

The Impacts on Bodies

Every ingredient Mother Earth Labs uses, should be in an average diet. But, the key word here is ‘should’. Many people have problems getting it all into their diet, for a number of different medical or life choice reasons. Hence, the company aims to provide people with naturally stimulating products.

For example: vitamins. Vitamins and minerals are often put together, but they’re very different. Vitamins are organic substances that people get through food (i.e. from plants and animals). Minerals, however, originate from rocks, soils or water, and can be absorbed indirectly from the environment. Both are micronutrients that are vital in keeping our bodies functional, healthy and free from disease.

Fulvic acid is a yellow-brown substance that’s formed when animals and plants decomposed. It’s usually found in soil, coal and/or bodies of water (i.e. streams and lakes). Though that sounds horrible, it’s being used to alleviate a number of issues, like allergy symptoms, brain disorders like dementia, inflammation and potentially to slow the growth of cancer. It also seems to have immune-stimulating and antioxidant effects.

Macronutrients, like protein, are needed at much larger quantities. Bodies use protein to build and repair tissues, and to make enzymes, hormones, and other chemicals. It’s also important in the process of building bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood. Basically the entire body.

The Impacts on the Environment

‘Organic agriculture’ essentially means that synthetic inputs are not used in the growing process. Simply, food and nutrients are farmed without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, veterinary drugs, genetically modified seeds and breeds, preservatives, additives and irradiation. ‘Sustainable agricultural practices’ by comparison, refer to the processes of focusing on a healthy environment, economic profitability, and social and economic equity during farming. Both involve taking a proactive approach to farming. The combination of the two has massive impacts on (pun definitely intended) mother earth, such as minimized pollution (both air and water); increased wildlife biodiversity; more nutrient-rich soil and water (i.e. faster growing, better tasting produce); and, long term farming sustainability.

Mother Earth Labs is a company concerned with not only our health, but also the health of the planet. And we should be too.

Are you developing innovative health products? Did you know your work 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 preparation and 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.

Self-driving trucks begin deliveries in Texas.

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Self-driving vehicles have been a massive conversation topic in the past decade, and have revolutionized the way we look at cars. But when you think about these vehicles, it’s usually a small car driving down a quiet street, or reversing into a parking spot. What about self-driving trucks? In August, 16 months after its founding, autonomous trucking startup Kodiak Robotics made its first commercial deliveries in Texas. The company’s fleet of eight trucks set off with human safety drivers behind the wheels, for now. The idea of a 40-ton vehicle being driven by technology might seem daunting, but the technological innovation could save lives and, simply put, it makes sense.

It’s no secret that truck drivers work long, tiring hours. Too often we see articles about drivers falling asleep, or crashing because of a mistake they made due to fatigue. In fact, research has found being tired behind the wheel is just as bad as being over the drink-driving limit. Even when following federal regulations, it’s a major safety concern for truck drivers to be working long, odd-hour shifts and driving a heavy vehicle, on consecutive days. In 2017, there was a national shortage of over 50,000 truck drivers, potentially because of these safety concerns.

But without the trucking industry America would shut down. 75% of the US depends on the trucking industry to make deliveries, according to Teletrac Navman. Truck drivers move about 10.5 billion tons of freight, and drive roughly 125,000 miles, each year.

This high demand, met with safety concerns, is exactly why Don Burnette and Paz Eshel founded Kodiak Robotics. The startup is revolutionizing and re-defining the trucking industry with self-driving freight trucks. This tech not only eliminates the need for tired drivers to be doing long hours, but it also just makes sense. Long-haul trucking involves a lot of highway driving, something structured and predictable, and perfectly suited to self-driving vehicles. Kodiak Robotics says, “As hard as it is to navigate city streets, autonomous vehicles are much closer to being able to drive on more structured interstate highways, which have no jaywalking pedestrians, no aggressive cyclists, and no runaway pets. That’s why we’ve focused on building technology specifically for long-haul trucks driving on highway routes, often referred to as the ‘middle mile’”. These autonomous vehicles also require fewer stops, so more efficient drive times can be accomplished.

The company built its software from scratch, rather than working from existing self-driving tech. In this way, the software is built for the trucks, so there’s no need to adaptor modify. This technology was then tested in simulations, and then on closed roads, before Kodiak Robotics rolled out the real thing across the state.

Before Kodiak Robotics, CEO Don Burnette worked on Google’s self-driving project and autonomous vehicle startup Otto. He says, “As industry veterans, we’ve seen where self-driving technology has fallen short, and have a clear vision for how to make it work and work safely.”

“Our trucks will not drive drunk, distracted or drowsy. Our trucks will never speed, or text while driving. While humans often repeat their mistakes, software learns from them. Most importantly, we will not put a truck on the road without a human behind the wheel until we have proven that our trucks are safer than a human driver. Full stop.”

Are you working with autonomous tech? Did you know your R&D work 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.

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

Life Science Growth

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.

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.

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.