Are you a startup business in the tech arena that's been around a couple years? Help me tell your story. I'm looking for startup companies and entrepreneurs to feature in this space on Tuesdays. I'm able to feature companies from Northern Virginia to Philadelphia -- my focus for this feature is on the Mid-Atlantic region!

For past examples, check these out.

Contact me at gus.sentementes(at)baltsun.com. Thanks!

This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech

If you're a startup company based in the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia area and wish to be considered for Startup Tuesday, follow the format below and send your information and photo of the founder(s) to gus.sentementes@baltsun.com. 

 

Company name: Mindgrub Technologies

Founder: Todd Marks (right)

Number of employees: 11

Location/Headquarters: Baltimore (HQ), Washington DC, NYC

Field/Industry: Rich Internet Applications, Mobile Development, Social Media Marketing

Product(s) and what it does: viaPlace - is a white-label registry and mobile device framework that enables companies to deliver their points of interest to end users based on location. Edualizer - is a digital dashboard for assessing education performance by providing tools to interpret data and provide advanced analytics through visualization.

Website/Twitter/Blog links: www.mindgrub.com; www.twitter.com/mindgrub

The genesis of the idea for the company: Mindgrub Technologies was founded in 2002 by Todd Marks, a former high school math and computer science teacher turned technologist during the height of the dotcom boom. Mindgrub was created from the need to harness technology and distribute information based on the end-user experience. Its mission is to create web-based applications and mobile experiences that focus on the end-user goal of facilitating instant information travel and be able to share knowledge faster.

Most important local/regional resource  tapped to start the company: The power of word of mouth marketing and strong network contacts.

This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech

If you're a startup company based in the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia area and wish to be considered for Startup Tuesday, follow the format below and send your information and photo of the founder(s) to gus.sentementes@baltsun.com. 

*Company: Msgworx

*Website: www.msgworx.com

*Product and  What it Does: A next generation online form of communication (see http://www.msgworx.com/demo3.html), MsgWorx is designed to meet the communications needs of companies using their own uniquely designed multi-media interactive video and presentation player. Beyond streaming video, this innovative platform gives users a person-to-person experience that puts the viewer in control of a web-based experience and helps companies monetize that experience with real-time research and results that go much deeper than reporting simple page views. Some companies using the product: Sallie Mae, AAA, and local Toyota dealers.

*Founder: Rick Otenasek

* Number of Employees: 8 full-time, 4 part-time & free-lance contributors

* Headquarters: 30 E. Padonia Rd., Timonium MD, 21093

* Field/Industry: Online Marketing and Communications

* Genesis of the Idea for MsgWorx: From his extensive experience in the cable TV industry from 1985 through 1997, founder Rick Otenasek foresaw the convergence of video and broadband. Rick left Comcast in 1997 to start his own communications company and developed a web based tool for publishing video to the web. The first version of the company’s application was launched in 2002, as a “Video-on-Demand web portal”. The second release of the application was developed in 2004, with significant enhancements that evolved beyond streaming video and incorporated rich media. The third release was launched in 2008. This third-generation application is now complimented by production, consulting & support services. In response to clients’ request for help producing their communications, MsgWorx has recruited a team of talented creative professionals to handle these productions. This multi-disciplined team works with clients to produce, distribute & manage interactive, multi-media communications that deliver measurably better results.

* Most Important local/regional resource you tapped into to start your company: In late 2007, the company brought in an investor/CEO with global experience growing early-stage businesses and managing large-scale operations. From his own broad business experience in positions up through the level of CEO, MsgWorx’s CEO Frank Otenasek understood that businesses need bottom-line solutions, not just cool technology. The CEO and the Founder recognized that companies and organizations need a better way to communicate to achieve their key business goals. 

This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech

Welcome to another edition of BaltTech's Startup Tuesday, where we highlight a fresh startup from the Mid-Atlantic region every week. If you're interested in having your startup featured, shoot me an email at gus.sentementes@baltsun.com.

Without further ado, here's today's featured company:

* Company Name: Encore Path

* Founder: Kris Appel

* Number of Employees: 2

* Location: Canton, the Can Company, Baltimore, MD

* Field: Medical devices

* Product: The Tailwind, a device for improving arm function and range of motion in stroke survivors with paralysis

* Website/Twitter: www.encorepath.com, @encorepath

* Genesis of the idea for the company: Kris Appel wanted to start a company but didn’t have an idea, so she looked at technologies that were available for licensing from Maryland universities that she could build a company around. Not having a background in stroke or rehabilitation, I nevertheless saw the Tailwind and immediately believed in it. It was invented at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, it had good scientific evidence, and she thought it was something that could improve the lives of millions of stroke survivors around the world. So Appel licensed it, developed it, brought it to market, and is just now beginning to sell it.

* Most important local resource Appel tapped into: There were three. First of all, the ACTiVATE program at UMBC – it develops technology entrepreneurship skills in mid-career women. Secondly, Appel was a recipient of Challenge Funds from the Department of Business and Economic Development – very critical to early-stage funding. And thirdly, she was generously supported by funding from TEDCO, which enabled me to hire an engineering firm to complete the product development.
This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech

* Company name: Enercient Systems Technologies

* Founders: Sean Wright, Melanie Tindale, John Tindale (left to right)

* Number of employees: Three

* Headquarters: 6339 Ten Oaks Road Suite 301 Clarksville, MD 21029

* Field/Industry: HVAC, Wireless, Energy Management

* Product(s) and what it does: Our wireless system monitors energy usage in commecial buildings and helps owners obtain real-time metrics on energy use. We plan to provide and install them locally, and market them nationally to HVAC installing contractors and controls companies.

* Website/Twitter: http://www.enercient.com, http://twitter.com/johntindale

* The genesis of the idea for the company: We wanted to find a way to make energy monitoring more affordable, and more cost effective for property managers and owners. We found that existing controls and monitoring solutions were designed around older models of energy management, and we wanted to incorporate the latest data on energy savings methods.

* Most important local/regional resource tapped to start company: Control Cable from Baltimore, MD partnered with us, and was instrumental in helping us assemble our first prototype, and will provide packaging, assembly and other solutions for our devices as they are shipped out.

This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech