Tiger Cage 2023

IT’S ALL ABOUT PASSION

2023 TIGER CAGE PITCH COMPETITION

“ Entrepreneurship isn’t just about having an idea; it’s about understanding how to bring ideas to reality. At the New Venture Accelerator, we understand this challenge and are commied to helping young entrepreneurs by providing experienced mentoring, counseling, and support during each step of their journey. -LOU BIFANO

For what you believe in. For what you see possible . For the courage to follow that passion. To do what it takes to make your DREAMS COME TRUE. You can’t fake passion, and it can’t be taught. For whatever reason, when it comes to becoming a successful entrepreneur, passion seems to be something that you either have, or you don’t. This was one constant in all four nalists of Auburn’s 2023 annual Tiger Cage Student Business Idea Competition. They all had passion and the courage to pursue it.

THEIR STORIES CAN BE FOUND HERE.

Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani

Sco Rowe DROPLLEL RODOPTO

Zakariya Veasy

11 15

OMNIS

Shay Pilcher

ARCHANGEL DEFENSE

PARVIN

IT’S ALL ABOUT PASSION. AND WHEN IT COMES TO ENTREPRENEURS, YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT.

Passion – and the courage to pursue it – was clearly in the hearts and minds of all four fi nalists of Auburn’s annual Tiger Cage Student Business Idea Competition this past March 31st. Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani (Dropllel), Zakariya Veasey (OMNIS), Scott Rowe (Rodopto) and Shay Pilcher (Archangel Defense) spoke passionately about their new business ideas that spanned a wide range of industries, target markets and innovative solu- tions to pressing needs.

thought, or at least a local pharmacy-based test that was quicker, easier to use? Something that approached the accuracy of PCR tests with- out all the hassle, cost and inaccuracies of the home-based tests that started to come out. “Why isn’t there a home-based test, I thought, or at least a local pharmacy-based test that was quicker, easier to use? Something that approached the accuracy of PCR tests with- out all the hassle, cost and inaccuracies of the home-based tests that started to come out. And just like everybody else, Parvin went through the time-consuming process of sched- uling an appointment and lining up to get a PCR test at a designated test site and then wait- ing a couple of days to get her results back. According to Parvin, PCR – which means ‘pol- ymerase chain reaction’ – is a fairly accurate test. But it struck her that this type of meth- odology for testing millions of people – many of whom might not be able to get to this kind of a test site easily or quickly enough to stop the spread – seemed out of step with the latest developments in the application of nanotech- nology to biological issues. The goal is to both highlight how Auburn’s New Venture Accelerator is helping drive new business formation as well as how each of these four extraordinary individuals and their teams are progressing the develop- ment of meaningful inventions and new busi- ness opportunities. DROPLLEL WINS 2023 TIGER CAGE FINALS First up – Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani, founder of Dropllel, which is developing an innovative diagnostic device that provides accurate, rapid and cost-effective detection of virus antigens such as COVID-19, the fl u and other infectious diseases to expand and facili- tate testing and lower the possibility of large- scale spread. Parvin’s motivation for Dropllel came from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic itself. “We lost more than 6.6 million people across the globe to Covid,” says Parvin, “in large part because we were unprepared to con- front an emerging, easily transmittable infec- tious disease. Like everyone else, I was con- cerned with whether or not I’d been infected and went about getting tested.”

So, why is passion so important?

Chris Ducker, founder of Youpreneur®, is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker and author of bestselling books on entrepreneur- ship. He cites ten reasons why passion is such a critical component of entrepreneurial success. Passion gives you the motivation and confi dence that you need to deliver your mis- sion and purpose for what you do and why you do it. • Passion helps you network with the right people who share similar perspectives.

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Passion helps you own your space and become an expert in what you do. Passion helps you create authentic con- tent that resonates with the right audience. Passion sets you apart from competitors. Passion inspires the vision for your busi- ness even if it’s in a niche that no one has done before. Passion attracts the right consumers to your business. Passion helps you build an authentic brand and brand story. Passion helps bring you clarity in times when you feel stuck or uncertain. Passion helps you set a solid founda- tion for your business and establish core values.

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ENTREPRENEUR, PASSION SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU EITHER HAVE, OR YOU DON’T. FAKE PASSION, AND IT CAN’T BE TAUGHT. FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHEN IT COMES TO BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR, PASSION. FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. FOR WHAT YOU SEE POSSIBLE. FOR THE COURAGE TO FOLLOW THAT PASSION. TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE. YOU CAN’T PASSION SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU EITHER HAVE, OR YOU DON’T.

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Business Idea Competition one-on-one to conduct a deep dive into who they are, what they’re trying to do and why they are so pas- sionately dedicated to their dreams of starting a new business based on their own personal The NVA recently sat down with each of the four fi nalists of the 2023 Tiger Cage Student Business Idea Competition one-on- one to conduct a deep dive into who they are, what they’re trying to do and why they are so passionately dedicated to their dreams of start- ing a new business based on their own personal and soon-to-be-professional dreams.

Surely the technology is there – why isn’t it being applied?” A PASSION FOR SOLUTIONS The answers Parvin got failed to satisfy her passion to make things better, to add the insight and expertise she had garnered in her academic research in electrical and computer engineering to helping solve this critical, world- wide need. “Having a rapid, accurate diagnostic test platform for Covid, the fl u and a host of other infectious diseases seems so very important,” notes Parvin. “I want this capability available in every household.” Parvin and her team, which includes Dr. Masoud Mahjouri Samani assistant pro- fessor in Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and Dr. Sahar Hasim, assistant professor of biology at Mercer University, went about exploring how an electronic bio sensor might be able to detect Covid-19 in a matter of seconds. What they discovered was that an elec- tronic device based on two-dimensional (2D) materials could be modi fi ed with antibodies so that it can immediately detect the Covid- 19 virus spike protein when placed on the cir- cuit. Spike proteins are present in the Covid- 19 virus as well as many other viruses and ena- ble the viruses to penetrate host cells and cause infection. The protein interacts with the anti- body within the testing device to change the electronic properties of the microscopically thin, single layer 2D material. “The virus spike protein sets off a change in the electrical conductivity properties of the transistor surface as soon as the sample is placed there,” says Parvin, “and that change produces a response that is so clear and meas- urable that the test result is provided to the tester immediately.” One of the most promising aspects of this new approach is that these circuits are based on low-cost 2D materials that can be fabricated in high volume using conventional semiconduc- tor technologies.

“I can’t say enough about all the indis- pensable insight and extraordinary help we’ve received from the Intellectual Property Exchange (IPX) here at Auburn in fi ling our The Dropllel system is based on a patent fi led by Auburn University, Parvin, Masoud and other co-contributors and licensed to Dropllel. The university will share in the suc- cess of Dropllel via intellectual property royal- ties generated by sales of the readers and indi- cation-speci fi c test circuits. “The beauty of this system is that a sin- gle reader can detect multiple medical indica- tions – the only thing that changes is the anti- bodies loaded onto the circuitry depending on whether it is Covid, the fl u, pregnancy,” says Parvin. “The list of potential conditions is end- less at this point.” COVID-19 Virus” co-authored by Parvin, Masoud, Sahar and Michael C. Hamilton, pro- fessor in electrical and computer engineering at Auburn and director of the Alabama Micro/ Nano Science and Technology Center; Marcelo A. Kuroda, associate professor in physics at Auburn; Nurul Azam, Auburn graduate stu- dent in electrical and computer engineering; and Lu Wang, Auburn graduate student in phys- ics. The paper was published by the American Chemical Society ACS NANO, a recognized leader in publishing nanoscience and nano- technology research, and explains how two- dimensional fi eld-effect transistors, which use an electric fi eld to control the fl ow of current in a semiconductor, are the optimal devices for this application due to their high surface-to- volume ratio. “If the virus is present, the cur- rent in the circuit changes, indicating a posi- tive result,” says Parvin. “If there’s no anti- body in the sample, the current doesn’t change enough to register as a signi fi cant indication. It really is that straightforward. And our sys- tem is antibody-speci fi c, meaning we can use the fundamental structure of our reader to test various viruses based on the antibodies we are looking for.” What that means is that a single, rela- tively inexpensive in-home device can be cal- ibrated to test for multiple viruses or other conditions – even pregnancy. What changes is the chips that are inserted into the reader. The system uses three chips set in a row for each test, providing a level of redundancy that pro- vides increased certainty in the results and an extremely low incidence of error. Parvin sees future applications for cancers as well.

patent and moving towards commercializing our IP,” notes Parvin. Auburn’s IPX serves as the link between the commercial marketplace and Auburn University faculty. A PATH TO SUCCESS Dropllel is targeting health care provid- ers and pharmacies like CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens as well as individual consumers for the preliminary market launch of the com- pany’s initial products. “We’re looking to take a push-pull approach that leverages the reach of established medical services partners in driving consumer visibility of our innova- tive approach to generate in-home sales,” says Parvin. “Eventually we want organizations like schools and churches to make this capability available on-site while in-home sales roll out.” In the end, it’s all about Parvin’s passion to make a difference for all involved, from doctors to pharmacies to individual patients. “This is a win-win dynamic, to be sure,” she notes. “Doctors bene fi t from timely and accurate pre-visit diagnostics, pharmacies ben- efi t from a new revenue stream and closer rela- tionships with their customers and – of course – individuals bene fi t from a quick, easy and accurate account of key health issues.”

Now, that’s what we call a true ‘Auburn’

passion for change.

RESEARCH BASED INNOVAITON

The team’s work is based on the study, “Two-Dimensional-Material-Based Field- Effect Transistor Biosensor for Detecting

DUAL PASSIONS SHAPE MASTER OF FINANCE CANDIDATE AND AUBURN PROFESSOR’S ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAM.

SCOTT ROWE

For as long as he can remember, Scott Rowe has been passionate about two things – fl ying and farming. So, it was only natural for Scott to combine those two life-long passions as he begins his transition from the Naval service. Rodopto, the drone-based agricultural services company he recently founded, is dedicated to leveraging the latest in drone technologies and advanced analytics to provide ef fi cient, cost-effective, and sustainable agricultural services to underserved segments of the farming industry. The company’s customer value proposition is to provide small and medium sized farms with seeding services and precision applications of fertilizer, fungicides pesticides, and herbicides that offer more precise and more timely coverage using less material than traditional methods. The bottom line for farmers is higher crop yields at substantially lower cost. Scott, Assistant Professor of Naval Science at Auburn and Master of Science in Finance candidate at the Harbert College of Business, won second place in Auburn’s annual Tiger Cage Student Business Idea Competition this past March 31st and is well on its way to demonstrating Rodopto’s proof-of-concept – thanks in part to his Tiger Cage winnings. HOW HE GOT HERE Scott’s professional journey began ten years ago at the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a B.S. in Computer Science. He went on to fl y both fi xed-wing and rotary- wing aircraft. After serving as a helicopter pilot and instructor pilot in the Navy, he came to Auburn in the fall of 2021 as a Naval ROTC instructor, tasked with mentoring the next generation of Naval Offi cers. DUAL PASSIONS SHAPE MASTER OF FINANCE CANDIDATE AND AUBURN PROFESSOR’S ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAM.

WHERE HE’S HEADING

“Flying – whether it is sitting at the controls in an actual aircraft or as the on the- ground pilot of a drone – requires a certain kind of high-level, intense awareness,” says Scott. “If you’re not passionate about fl ying, you wouldn’t fl y.” “As a professional aviator, I will tell you that one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen is an F-18 landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier – talk about a huge (but well managed) risk! The second most impressive thing Scott says he’s seen is a crop duster fl ying low across a farmer’s fi eld. “Obviously, that’s very dangerous as well, and equally amazing from my perspective. There’s a lot of risk involved there, too.” But as cool as that kind of ‘Top Gun’ landing is to watch, it’s all the things going on behind the scenes that fascinate me even more – the uncool, unsexy parts, the critical aspects of the mission that take place before the aircraft ever leaves the ground and continues long after it has landed.” Whether it’s supporting naval operations across the globe or skimming across a farmer’s fi eld, Scott maintains it all comes down to risk management. “In each of these two situations,” he says, “mission planning – everything that goes on before takeoff, during fl ight, upon landing, and afterwards – is designed to take as much risk as possible out of an inherently risky proposition.” When it comes to providing agricultural services such as aerial application in the not- too-distant-future, the question is, “how can we provide these services while taking on the least amount of risk?” Going forward, that likely means a shift to unmanned aerial vehicles.

Scott is taking all the experience he’s accumulated as a pilot and fl ight instructor and applying that knowledge and insight to helping farmers take advantage of the latest in drone technology to help boost their crop yields while reducing their overall cost of operation. Scott’s vision for the future of farming is bright. His vision encompasses a scenario that sees farmers of all shapes and sizes leveraging the latest advancements in technology. “When you drive through Alabama 20 years from now, you’re going to see automated tractors plowing fi elds of corn, wheat and other essential crops,” says Scott. “You’re going to see drones fl ying overhead surveying and applying necessary ingredients for crop growth and disease abatement. And what you won’t see – but will be working behind the scenes – is advanced analytics managing the effectiveness of all this automation.” The challenge, as Scott sees it, is fi nding ways for small farmers to realize the bene fi ts of ever-evolving technology and automation that increasingly larger farms will be able to utilize on a massive scale. How can they compete – or even survive – in an environment that favors economies of scale? Farmers – especially small farmers – operate on thin margins to begin with, making it imperative they manage inputs effi ciently to keep costs as low as possible in order to maximize profi t. PRECISION IS KEY One of the key differentiators between crop dusters and drone-based approaches is the ability of drones to deliver nutrients such as nitrogen fertilizers and apply agricultural chemicals precisely where and when they are needed most. This becomes important when you consider the edges of fi elds, areas not easily reached by crop dusters. For small farmers, those sections represent a much higher percentage of crops than at larger farms.

Crop dusters are required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to stay at least 500 feet from roads and structures, severely limiting their ability to reach crops on the edges. Drones, on the other hand, are allowed to fl y much closer to roads and buildings – as close as 100 feet. “This means drones offer a much broader delivery option for the entire fi eld, not just the center rows,” says Scott. “That’s the fi rst advantage – a greater footprint.” “The second advantage of drone-based crop management goes beyond geographic coverage. Drones can fl y lower than those fi xed wing aircraft, meaning they can deliver nutrients and herbicides more precisely with much less of these costly materials needed for a given area. The cost of applied materials is signi fi cant, and this higher level of ef fi ciency drops right to the bottom line for the small farmer.” Precision also brings a higher level of selectivity, says Scott – the third advantage of a drone-based approach. “Different areas of a fi eld need different levels of application, whether it is nutrients or disease management chemicals. Bulk application leaves some areas needing more while other areas become over- saturated. Rodopto is leveraging the value of precise crop surveillance data to target and deliver equally precise materials application.” Finally, higher precision application is less harmful to the environment, making it a more sustainable option. Consumer scrutiny of the chemicals used to grow their food is a critical – and growing – concern for farmers, whether they label their crops organic or not. “And it’s not just pesticides,” notes Scott. “Just look at red tide, the harmful algae blooms occurring every year in downstream areas like Florida’s coastal waters that threaten wildlife and beaches alike. That’s the result of the run-off of over-fertilization well up-stream that fi nds its way through streams and rivers and into the Atlantic ocean and gulf waters. Overspray – ‘collateral damage’ as we call it in military terms – is a huge issue.” SWEET HOME ALABAMA Scott is taking a targeted market approach to developing his company’s products, services and value proposition, beginning with the needs of small farmers right here in Alabama. “The value of all the crops grown in Alabama is roughly $1.2 billion annually grown on an estimated 2.8 million acres,” notes Scott.

“That’s a sizable overall market. Alabama farmers spend approximately $90 million a year on crop application services, and we’re addressing the portion of that market represented by small farms – those under 200 acres.” It turns out that small farms in Alabama represent 75% of all farms in the state. The United States Department of Agriculture’s latest statistics show that there were 30,377 farms under 180 acres operating in Alabama in 2017, the latest year numbers were reported. “How can we help deliver the advantages of drone technology and advanced analytics – including AI – to an important market segment that could bene fi t tremendously but knows very little about how to make that happen? How can we make adoption of new ideas and approaches easier for them? More ef fi cient? Less cost- prohibitive? In the end, Rodopto is all about

potential investors as clearly and succinctly as I did. The hours upon hours she spent with me re fi ning my pitch alone must have been challenging for her, but trust me, I appreciate it immensely.” THE PATH FORWARD Scott is focusing on three things as he moves into the next stage of Rodopto’s development. 1. He’s modifying the drone he purchased using his Tiger Cage winnings into his fi rst prototype, which he intends to use in practical trials with local Alabama farmers. 2. He’s working with the FAA to secure the exemptions he needs to be able to fl y multiple drones across a given fi eld – “swarming,” as it is called – which will expand the effectiveness of Rodopto’s approach over the longer term.

helping them overcome these challenges.”

3. He’s looking for partners who can help accelerate the adoption of his drone- based approach, be they major agricultural equipment suppliers looking to leverage the latest technology, small farming organizations, or agriculture-focused investors seeking to participate in what Scott sees as a potentially lucrative, fast- growing market. “I know there’s a tremendous need. I know there are promising solutions we can bring to the table. We’ve moved the needle a little bit so far, and interest is growing. What I’m looking for now is others who know more than I do about how to help make all of this happen.”

Scott credits Auburn University – and the New Venture Accelerator in particular – with providing critical components of his company’s success to date, citing both the expertise he’s drawn on from his mentor within the College of Agriculture, Max Runge, and the mentorship and start-up services of the NVA. “I couldn’t have placed as high as I did in this year’s Tiger Cage fi nals without the incredible Auburn Family. The combination of engineering, fl ight, agriculture, and business expertise right here at Auburn puts me in a great position to succeed. Without Jennifer Nay as my entrepreneur coach at the NVA, there’s no way I would have been able to present the potential of Rodopto to contest judges and

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A PASSION FOR GIVING PEOPLE A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM: HOW ONE AUBURN NVA COMPANY AIMS TO DRIVE CREDITWORTHINESS FOR NEW U.S. ARRIVALS.

record of borrowing and repayments these individuals establish through the OMNIS platform translate into real-world evidence of their creditworthiness, which they can use to qualify for checking accounts, loans, credit cards and a host of essential fi nancial services from banks, credit unions and other fi nancial institutions here in the U.S. “We all know how hard it is to get credit when you have no history of borrowing – it’s the Catch-22 of the fi nancial industry,” notes Zak, “even for those born here. Imagine how diffi cult it is for new arrivals to borrow money on favorable terms when they don’t have a history of borrowing and making timely payments in this country.” According to Zak, the unique fi nancial needs of those new to the U.S. are typically ignored or – even worse, marginalized – by U.S. banks, driving them into the throes of predatory lenders. “The unbanked and underbanked are far too often forced to turn to high-interest payday lenders, pawn shops or other sky-high interest options in an attempt to stay fi nancially solvent. With effective interest rates as high as 400%, the negative impact these fi nancial traps have on immigrants only adds to their already precarious fi nancial situation.” With OMNIS, underserved and overlooked demographics are able to build personal community-based credit that can translate into much broader creditworthiness at U.S. fi nancial institutions. EMBRACING THE AMERICAN DREAM Growing up, Zak’s father was a diplomat, so he never really lived in the U.S. for very long. From Lagos, Nigeria and Johannesburg, South Africa to London, England and Tijuana, Mexico, Zak says his upbringing gave him a up-close-and- personal perspective on the challenges the underbanked face, particularly in the U.S.

“It was in Tijuana, Mexico where the need for OMNIS became clear to me. I would see people go from Tijuana to San Diego every morning and return to Mexico that same night, bringing back the dollars they’ve earned. I wondered why they don’t simply open an account in the U.S., where they could easily send that money to their families without crossing the border every day. I soon discovered just how hard it is for immigrants to enter the U.S. fi nancial services market, making it virtually impossible for them to fully participate in our economy and realize all the benefi ts of the American Dream.” Zak’s current line of work – he’s a banking IT consultant at First Independence Bank, one of the largest minority-owned banks in the U.S. – takes him all over the world, offering him the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people. One person he encountered was Paulina, an immigrant from Argentina who came to the U.S. in search of the American Dream – ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ – something not readily available to her in her original homeland. “Paulina immigrates to Florida, where she quickly gets a job while living in an extended stay motel, which is really expensive compared to what she would pay for an apartment. She gets a bus pass so she can go to and from work. She’s doing everything she can to support herself, but it’s tough getting far enough ahead to save for the fi rst-month’s rent, last-month’s rent and the security deposit required for an apartment. But eventually she does save enough, only to be subjected to the credit check most U.S. landlords require and which she cannot pass – she simply doesn’t have any evidence of verifi able credit here, no credit score whatsoever. From a fi nancial industry perspective, she doesn’t exist.”

A PASSION FOR GIVING PEOPLE A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM: HOW ONE AUBURN NVA COM- PANY AIMS TO DRIVE CREDITWORTHINESS FOR NEW U.S. ARRIVALS. Zakariya Veasy, a senior in Computer Software Engineering at Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, is passionate about solving a critical challenge facing new arrivals to America coming from countries with less-than-widespread availability of traditional fi nancial services. Zak founded OMNIS to develop secure, easy-to-use solutions for those coming to the U.S. who often face signi fi cant obstacles in attempting to establish credit once they get here. OMNIS is a crowdsourced social media platform that enables individuals to borrow money through family- and personal community-based short-term micro-loans that not only provide much-needed fi nancial support but also help them build their credit profi les here in their new homeland. The

That’s where OMNIS comes in.

agree to participate at whatever level they feel comfortable. They don’t have to take on the total amount being fi nanced – they can loan $50, $100, $1,000, etc., towards the total based on the terms being offered and their individual willingness or ability to lend. “The fi rst objective of the two-pronged OMNIS value proposition is providing access to the capital our users need on repayment terms they can meet,” Zak points out. “This ability to structure the amount being requested according to conditions set by the user and agreed-upon by the individual lenders or contributors drives a large part of the value we deliver.” Zak notes that minority depository institutions and community banks like his employer, First Independence Bank, and Auburn University Credit Union – two of OMNIS’ fi nancial services partners – represent the most promising opportunities for expanding the reach of the OMNIS platform through licensing agreements that bring new customers to the bank or credit union. “These community-oriented fi nancial institutions are seeking to help much the same demographic we are targeting – they want them as customers. Like us, they know that research indicates international micro- loans are paid back 98% of the time. And that same data also shows having a personal connection between lending parties further reduces loan default rates below 1%. This is attractive to fi nancial institutions seeking to add qualifi ed customers to their local community banking rolls.”

With the help of OMNIS, she starts taking out loans from her friends and family back in Argentina and paying them off according to the terms she and her lenders agree upon up front. She’s building fi nancial credibility – a record of borrowing and repayment – while also becoming fi nancially literate. OMNIS reports the record of the creditworthiness she’s establishing on the OMNIS platform to the banks the company is connected with here in the U.S. – they are, by law, the only entities able to update credit scores. Before too long, she’s able to rent an apartment. “She’s building a credit history here, and now she can buy a sofa, some furniture and other household items – she’s on her way. She saves enough for a downpayment and buys a car. Thanks to her new-found, decidedly personal understanding of how the fi nancial industry works here, she applies for a job at a local bank – which she gets. She is now living the American Dream, thanks to OMNIS and, of course, her own dedication and hard work. That’s our mission, our value proposition personi fi ed.” OMNIS is an application software program users install on their phone that enables them to reach out to their contacts for fi nancial assistance via a customized request based on their speci fi c fi nancial needs and their ability to pay it back. OMNIS users can set the amount and terms of a loan being requested, and their contacts or anyone on the platform can HOW OMNIS WORKS

THE AUBURN FAMILY DELIVERS Zak credits the Auburn Family and the New Venture Accelerator for helping him and his team get their new business off the ground. One person whose experience and insight has been particularly instrumental, according to Zak, is Kenneth Kelly, chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank and an alumnus of Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Kelly put Zak in touch with Dimitrius Hutcherson, EVP, Chief Technology Of fi cer and Chief Administrative Offi cer at First Independence, to help work through all the connectivity requirements necessary to set up a direct link between OMNIS and banks. “The level of integration we need to establish between our platform and fi nancial institutions is daunting,” says Zak, “and it can take a long time because of all the regulations involved. But we’re beginning to get there, thanks to Kenneth and his team. We wouldn’t be as far along as we are today without them.” Auburn’s New Venture Accelerator also ranks high on Zak’s gratitude list. “Drafting, refi ning, and fl eshing out our business plan was unlike anything I’d done before – and that process continues as we evolve our product development strategy and roll- out plans. Our fundraising approach is based initially on seed fi nancing pitch competitions, and nothing compares to having seasoned entrepreneurs like Jennifer Nay and Lou Bifano from the NVA put us through our paces in staged practice sessions and pitch rehearsals.”

Challenging? Yes. But worth it?

Absolutely.

IRONMAN, LEGOS, AND A PASSION FOR CHANGE: AUBURN ENTREPRENEUR AIMS TO POWER THE PERFORMANCE, ENDURANCE OF U.S. COMBATANTS.

SHAY PILCHER IRONMAN, LEGOS, AND A PASSION FOR CHANGE: AUBURN ENTREPRENEUR AIMS TO POWER THE PERFORMANCE, ENDURANCE OF U.S. COMBATANTS.

was killed while serving overseas. ‘When he fi nally became old enough for me to tell him what happened to his father,’ she said, ‘he told me that maybe if daddy had had an Ironman suit, he could have fought off the bad guys.’” “I went home and cried my eyes out over and over,” confessed Pilcher. “Here I was feeling so down about getting a bad grade in a class. That’s when I realized there are more important issues to focus on, bigger things I could be doing.”

Pilcher says she is focused on special forces combatants because of the unique challenges they face and the lack of viable solutions to their most critical needs. “From what the military experts I’ve spoken with tell me, when you’re being shot at, the key thing is to be able to move and keep moving – all while carrying 40 or 50 pounds of gear. You have to go and keep going, and you’re going to get tired. Our mission is to keep soldiers – and fi re fi ghters, paramedics and other fi rst responders, for that matter – from getting tired. We want them to be able to keep moving. Endurance is our fi rst goal. We want to make sure that if they need to move for miles at a time without slowing down, we’re going to empower them to do just that.” The exosuit Archangel Defense is developing will do the bulk of the work for the wearer, helping them maintain a steady, high rate of speed – all while leaving their arms and hands free to hold and fi re their weapons at will. Lift-assist systems developed primarily for commercial applications don’t even attempt to do that. The structural, bio-mechanical and electronic considerations these basic units are designed around simply won’t work for the much more sophisticated, free-motion systems required for active combat scenarios. “Wearers will have the full range of body motion,” notes Pilcher. “This is not going to inhibit their normal range of movement – nor obstruct their fi eld of vision. These are key design mandates. Another feature of our system is that it doesn’t engage until needed – it knows when assistance is called for and how much to

It is hard to trace exactly when Shay Pilcher, founder of Archangel Defense and a research engineer at Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, began her entrepreneurial journey , but suffi ce to say, it was very early in her life. One incident that occurred just a few years ago solidifi ed that mission. “I was standing in the checkout line at Walmart one night,” says Pilcher, “I’m pretty sure it was in the spring of 2020. I’d had a rough semester and was carrying a big bag of chips in one hand and a tub of ice cream in the other to try and soothe my soul. Right in front of me was a mom and her little boy, who was holding up a huge box of Legos saying ‘Please, please, please can we buy this? Please!’ And the mom was saying, ‘No, I’m not buying that.” “Now, I had grown up on Legos, building things with my dad, and it struck a chord in me. It just so happened that the little boy was holding the Marvel Ironman set, and Ironman was my favorite action hero growing up. I said to the mom “I don’t want to be rude, but would you mind if I bought it for him? I grew up playing with Legos, loved Ironman and I’m an engineering student at Auburn. It would just thrill me if I could get it for him.” “After a little back and forth, she lets me buy it for him and, of course, he’s all excited. As we were walking out of the store and started going to our respective cars, she turned back to me as her boy walked ahead and said, ‘I want to thank you again and feel I need to tell you why he likes Ironman so much.’ And then she explained to me that when her son was a baby, his father

Talk about passion!

IRONMAN SUITS

Pilcher’s entrepreneurial journey began well before her Walmart Legos epiphany, and Ironman played a role in it as far back as she can remember. Her company’s mission is to design and produce customized “exosuits” that replicate and power critical human movements to provide wearers with additional muscle strength and endurance – particularly while running or carrying heavy equipment. Initial applications target U.S. special forces military combatants who often need extended range of movement while packing heavy gear or traveling long distances at rapid speeds. Other markets include medical devices, robotic prosthetics, physical therapy and athletics. “The term ‘exoskeleton’ has been used to describe some of what we’re doing, but that connotes a very limiting physical structure such as those used to assist workers lifting boxes in a warehouse, for example. What we’re talking about is much closer to Ironman capabilities than these relatively rudimentary robotic assist systems.”

ligaments and muscles aren’t taxed beyond their capability.

provide – constantly monitoring the wearer’s own muscle, cardio and pulmonary activity to keep need and output in sync. LASER-FOCUSED BIOMECHANICAL DESIGN Unlike Ironman’s suit, which covers his entire body and acts as both protector and enabler, Archangel’s system is purely functional – it does not serve as armor. Rather, it is designed to provide the speci fi c type and level of muscular assistance needed where it is needed most – core, legs, arms, back. Speci fi c muscle groups are studied in terms of their contribution to running, balance, upper body fl exibility, etc., generating the real-world data required to move a single individual quickly and for a long time. And each system is custom fi tted to each person based on their unique size, shape, strength, endurance, etc. “We begin by taking a full 3D scan of your body structure and import that into a software program we use to build the system. That program is sent to a 3D printer which can produce it within a day. We’re developing a proprietary polymer that’s actually a composite vs. a metal- or plastics- based substrate. This enables us to make the structure lighter by ‘skeletonizing’ it – putting grooves and holes in places where there’s no structural impact.” Weight is a critical consideration across the entire design, says Pilcher. The heavier it is, the more power it takes to operate, which means the actuators that generate motion at every juncture need to be bigger, the batteries have to be larger, adding more weight. “It can become a vicious circle,” remarks Pilcher, “a tail you’re never going to stop chasing. On the other hand, every ounce we can drive out to the design means a corresponding reduction in power required for essential components, so it works both ways.” It’s electronics, however, that drive the system – a combination of hardware and software that both tracks the body’s output and then delivers the performance called for. Motors – steppers, servos – can be scaled and programmed for speci fi c outputs, recognizing that there is only so much a human body can take. The system can be programmed to set thresholds for outputs – how fast, how far or how long it should strive to achieve – so that joints, tendons,

“We begin with an initial, personalized assessment, and then calibrate each system individually with electromyography (EMG) sensors that measure the small electrical signals generated by your muscles when you move, picking up these signals through the skin. We can tune these motors to those electrical signals so they understand just how much you’re giving and how much more they need to help. It isn’t enough to use size, shape and weight data alone – people with the same basic measurements can vary widely as to how much they can lift, how fast they can run, or how far. For example, I could probably lift more than somebody else my exact same size, run faster and further, perhaps.” The system learns and adjusts its output over time as well. It will know how much assistance is needed at the start and how much to increase that help as the individual tires. It will constantly pick up what the body is outputting and adjust to the threshold set for that individual. It also knows that a 50% assist level at the beginning of a run is different from what is required for a 50% assist at the end of a run. “The actuators are the crucial elements here. Our goal is to create fl exible actuators that literally function just like you took the muscle outside of the body and popped it back on top of the skin. That provides freer, much more natural motions than possible with big, bulky pneumatic cylinders hanging off your waist, arms and legs. They can get tangled up in brush or caught on doorways.” Pilcher points to the fact that our muscles don’t simply hang off the side of us and our limbs, they are integrated within and around our skeleton, powering our movements from within. “Our actuators will get as close as possible to replicating the positioning and placement of our own muscles without penetrating the skin. That’s where the bulk of our research and development is focused today. Actuators and battery technology are front and center right now.”

THE AUBURN NVA FACTOR Pilcher says Auburn University and the New Venture Accelerator play an increasingly important role in her success to date and prospects going forward. She cites building stronger relationships with the military and partnership with world leaders in additive manufacturing – 3D printing – as being particularly important objectives at this stage of the company’s development. “Here at Auburn, we have a wealth of engineering, biomechanics and kinesiology expertise available to draw upon,” says Pilcher. “It really is quite extraordinary. From the research I am involved with at the College of Engineering to the relationships our faculty has established in the additive design and manufacturing space, I couldn’t be better positioned for success here at Auburn.” Pilcher also notes that the New Venture Accelerator has been instrumental in helping her and her team fi nd the experience and support they need from across the university and beyond. “With a mission that encompasses so many technologies in unprecedented ways, fi guring out where to fi nd that expertise is critical. We wouldn’t be as far along as we are today without the counsel and hands-on support available here at the NVA.”

2023 TIGER CAGE JUDGES / MENTORS

JESSIE CHANNON Chief Growth Officer, Columbia Care

MATT KEMPH InQtel MARK LEDBETTER

KRISTIN COOPER Solutions Architect, SHL TIM DENISON President, GDI L.L.C. PARKER DUFFEY Co-Founder, Tailgate Guys & PRE Event Solutions

Senior Vice president, Solutions Engineering LOGAN LOOMIS Founder, Logan Loomis Consulting KHIARI MCALPIN Founder, Vinehouse Nursery MARK METTELMAN Founder, Triad Advisors LUKE OEDING Department of Mathematics & Statistics RALPH RUNGE RSquare Consulting RON SCHIER Owner, Yet Another Broken Egg DANNY STRICKLAND Founder, BISO Collective MARK WAISELE Managing Partner, Ninety10 Partners JASON WILSON CEO, Colwater Mountain Brew Pub WALT WOLTOSZ Chairman and CEO, Simulations Plus

SAM ESKILDSEN Mainstreet Family Care MARK ESPOSITO President, Esposito Private Equity Group DR. JOHN EVANS Samuel Ginn College of Engineering BEN FINLEY Managing Partner, The Finley Firm DAVE GRAY Founder, BISO Collective BRIA JOHNSON Chief People Officer, TaxxWiz LARKIN JONES Alabama Small Business Development

new venture

accelerator

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