Finalists named for second annual PYA-sponsored “Ballard Innovation Award”
PYA, the power behind teknovation.biz, has released the names of the three finalists for the firm’s second annual “Ballard Innovation Award.”
The three, in alphabetical order, are:
- Cyber Dynamite, dba as PrepWizard, was founded in Knoxville in 2018 to automate the preparation of labels for anywhere from 50 to 100 containers daily as restaurant staff prepare food. The tool can save each client $1,500 to $3,000.
- RegScale is a start-up recently spun out by C2 Labs to provide continuous compliance automation products for highly regulated public and private sector entities. Through its freemium “Community Edition” and its fee-based “Enterprise Edition,” RegScale provides a repeatable approach to all of its clients’ compliance needs.
- Winter Innovations has developed the EasyWhip™ suturing needle that is transforming stitching in orthopedic ligament and tendon reconstruction The patented two-part needle technology simplifies and standardizes suturing methods by fundamentally changing how stitching can be performed.
The finalists were selected by a panel of area business leaders and entrepreneurial mentors including: (1) Mark Deathridge, Owner, ETMC Corp.; (2) Nadim Jubran, President, InLieu; (3) Misty Mayes, Chief Executive Officer of Management Solutions; (4) Lisa Stowers Rottman, President of Stowers Machinery; and (5) Wayne Wilson, Chief Financial Officer of Malibu Boats.
The award, named for the firm’s Chief Alliance Officer and Editor and Publisher of teknovation.biz, provides $65,000 in a combination of cash and in-kind services from the firm to the three finalists. The top prize comes with a $10,000 cash award and $40,000 in services, while second place comes with $10,000 in in-kind services and third place is awarded $5,000 in in-kind services.
The inaugural winner of the top prize was 490 BioTech, a company focused on changing the way pharmaceutical drug testing is done. “Innovation Crossroads” Cohort 2 alums Eonix LLC and Ascend Manufacturing were awarded second and third place respectively.
The three 2022 finalists will be recognized at an event on March 9 at PYA where the award order will be announced. That event will be streamed live; details forthcoming.
