Purdue Foundry unveils first DDX cohort

Double Down Experiment includes nine high-growth businesses

The Purdue Foundry has unveiled its first cohort for the Double Down Experiment (DDX), which includes nine businesses ready to reach the next level with technologies designed to change the world. (Purdue Research Foundation image/Oren Darling) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – World changing. High growth. The Purdue Foundry has unveiled its first cohort for the Double Down Experiment (DDX), which includes nine businesses ready to reach the next level with technologies designed to advance the world.

The nine businesses were selected by the Purdue Foundry staff from among the 253 companies the organization has helped during its six years in operation. The Double Down companies range from precision agriculture to education to medical innovations.

“We have carefully selected a handful of companies that have proven their technologies and innovations are ready to change the world,” said Angela Goldenstein, director of growth for Purdue Foundry. “Now, we are ready to help them move to the next level.”

The Purdue Foundry co-hosted The Big Show on Oct. 10 to showcase the innovators and business builders selected for the experiment.

“This Double Down Experiment is part of our increased focus on growing the companies that we have helped form and launch over the past six years,” said Bill Arnold, managing director of Purdue Foundry. “We want to mentor and provide resources to help them grow and achieve even greater success. This experiment complements the Firestarter and Business Planning programs we offer to earlier stage companies at the Purdue Foundry.”

The nine companies selected for the Double Down Experiment are:

* Explore Interactive – creating an augmented reality platform to redefine STEM education.

* GRYFN – precise drone sensing and analytics services for crop breeders.

* NutraMaize – commercializing more nutritious Orange Corn in the U.S.

* Phytoption – replacing chemicals in food with natural functional ingredients.

* Predictive Wear – smart garments to reclaim your health.

* Rogo – three times more accurate soil sampling services with autonomous SmartCore robot.

* SpeechVive – giving people with Parkinson’s a voice.

* Tudr – a peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing marketplace for college students.

* VinSense – an innovative decision software system for agricultural crop production.

For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. 

About Purdue Research Foundation

The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, visit the Purdue Foundry website. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org.

Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org 

Sources: Angela Goldenstein, AMGoldenstein@prf.org

Bill Arnold, WAArnold@prf.org