Westchester Biosciences Accelerator showcases its second cohort

The Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator held its annual Pitch Days this year on June 2 and 3, showcasing its participants virtually.

The event marked the conclusion of the program”™s second cohort, which launched in January. The cohort is made up of 12 participants, engaged in the program for a six-month period to develop business plans for diagnostic and therapeutic tools, medical devices and digital health resources. 

“We are invested in the growth and success of Westchester”™s biosciences cluster,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “These 12 ventures are outstanding examples of the innovation that occurs within Westchester County and we are proud to count them among our Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator alumni.”

Westchester is home to the largest biosciences cluster in New York state, boasting 8,000 jobs and 20 percent of the state”™s total biosciences employment, according to Deborah Novick, Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Westchester County Office of Economic Development.

The accelerator program is a program of Design Technologies, a company that helps build emergent biosciences ventures, and was initiated by the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency. It was created by the Westchester County Office of Economic Development in 2019 to grow the biosciences industry in the local area. 

It provides coaching and mentorship connection, in addition to networking opportunities and educational resources. Mentors in the program come from health care, technology, business and startup funding backgrounds, from local organizations like Pace University and White Plains Hospital to multinational companies including Google and Siemens. 

The first biosciences accelerator cohort graduated in June 2020, developing companies such as Laronix, started by Farzenah Ahmadi to create bionic voice boxes for those who have lost them due to cancer or other reasons, and Colon.ai, started by Bina Basinath and Jacob Nye to incorporate automated intelligence into colorectal cancer screening methods. 

“We are excited by the opportunity to work with high potential biosciences ventures, which have garnered national press in 2021, following the first cohort in 2020,” said Mary Howard, Principal Design Technologies and Program Director for Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator. “Our first cohort achieved two breakthroughs in clinical trials and the first alum moved into Westchester County’s BIOInc@NYMC incubator.”

This year, the Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator ventures presented alongside ventures from the Accelerator for Biosciences in Connecticut, which is also a Design Technologies program. 

Twelve participants presented from the Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator, including Cyril Eleftheriou, founder of Co-Nexi Vision, for developing an artificial dopaminergic neuron for treating light-adaptation deficits in the retinas of patients with dystrophic retinal conditions, including night-blindness.

Another presenter was Chandra Karunakaran, commercialization lead for SonoCure, an ultrasound cancer therapy treatment device that works with patients”™ immune systems to identify and kill tumors.

Johnathan Pinkhasov and Regina Druz, founders of Foodierx.AI, presented their plans for their biotech app that utilizes AI and behavioral economics to create a medically tailored food delivery system and drive healthy lifestyle changes for patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions. 

Victor Bustos, founder and CEO of NavoTavo Diagnostics, introduced plans to develop and accessible, accurate and affordable diagnostic test for Alzheimer”™s disease. 

Another cancer treatment innovation was presented by Eugene Major, CEO of ImagineRX Inc. The company is developing a drug delivery platform that identifies glioblastoma tumor cells and delivers anti-tumor drugs directly. 

Another medical device presentation was from Doris Candelaria, Mason Lucich, and Luis Blanco of Insu Health Design Inc., developing a personal, portable, temperature-controlled cooler for medication storage. 

“The Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator is a prime example of the ways we support biosciences companies of varying scale and mission,” Novick said. “The diversity of this year’s cohort speaks directly to the depth and breadth of our ecosystem, and we wish each of these ventures continued growth and success.”