Wasabi Ventures and Portfolio News

Wasabi Ventures to Host First Pitch Workshop in Baltimore

Managing Partner Tom “TK” Kuegler will present on Saturday, May 19th at Loyola University Maryland’s Timonium Graduate Campus. Two sessions are available for the workshop: 8AM and 1PM. The event is capped at 15 attendees for each session allowing for small group time and personalized feedback. For more information please visit our morning and afternoon session sites.

posted May 17, 2012

EquiSight Launches Camera Technology with Defense Industry Expert, Medusa Scientific

TUCSON, AZ—EquiSight is finalizing their technology by partnering University of Arizona engineering students’ brainpower with the industry expertise of Medusa Scientific, LLC.  This dynamic partnership will combine research and development efforts to move the “jockey cam™” prototype design into a substantial marketable product.  The newly formed partnership between EquiSight and Medusa has enabled the company to develop a proprietary imbedded camera, virtual presence IP and wireless transmission technology for the use in other sports, entertainment, law enforcement and military applications.

Read the full press release here.

 

 

posted May 8, 2012 under ,,

EquiSight Wins at the University of Arizona Engineering Design Day

EquiSight Wins at the University of Arizona Engineering Design Day, Team Moves onto Texas Instrument’s National Competition

TUCSON, AZ—EquiSight’s innovative jockey camera technology wins at the University of Arizona Engineering Design Day.  The team won second place for Texas Instrument Analog Design Contest and received $500 as well as an opportunity to compete in Texas Instrument’s national competition.

EquiSight won for their patent pending jockey cam prototype design. This smart horseracing helmet streams sound, vision and GPS data to give viewers a virtual reality experience that creates the illusion of being in the race along with the jockeys.  The cutting edge camera system is being developed as a project by University of Arizona engineering students sponsored by EquiSight co-founders, David P. Matt and Kenleigh Hobby.

The Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Program at the University of Arizona allows teams of engineering students to work directly with industry and faculty on real-life projects. Seniors from across the College of Engineering work in multidisciplinary teams to solve design problems identified by industry partners, faculty, and student clubs. This activity culminates in the annual Engineering Design Day.

EquiSight’s camera system was one of the senior capstone design projects featured at Engineering Design Day on May 1, 2012. The event showcased more than 55 projects designed and built by seniors majoring in various engineering disciplines.  Teams exhibited their work to the public and competed for more than $13,000 in industry-sponsored prizes.

The Texas Instrument (TI) Analog Design Contest recognized the technical skill that is necessary to design the key component required in many engineering projects – the analog integrated circuits. UA engineer student teams using three or more TI analog ICs in their design entered the TI Analog Design Contest earlier in the year.  Projects were judged on originality of design, quality of design, creativity of design, level of engineering analysis, and a written description of how each TI analog chip benefited the design.  More information on the contest is available at www.ti.com/analoguniversityprogram.

EquiSight’s win catapults them to into the Engibous Prize contest where they will compete with top teams from schools across North America for a $10,000 first place prize. The team leaves in July for Texas with expenses paid by Texas Instrument.

TI’s Analog Design Contest is named in honor of Thomas Engibous, the retired Chairman of Texas Instruments.  The Engibous Prize makes cash awards to teams of engineering students who incorporate either three TI analog devices or two TI analog devices and a TI processor in their senior project or other project course design.

“The jockey cam technology we are developing is ahead of the video content trend.  There is something invigoration about watching horse racing from the race point of view.  We want to put fans in the saddle and allow them to be the arm-chair jockey hence our tag line Ride the Race®,” said co-founder Kenleigh Hobby.

The University of Arizona recently spotlighted EquiSight with the cover story And the Race is On featured on their home page.  Website visitors get the inside story on the driving force behind this student start-up company and learn how the “jockey cam” invention will change the horseracing fan experience.

EquiSight co-founders, David P. Matt and Kenleigh Hobby recently launched their company with assistance from the business incubator, the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI).  AzCI provides structured business development for technology companies and works with entrepreneurs to move technology through the commercialization process.  EquiSight is also a portfolio company with Wasabi Ventures, a venture capital, incubator, and consulting firm that specializes in building and advising early stage technology companies.

About EquiSight: EquiSight enhances the viewership for horseracing fans and officials.  EquiSight utilizes cutting edge technology to bring the traditional two-dimensional binocular video experience into the present day by allowing viewers to Ride the Race® from the jockey’s point of view.  This new perspective allows people the ability to feel the speed, beauty, and intensity from this “Sport of Kings.” For more information about EquiSight visit www.equisight.com.  Keep track of the action by following EquiSight on Facebook, Twitter @equisight and YouTube.

 

posted May 7, 2012 under ,

Loyola University Maryland and Wasabi Ventures Announce First Participating Companies in Business Accelerator Program

“CodePupil, PointClickSwitch.com, and Vidstructor announced as first three participants.”

Baltimore, MD [May 3, 2012] – Loyola University Maryland and Wasabi Ventures, a California-based venture capital firm with a presence in Baltimore, today announced the first three companies that will benefit from the business accelerator program the two organizations operate in the Govans community of North Baltimore. They are: CodePupil, an educational technology system that teaches software coding; PointClickSwitch.com, an energy choice platform that gives residential customers the ability to compare supplier offers, enroll, and save; and Vidstructor, a software company enabling interactive video training platforms for businesses.

Read the full press release here.

 

posted May 3, 2012 under ,,

Wasabi Ventures to Host Pitching Workshop in Maryland, May 19th

Wasabi Ventures is hosting a Pitch Workshop on Saturday May 19th featuring Venture Capitalist and Managing Partner at Wasabi Ventures, Tom “TK” Kuegler. This event is capped at 15 attendees. The workshop will consist of one-on-one time with TK, small group time, feedback, and practice pitches. The goal of the workshop is to assist start-ups to refine and perfect their pitch. The event will be held at Loyola University Maryland’s Timonium Graduate Campus. For more information about upcoming events visit Wasabi Ventures Events. If you have any questions please contact us at events@wasabiventures.com.

Visit the EventBrite page here.

posted April 20, 2012 under