Maryland's Leading Technology Incubator Companies Recognized

Seventh Annual Incubator Company of the Year Awards Highlight Seven Companies

COLUMBIA, Md. (June 20, 2007) – The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), RSM McGladrey, Inc., and Saul Ewing LLP announced Tuesday evening the winners of the seventh annual Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards during a reception at the Center Club in Baltimore. The awards, whose winners were chosen by a selection committee comprised of venture capitalists, and government and business leaders, recognized the achievements of six current and graduate companies of Maryland's incubators, as well as one Hall of Fame inductee. The awards were presented by Anirban Basu, CEO of Sage Policy Group.

“The Incubator Company of the Year Awards is an exciting event for Maryland 's technology community,” said David Edgerley, secretary of DBED. “I am happy to be a part of an event that aims to recognize the best of the best in technology innovation and commercialization.”

“The accomplishments of these companies are a direct reflection of Maryland's high-caliber incubators and the excellent assistance they receive from the incubators' management staff,” said Renée Winsky, executive director of TEDCO. “Each year, incubator companies continue to grow and prosper, which in return has a very favorable impact on Maryland 's technology and economy.”

The winning companies were selected based on the organization's goals and its success in achieving the objectives. Judges considered each company's technology or product development; increase in employee numbers; growth in revenue or earnings; engagement of significant customers and strategic partners; technology transfer; receipt of awards or grants; attraction of outside investors; innovation; self-sufficiency; impact on the region; and usage of the incubator's services.

“From a company in Baltimore County developing treatments for cancer and pandemic flu to a company in Garrett County developing software for the U.S intelligence market, this year's winners demonstrate the progressive innovations being developed in the state's incubators," said Robert A. Spar, Esq., a partner at Saul Ewing LLP. "Saul Ewing is proud to lend its support in making Maryland a leader in technology advancement."

“These awards recognize companies that further the evolution of Maryland's life science, information and innovative technology community,” said Brian S. Meritt, a managing director with RSM McGladrey, Inc . “We're confident these companies will continue to thrive in the booming technology industry within the state and beyond.”

The categories and award-winners (incubator in parentheses) are:

Life Science Company of the Year – Lentigen Corporation (techcenter@UMBC, Catonsville) Developing lentiviral vectors for therapeutic and biotechnological applications initially for the HIV virus and influenza.

Information Technology Company of the Year – LiveHealthier (Maryland Technology Development Center, Rockville) Offering online social networking and comprehensive health management tools to promote health and wellness.

Technology Service Company of the Year – Sycamore.US, Inc. (Garrett Information Enterprise Center, McHenry) Providing engineering and solutions for software integration services in the U.S. intelligence, aerospace and financial markets.

New Incubator Company of the Year – Millennial Media, Inc. (Emerging Technology Center, Baltimore) Offering advertising solutions for mobile devices to advertisers, publishers and mobile operators.

Technology Transfer Company of the Year – BioFortis, Inc. (Emerging Technology Center, Baltimore) Providing a web-based software solution that provides for real-time research collaboration among various labs.

Graduate Company of the Year – BDMetrics, Inc. (techcenter@UMBC, Catonsville) Providing technology for personalized networking for the tradeshow industry.

Hall of Fame – Digene Corporation (Technology Advancement Program, University of Maryland College Park – graduate) Providing diagnostic tests that target women's cancers and infectious diseases.

The selection committee this year includes: Jorge Aquino, DBED; Patrick Cairns, Grotech Capital; James Broder, eCentury Capital Partners; Phil Bronner, Novak Biddle Venture Partners; Somak Chattopadhyay, Edison Venture Fund; Christine Copple, Ph.D., Starise Ventures; Brian P. Darmody, University of Maryland College Park; Jeffrey A. Davidson, Inflection Point Ventures; Joe Deal, JMI Equity Funds; Ray Dizon, DBED; Randy Domolky, Liquid Capital Group; Josh Fidler, Boulder Ventures; David Freschman, Delaware Innovation Fund; Elizabeth Good, University of Maryland Baltimore; Mark Grovic, New Markets Growth Fund; Jack Hollerbach, HarVest Bank of Maryland; Hooks Johnston, Valhalla Partners; Richard A. Kohr, Jr., Chesapeake Emerging Opportunity Club; Steve Kozak, GBTC; Brian Meritt, RSM McGladrey, Inc.; Eric Orlinsky, Saul Ewing LLP; Alexander Perry, Anthem Capital; Heidi Sheppard, TEDCO; Robert A. Spar, Saul Ewing LLP; Sever Totia, Lazard Technology Partners LLC; Geeta S. Vemuri, Ph.D., Quaker BioVentures; Steve Walker, Steve Walker & Associates; Jonathan Wallace, WWC Capital Group; Renée M. Winsky, TEDCO; and Matt Zuga, Red Abbey Ventures.

Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards recognize the achievements of current and graduate companies within Maryland 's incubators. Application finalists and category winners are chosen by a group of regional industry leaders and early-stage investors. T he Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), the Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO), RSM McGladrey Inc., and Saul Ewing LLP are the awards' sponsors. The Greater Baltimore Technology Council (GBTC), the Maryland Business Incubation Association (MBIA) and the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) are partners of this year's program. For more information, visit www.mdincubatoraward.com.

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