At BostInno, amidst the hustle and bustle that is reporting on the local ecosystem, we run across stories of all kinds: News about mega funding rounds, major exits, significant mergers and acquisitions and startups emerging from stealth.
But often, the most exciting ideas, technologies and companies are a work-in-progress. We aim to raise the curtain on and introduce companies that are poised to make big strides in their industry, having met certain milestones and well on their way to more accomplishments.
On that note, featured below are four startups from Lowell and Lawrence as part of our "Inno on the Road" series.
Tabashir Health
The Hindi word ‘Tabashir’ refers to a siliceous concretion in the joints of the bamboo valued in the East Indies as a medicine.
Named aptly by its parent company, Bambu Global, Lowell startup Tabashir Health specializes in precision medicine with its stimulus-triggered therapeutics platform. Simply put, a remote control mechanism to control and apply localized treatment. In oncology, for example, where patients are administered drugs intravenously, the startup’s drug delivery mechanism can control and activate the medicine locally to attack the tumor alone. Tabashir Health does this using light as the stimulus with medical-grade lasers. The company has tested its product on humans through its sister company, INQUE, which specializes in easy and safe tattoo removal. In September, the startup raised $2.5 million in debt financing and is shifting its focus to the field of oncology.
Bambu Way
Another startup under the Bambu Global umbrella, Bambu Way provides luminescent dyes, films, paints that provide “light in darkness.” The startup has patented its phosphor technology, which it claims can produce “light without electricity.” Its applications: road signs, painted road markings, promotional bill boards, running apparel, stair treads, emergency railings and paths to emergency exits. Bambu Way has completed successful pilots with brands like Ford, New Balance and also the Chicago Transit Authority.
Curaee
Social impact startup Curaee was founded by UMass Lowell students Ali Ahmed and Muhammad Sheikh. The pair, self-proclaimed environmental activists and food-sharing enthusiasts, created Curaee as a food-sharing platform. Users can offer surplus food by listing them in a mobile app or the Curaee community’s Facebook group. The group boasts of having enlisted over 147 members who have shared over 850 items of food, helping over 400 people in need. The founders envision hosting a public event once a month to give away donated food that has not been retrieved. And in order to keep the platform free for users, the founders also hope to sell location-based ads in the future.
99Degrees
Lawrence startup 99Degrees designs, develops and manufactures apparel. Founded in 2013 in Lawrence, 99Degrees makes domestic performance activewear integrated with wearable technologies. The startup specializes in close to body knits and stretch wovens through its product line that features leggings, sports bras, tees, tank tops, shorts and bottoms. In 2016, the company won MIT’s first inclusive innovation competition, which granted the startup a $125,000 award. The following year, it announced a Series A investment round and strategic partnership with activewear apparel manufacturer Reliable Source Industrial and was recognized by the city of Lawrence as part of its Manufacturing Month Award.
