Benny L. Ward

Flanders Corp. designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes air filters and related products. The firm offers residential and industrial products which include air cleaners, fiber glass, air cleaner refills, extended surface filters, and custom air handlers. The company was founded on January 5, 1996 and is headquartered in Washington, NC.

Neusentis is a biopharmaceutical company, which is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel orally-administered small molecule drugs that modulate ion channel targets. The company has developed an integrated technology platform that allows for the efficient discovery of drug leads. The firm is conducting research and development activities in a number of disease areas, including epilepsy, pain and inflammation. Icagen has two clinical stage programs in epilepsy and pain. The company was formerly known as Icagen, Inc. It was founded by Andre L. Lamotte and P. Kay Wagoner on November 23, 1992 and is headquartered in Durham, NC.

Affinergy LLC develops site-specific biological systems using biofriendly linkers that selectively adhere to proteins, drugs, cells, and biomaterial surfaces. The firm focuses on developing coatings and medical devices for the orthopedic and cardiovascular markets. It constructs bifunctional peptide linkers that selectively immobilize proteins, cells, and therapeutics onto biomaterial surfaces. The firm offers its products for orthopedics, cardiovascular, and tissue engineering; and drug delivery and stem cells markets. The company was founded by Daniel J. Kenan, Jonathan Gindes, and Mark W. Grinstaff in 2002 and is headquartered in Durham, NC.

Mayne Pharma, Inc. develops pharmaceutical products. Its services include pharmaceutical development, clinical trial materials, method development and validation, trace metals, stability, and microbiology services. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Greenville, NC.

Qualyst Transporter Solutions LLC provides hepatic drug transporter products and contract research services utilizing the patented B-CLEAR technology. The company was founded by Kenneth R. Brouwer, Gary M. Pollack and Dhiren R. Thakker in 2001 and is headquartered Durham, NC.

Kaio Therapy LLC operates as a biotechnology company. It offers its patients a treatment for primary tumor elimination, tumor control and margin reduction with an immunotherapeutic component. The company was founded by Alden Pritchard and William Phillip Hodges in 2012 and is headquartered in Raleigh, NC.

Nano Ventures LLC operates as a venture capital firm. The company is headquartered in Williamston, NC.

Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851 to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that now includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. Northwestern has three campuses

Council for Entrepreneurial Development provides an interactive forum for entrepreneurs, investors, service professionals, academicians, researchers and public policy makers. Its services and programs include connections to capital, venture mentoring, and signature conferences empower member companies to go further. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Durham, NC.

IDEA Fund Partners LLC (IDEA Fund Partners) is a venture capital firm founded in 2007 by David P. Rizzo, John Cambier and Lister Delgado. The firm is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.

First Flight Venture Center operates as a non-profit organization that provides business support services to start-up and early stage companies. It offers programs for technology companies that help them in fields such as concept testing, prototyping, research, business strategies, and product development. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Durham, NC.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce is a business organization that provides resources and support to small businesses in the Raleigh, NC area. The non-profit company's services include tax assistance and a small business resource guide.

ClearCut Medical Ltd. develops proprietary technology and tools for removal of cancer. Its product ClearSightTM MRI System, focuses on breast cancer lumpectomy for intraoperative margin assessment of surgically removed lumps. The firms applications include breast cancer biopsies, margin assessment of skin cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer tissue microstructure. The company was founded by Eyal Kolka and Erez Golan in 2010 and is headquartered in Rehovot, Israel.

Metrics Credit Partners Pty Ltd. (Metrics) is an asset management firm headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The firm is a subsidiary of Metrics Credit Holdings Pty Ltd., ultimately held by Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd. (ASX: PNI). Metrics was founded in 2011 and provides unrivaled access to the highly attractive Australian private debt market through their managed funds to investors ranging from individuals to global institutions.

Saranas, Inc. develops medical devices to improving patient outcomes through early detection of internal bleeding complications. The company was founded by Mehdi Razavi and Alex Arevalos and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

Medcura, Inc. develops novel line of hemostatic and wound treatment products. The firm?s products include vascular gel-e, nuisance bleed, chronic wound, and surgical gel-e. The company was founded by Matthew Dowling in January 2013 and is headquartered in Riverdale, MD.

Neuspera Medical, Inc. is a holding company designs and manufactures neurostimulation devices. It delivers a liberating alternative treatment for certain patients trapped by the symptoms of their disease. The company was founded by Alexander Yeh and is headquartered in San Jose, CA.

Ternus Pharma, Inc. operates as a biotechnology company. It develops enhanced general anesthetic. The company is headquartered in Duxbury, MA.

KNOW Bio LLC engages in the development and optimization of a nitric oxide platform providing therapies that focuses on curing diseases and conditions. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Durham, NC.