Global expansion of SAFTRA photonics has challenged the product name, that has gained multiple successes for the company. Unfortunately, NanoScreen was not a globally protectable trademark. The new name PickMol is a beginning of a new era, when the company has grown from a spin-off to a company economically active on market introducing its solutions to customers. The creative process has led to a new name PickMol. It reflects the qualities of product able to pick organic molecules even in complex water solutions and indicate their presence. Another interpretation is the target sensitivity of the super-fast and super-sensitive solution being developed to detect up to pico-molar concentration. In writing, the name is spelled with major P and major M. The new logo refers to the symbol of nano-sensing chip, the core of product innovation.
Exactly a year ago, SAFTRA photonics has been awarded the FutureNow Startup Awards 2017, the most prestigious Slovak early entrepreneur prize. It has been a great achievement and boost for the company potential. In the period prior to the final event, we experienced the boot camp – a weekend-long gathering of start-ups, mentors and investors. It brought new views on the business potential of our solution and opened unexpected directions of the business plan. Also, the experience of 3-minute pitching was first of its kind for us. The real scientists are not used to explain 25 years of technology development in just one slide ? The final event and months that followed were very special for us. Intense preparation and great solution were showcased on stage and the jury consisting of senior investors has fully accepted it! The interest raised by the awards was a test of our media preparedness and investment strategies. Now, we are about to sign a significant investment and still occupy the media attention. Moreover, thanks to sponsors and donations related to the main prize, we were able to address a new market in the USA – special thanks to Slovak-American Foundation for their $35 000 contribution and to SOVVA for their 10 000 EUR contribution used to support our product development efforts.
First of its kind analytical detection system for low concentrations of organic substances in water was introduced by SAFTRA photonics. As the company CEO Pavol Miskovsky said, it is a milestone for the worldwide analytical industry.
By scaling a complex laboratory for water pollution testing into a suitcase size the detection system brings the analysis to the source and allows great flexibility, speed and sensitivity for customers and analytical service providers. The sensitivity thresholds can be set up to part-per-billion – allowing addressing most critical applications in drinking water supplies, food and beverage industry or environmental protection. The system builds on plasmon nano-photonics technology (patent pending) and innovative Raman detection system that allows selective detection of trace quantities of organic molecules in a different environment. Water is the first target medium.
The system will be presented for the first time to the public on the China International Industry Fair in Shanghai on 19-23 September 2018. Please address the test case requests on: maros.chromik(at)saftra-photonics.org
SAFTRA photonics environmental solutions will be exhibited on September 19-23 in Shanghai, China. Visitors will have a chance to see a live demo of our novel complete detection system providing results in 5 minutes with a configurable sensitivity up to part per billion. Join us in the Environmental protection and technology hall 4.1H – EU Pavilion A 073 – Booth 233.
NanoScreen advanced water pollution analytical method was presented at European Innovation Council event co-organized with Procter and Gamble in Brussels, Belgium. This was an excellent networking opportunity to understand the needs of corporates and worldwide impact. We competed in ANALYZE IT pitching contest among another four SME Instrument projects and won it! The audience has voted for Miroslav Konecny presentation as the best one and also the jury composed of corporate seniors appreciated the NanoScreen – Be always in control of water quality with the first prize!
Moreover, NanoScreen has achieved 2nd place (out of 192) and a special prize of investors for its pitch at Vodafone Idea of the Year 2018. It is a major competition of young businesses of Czech and Slovak scene. The 20-head selection board consisting of business veterans and investors has appreciated the impact and business plan of the solution. Also, there has been major interest in co-financing the company growth. Exciting!
The NanoScreen product was selected by the EASME EU agency as one of 15 European promising technologies for water industry. It was exhibited for the first time to the public from 10 to 12 April 2018 at Asia Water Expo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The booth headline was BE ALWAYS IN CONTROL OF WATER QUALITY – detect any pollutant with NanoScreen. Its objective was to present the technology demo, discuss with the water industry professionals the deployment options and acquire testing sites of NanoScreen in Asia. We were also collecting requirements for the topics of concern for water industry to set priorities in the development plan. The SAFTRA photonics booth number E614 in EU pavilion was entered by more than 100 visitors and the team has collected 50+ relevant contacts.
As a part of the NanoScreen product strategy, the company has started its active presence on the North American continent. With the kind support of the Slovak-American Foundation the team has participated to two business trips in February 2018. Pavol Miskovsky and Daniel Jancura joined the 62nd Biophysical Society Meeting in San Francisco. Their primary goal was to present NanoScreen technology advancements and build strategic alliance for further research and technical development. They also used the opportunity to meet Marco Leona from scientific research department of the Metropolitan Museum in NY. They discussed common activities in the cultural heritage application of the NanoScreen technology. PITCON2018 – a major analytical chemistry conference and exposition was in focus of Miroslav Konecny. There were couple of NanoScreen related workshops on environmental analytics, new pollutants detection and advances in Raman spectrometry. They all proven the demand for a fast and sensitive solution for reasonable costs, we call it NanoScreen! The exhibition presented several prospective partners in domain of Raman Spectrometry from all over the world discussing the one-box system solution. The company plans to exhibit and showcase the NanoScreen product on the PITCON 2019.
We have done it! Saftra Photonics has become the winner of Startup Awards 2017 – the most reputable competition of early stage businesses in Slovakia. This label of business excellence, coverage by media and prize money of 50k EUR will help us to further develop the NanoScreen product and attract talents for the team. The final presentation took place in Slovak National Theatre opera hall. The company representative Miroslav Konecny has four minutes on the stage to explain the water quality monitoring problem addressed, NanoScreen solution, team behind, market approach, revenue streams, business plan and investment opportunity. The jury was composed by four distinguished investors – Ariel Sella (CAPSELLA), Dan Lupu (EarlyBird Ventures), Martina Sturdikova (JPMorgan Chase) and Ondrej Bartos (Credo Ventures). Their questions were mostly pointed to validation and certification of the technology and the business model. The final event will be broadcasted by Slovak Television RTVS Channel 2 on 17th December at 4PM. The project NanoScreen has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation under grant agreement no 766742.
Saftra Photonics team represented by CEO Pavol Miskovsky and project manager Miroslav Konecny has succeeded in a tough competition and passed to finals of the Startup Awards 2017. Mentors and investors appreciated the business plan and technology excellence of NanoScreen project. Final pitch takes place in Slovak National Theatre on 1 December 2017. Tickets available here: http://www.startupawards.sk/tickets Startup Awards is a competition for Slovak early-stage tech companies with global potential. They have a chance to present in front of hundreds of guests, including top investors, entrepreneurs and corporate executives at the final pitching event and award ceremony.
Recent victory of Saftra Photonics in the Startup Awards 2017 has attracted significant attention of media and investors. Their primary interest was about the product itself – the NanoScreen sensing chip and its long-term vision. But also the story of the team behind and a broader context of activities have got their space. (photo by Ivan Fleischer) Final event of the Startup Awards 2017 Radio and Television of Slovakia Key parts of the Saftra Photonics presentation at 33:40 – 37:20 and the awards cerenomy at 47:33 – 51:54. Víťaz Startup Awards: Odborníci nevidia na Slovensku perspektívu ďalšieho rastu Euractiv.sk online on 29/12/2017 (in Slovak) Profile interview with prof. Pavol Miskovsky about the company success story, product NanoScreen and his vision for Technology and Innovation park UPJŠ in Košice. Košickí vedci idú po rakovine. A popritom vymysleli aj tester vody Trend print magazine on 4/1/2018 and online (in Slovak) Startup of the month profile article that unveils the main company direction – cancer treatment research. Introducing SAFTRA Photonics, The 2017 Startup Awards Winner Slovak Startup online 6/12/2017 (in English) Interview about what steps precede a product hitting the market, the length of a technological development, use of “NanoScreenTech” as well as the importance of having an international team. Slovenským startupom roka sa stala Saftra Photonics sme.sk online on 1/12/2017 (in Slovak) Profie of the winning presentation with more details on the concept and business vision. StartupAwards 2017 vyhrali s kľúčenkou na detekciu znečistenia vody eTrend.sk online on 2/12/2017 (in Slovak) Profie of the winning presentation with more details on the concept and business vision. 3D holograms, water tester. What innovation bring Slovak startups? eTrend online on 6/12/2017 (in Slovak) Brief introduction of NanoScreen concept and awards results.
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