A software company that relocated from Seattle to the LaunchPad Incubation program at The University of Toledo and has since received grant funding from LaunchPad Incubation, UT Innovation Enterprises and Rocket Ventures has been selected to participate in Y Combinator, a prestigious accelerator in Mountain View, Calif.

Roost, which has developed push notification software for desktop platforms, will participate in the three-month accelerator program this summer in Silicon Valley. The intensive program helps startups “build something people want.” 

“It is the best accelerator program in the country. Thousands upon thousands of startups apply, and only a tiny fraction are accepted,” Roost CFO Ben Trumbull said. “The entire team feels lucky and honored for this opportunity.”

Y Combinator provides seed investments, business consulting and other opportunities to help start-up teams build their companies and pitch to investors or acquirers. The three-month program also includes weekly dinners with past Y Combinator alumni and top influencers in emerging technology.

The accelerator funds all types of startups, but is particularly interested in web and mobile applications. More than 500 companies worth more than $20 billion have passed through Y Combinator.

Roost has been a technology tenant client of the LaunchPad Incubation Program since June 2013. It had initially proposed a mobile push notification software, but transitioned to desktop earlier this year.

“Roost allows digital publishers to let enthusiast readers known about the newest content when it is posted,” Trumbull said. “A small window appears on the top right corner of the desktop for five seconds to announce new content. It notifies the user while not being overly intrusive.”

Visitors to a website with Roost are prompted to receive push notifications. When a user clicks on the notification, they are taken to the website’s new content. If the user does not click during the five-second window, the notice goes into the computer’s Notification Center.

The content marketing channel allows websites to engage their readers and is designed for newspapers, blogs, fan sites and other digital publishers.

Roost co-founders are Burton Miller, Casey Haakenson and Tim Varner.

Trumbull said without the support of the LaunchPad Incubation program and support from UT Innovation Enterprises and Rocket Ventures, Roost would not have had the unique opportunity to participate in Y Combinator and advance the business.

“The LaunchPad Incubation Program is proud to have Roost be selected for this incredible opportunity,” said Molly Reams Thompson, director of the incubation program. “LaunchPad Incubation is focused on bolstering innovation in our region by providing access to capital, valuable business development resources and state-of-the-art facilities. Ultimately, our goal is to provide a framework for companies to become thriving self-sustaining members of the community. Roost will be able to build on the success they have achieved by participating in our program and take it to a whole new level with Y Combinator. We couldn’t be happier for them.”

The Y Combinator program ends with a “Demo Day” when startups present their business concepts to an invite-only audience and participants become members of the growing alumni network. The network includes Reddit, Dropbox, Airbnb, Optimizely, and Stripe, among hundreds of other successful companies.

Media Coverage
The Blade (June 12, 2014)

The NASA Roadshow, an innovative approach to economic development and job creation, is coming to The University of Toledo to assist and advise a number of regional businesses. The NASA Roadshow is Thursday, June 12 in the Tom and Elizabeth Brady Innovation Center on UT’s Engineering Campus.

**Media Opportunity**
A number of speakers will address event attendees beginning at 12:30 p.m. including remarks from Carol Contrada, president of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners; Mayor D. Michael Collins; and Diana Hoyt, Program Executive for Innovation and Strategic Partnerships in the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA Headquarters. Jim Garrett, CEO for Vadxx Energy, a Cleveland-based recycling company, will deliver the keynote.

The event will grant regional businesses access to the brainpower, research capabilities and resources of NASA to solve technical challenges, with hopes that the assisted companies achieve expanded growth and eventual job creation. The Roadshow is part of a federally funded, three-year experimental program to comply with a White House directive that NASA and other federal agencies accelerate their technology transfer activities and make available to all the benefits of federally funded research and development investments.

Five local businesses were selected to receive immediate help at the event including Cooper Tire and Rubber Co (Findlay); H & H Specialties LLC (Temperance); Henny Penny Corp. (Eaton, Ohio); Metal Forming and Coining Corp. (Maumee); and SkyLife Technology Holdings LLC (Toledo).

Organizers of the event include UT LaunchPad Incubation and UT Innovation Enterprises (UTIE), the Toledo Community Foundation, the Lucas County Economic Development Corp. and the Toledo Regional Chamber in partnership with NASA, The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Ohio Development Services Agency.

“This is an opportunity for companies to breakdown their technological barriers and receive assistance from top-tier scientists and engineers,” said Jessica Sattler, director for economic engagement and business development programs and who oversees UT’s LaunchPad Incubation program. “LaunchPad, funded by Ohio Third Frontier, is a perfect partner for this event. Our mission is similar to the goal of the NASA Roadshow, to provide innovative guidance and solutions to companies.”

Four area companies have been invited to the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland to also receive help from NASA scientists including a second division of Cooper Tire; Hirzel Canning Co. (Northwood); SPB Global LLC (Perrysburg); and UTIE investment Nextronex Inc. (Millbury).

“UTIE’s mission closely aligns with NASA’s current initiative: to support commercial activity and economic growth,” said Rhonda Wingfield, interim CEO of UTIE. “Nextronex is one of UTIE’s earliest investments. It is a successful, viable company with a technological hurdle. We are excited that they were one of the companies chosen for NASA’s expertise, which will no doubt propel Nextronex to the next level.”

Nextronex develops and sells utility-scale solar inverters, supplying energy maximization systems for photovoltaic installations across the country and around the world.

NASA engineers will aid seven additional companies in the form of on-site visits or teleconferencing. These companies include Akadeum Life Sciences (Ann Arbor); Ann Arbor Aircraft (Adrian, Michigan); AV3 Ltd. (Columbus); Plastic Technologies Inc. (Holland); Rowmark LLC (Findlay); SFC Graphics (Toledo); and Mennel Milling Co. (Fostoria).

“Bringing the Roadshow to Toledo is a result of strategic relationship building by UT and regional partners. We hope for outcomes like this event to bolster development in the region including economic development and growth in job creation,” Sattler said.

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 and 13 ABC (June 13, 2014)
The Blade (June 13, 2014)

Students at The University of Toledo will restore the statue of President William McKinley on the south side of the Lucas County Courthouse in downtown Toledo.

Tom Lingeman, UT professor of art, and several students enrolled in his Outdoor Sculpture Conservation course will perform conservation on the century-old bronze statue of President McKinley by sculptor Albert Weinert located at 700 Adams St. The class will be on site 5-9 p.m. from Tuesday, June 10 through Thursday, June 12, weather permitting.

The students will learn how to conserve and maintain the statue using materials and techniques traditionally used and preferred by conservators. When completed, the restored sculpture will look as if it is ready to be re-dedicated, as it was more than a century ago, Lingeman said.

The project is one of several outdoor sculptures that the group has been performing conservation on during the four-week class, which ends next week.

For more information, contact Lingeman at 419.973.1756.

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 and 13 ABC (June 11, 2014)
The Blade (June 13, 2014)

More than 100 economically disadvantaged youth in the Toledo area are participating in The University of Toledo’s 45th annual National Youth Sports Program.

Camp sessions, which are free, start today and will be held weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Friday, June 27 on UT’s campus and at several surrounding locations.

Started at UT in 1960, NYSP provides youth with the opportunity to participate in sports instruction and nutrition education programs. UT is one of the 31 universities nationwide to offer the program and for the first time this year 9-year-olds are participating along with the youth ages 10-16.

Children will participate in daily sports activities such as basketball and track with several opportunities to go swimming at the pool in the UT Recreation Center.

Other activities include a trip to the Indian Creek Petting Zoo in Lambertville, Mich. where the youth will have a chance to visit the zoo’s exotic animals from 11:40 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Wednesday, June 18. Then on Thursday, June 26 from 11:10 a.m. to 3:25 p.m., the camp will take a field trip to Splash Universe Water Park in Dundee, Mich.

Several speakers will visit during the camp including UT Football Coach Matt Campbell on Wednesday, June 11 and UT Women’s Basketball Coach Tricia Cullop on Thursday, June 12.

For a detailed daily schedule, click here.

Media Coverage
NBC 24 (June 11, 2014)

The University of Toledo Medical Center will hold the grand opening of its Senior Behavioral Health Center.

The open house will be 10 a.m. to noon Friday, June 6 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the Kobacker Center. The center plans to accept its first patients Tuesday, June 10.

The center is a senior-based medical program that monitors the health of adult patients 55 years and older who are experiencing emotional or behavioral health issues. Partnered with Horizon Health Services, a behavioral health management company that builds, manages and improves psychiatric programs within a hospital setting, the center investigates what the source of any health issues might be and diagnoses the problem.

This facility is different than other geriatric care facilities because it thoroughly tests all aspects of the patient’s condition, including prior and current health issues, medications and lifestyle choices to fix the problem, and providing a positive outcome for the patient, explained Carol Schaaf, the center’s program director.

“We’ll be able to tell if our patients are getting better,” Schaaf said. “We’ll be able to tell you how much better they’re getting and what symptoms are improving. We’ll be able to tell why those symptoms are improving and what we did that made it better.”

There will be 18 beds available at the center, which will accept patients 24 hours a day. Referrals can be made by anyone, including physicians, psychologists, social workers and family members. Most insurances will be accepted, Schaaf said.

Prior to this center, UTMC had a gero-psychiatric unit that was closed in 2008 due to changes in hospital programs.

The center also is available to present mental health educational programs in the community free of charge.

Media Coverage
The Blade (June 9, 2014)
WTOL 11, WNWO and 13 ABC (June 10, 2014)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL MEETING

Thursday, June 5, 2014
Libbey Hall
12 p.m. Noon – Special Board Meeting

A special board meeting will be held to discuss the employment of a public employee.

 Thursday, June 12, 2014
Radisson Hotel, 3100 Restaurant
9:15 a.m. Special Board Meeting

A Special Board of Trustees meeting will be held to appoint a Nominating Committee for the election of Board officers for FY 2015.

Friday, June 13, 2014
University Hall, Room 3520
11:30 a.m. Nominating Committee Meeting

Any questions may be directed to the University Communications Office by calling (419) 530-7832 or via email at jonathan.strunk@utoledo.edu.

Joan A. Stasa
Secretary, Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS

Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Radisson Hotel, Faculty Club Room
7:30 a.m. Clinical Affairs Committee Meeting

Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Libbey Hall, Main Dining Room
5:30 p.m. End-of-Term Social Dinner with Spouses/Guests

Monday, June 16, 2014
Driscoll Alumni Center, Schmakel Room
1 p.m. Board Meeting
A luncheon will be provided for the Trustees prior to the meeting.

Any questions may be directed to the University Communications Office by calling (419) 530-7832 or via email at jonathan.strunk@utoledo.edu.

Joan A. Stasa
Secretary, Board of Trustees

April 1, 2014