FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMES, Iowa (November 2, 2017) — Iowa State University Startup Factory today announced Gross-Wen Technologies, Inc. (GWT) has been selected to participate in the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Association of American Universities’ (AAU) inaugural “University Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) Showcase.”
According to the APLU website, the showcase aims to “promote the importance of federally-funded university research and demonstrate how university-led entrepreneurial engagement contributes to the innovation economy.”
GWT, founded in 2013, is commercializing an algal wastewater treatment technology developed at Iowa State. The technology, called the Revolving Algal Biofilm Treatment System (RAB), removes nitrogen, phosphorus and other pollutants from municipal and industrial wastewaters. The algae biomass that is produced can then be used as a slow-release algal fertilizer.
GWT founder and President Dr. Martin Gross said GWT was chosen as one out of 22 university-affiliated startups to be featured at the showcase out of a field of 100 highly competitive applications received from over 40 institutions across the country.
“I was thrilled to receive the confirmation from APLU and AAU that we had been selected to participate,” Gross said. “This is a unique opportunity for us to showcase our innovation and to demonstrate how federal and state entrepreneurial programs can be critical in leading to the commercialization of new technologies like ours.”
GWT will join the select startups in an afternoon poster session and reception at the APLU Annual Meeting on November 13. On November 14, the startups will be featured in a Capitol Hill Exhibition and Reception.
GWT is a member of the ISU Startup Factory’s inaugural cohort that graduated in June. GWT is located in the ISU Startup Factory, housed at the Iowa State University Research Park.
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About ISU Startup Factory:
The Iowa State University (ISU) Startup Factory is a 52-week intensive program housed at the ISU Research Park (ISURP). Entrepreneurs in the Startup Factory receive formal training, resources, and access to a network of business mentors, advisors, counselors, and investors in two 26-week blocks: the first a formal curriculum centered on business validation, and the second, customized to their individual business needs. For more information on the ISU Startup Factory program, call 515-294-7444 or visit isustartupfactory.org
About Gross-Wen Technologies, Inc.:
Gross-Wen Technologies is an Iowa-based company working to solve one of the world’s largest problems, water quality. The company was founded in 2013 by Dr. Martin Gross and Dr. Zhiyou Wen, and is based on a technology they developed at Iowa State University. The algae system is capable of cost effectively recovering nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. For more information on GWT, visit gross-wen.com
About ISU Research Park:
The Iowa State University Research Park (ISURP) is a 30-year-old real estate development community closely affiliated with Iowa State University. ISURP assists both established and startup companies in connecting with Iowa State’s vast infrastructure to grow their enterprises; whether through students, research entities, equipment or a multitude of other resources. ISURP is currently home to more than 70 companies, employs 1,700 people and occupies 600,000 square feet of commercial real estate on 400 acres. ISURP recently expanded into 200 acres of developable space, which will include tenant amenities, a park and multi-use trails. For more information on ISURP, call 515.296.4204 or visit isupark.org.
Contact:
Julie Lelonek
Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations
515-294-1562/jlelonek@iastate.edu