The Chattanooga Area Chamber presented the 2016 Spirit of Innovation Award on Wednesday to Branch Technology.
“We'd like to thank the community and the Chamber for supporting us," said Platt Boyd, president & CEO of Branch Technology. "What we've discovered since we've been here is that what sets Chattanooga apart is a spirit that is unafraid to try something new, to be first at something amazing."
Along with the Spirit of Innovation Award presentation, the Chattanooga Technology Council honored Early Innovator companies Aegle Gear, Collider and i-Card.
The Young Innovator Award, presented by Office Depot, recognized fifth-grader Maya Halenar and seventh-grader Jackson Manning, both at Normal Park Museum Magnet, and 12th grader Ellie Betts, STEM School Chattanooga.
Civic and business entrepreneur Stephen Culp keynoted Wednesday’s luncheon.
Branch revolutionizes the design of our built environment by reimagining the way we build, combining 3D-printing, industrial robotics and conventional building materials.
With the world’s largest freeform 3D-printer, Branch enables 3D-printing of walls, large-scale structures and furniture items. Branch is the only commercial company in the world with cellular fabrication technology, a unique process that solidifies material in mid-air to create a cellular matrix.
Next year, Branch will build America’s first 3D-printed house right here in Chattanooga.
About Spirit of Innovation Finalists
MediTract
MediTract created Process Manager to empower healthcare organizations to better manage contract workflows from inception of need to termination of an agreement. Process Manager integrates with existing modules already used in one out of every four hospitals in the U.S., and helps identify opportunities for operational efficiency and financial improvement. Even more importantly, it helps mitigate risk, allowing healthcare organizations to maintain compliance with government regulations.
MediTract has increased its workforce by 20 percent to build and support Process Manager.
Skuid
With Skuid, you don’t have to be an information technology (IT) professional to create beautiful, streamlined apps for your business. Anyone can do it, without writing a single line of code. Because enterprise software can be difficult to use, Skuid created a new technology that allows companies to create made-to-order applications that fit their business needs perfectly.
Skuid serves more than 5 million users across more than 30 countries, including 10 percent of Fortune 100 companies and many Fortune 500 companies.
About Early Innovator Honorees
Aegle Gear
Aegle Gear is a healthcare performance apparel brand dedicated to creating premier gear to empower providers. Today’s scrubs lack functionality, design and protection. Combining knowledge from the healthcare and sports industries, it’s Aegle’s passion to create healthcare performance apparel that is functional, protective and beautiful.
Collider
Collider’s technology is a groundbreaking solution for end-use parts, rapid tooling and prototyping. Collider makes industrial 3-D printers that use a proprietary technology to produce parts in current manufacturing materials. These 3-D printed parts, with complex geometric capabilities and zero tooling costs, rival traditionally manufactured parts.
i-Card
i-Card is the hassle-free way to manage business cards. When you sign up, the i-Card app makes a business card for you and generates a QR Code. When others download the app, they can scan your QR code to connect with you via i-Card, eliminating the need to keep track of traditional business cards.
About Young Innovator Recipients
Elementary School Recipient: Animal Cam
Maya Halenar’s idea for an animal cam collar features a tracker to help find a lost pet anywhere in the world. The collar would connect to Google Maps, record the animal’s location and alert an app that tells you where to find your furry companion.
Finalists:
Electric Dictionary
Lucie DeGaetano, 5th Grader, Normal Park Museum Magnet
Handheld Weed Eater
Ephrem Talley, 5th Grader, Normal Park Museum Magnet
Middle School Recipient: Tiny House
Jackson Manning’s cost-effective tiny house concept is a small battery-operated living space, charged much like a hybrid car, which could also attach to the back of a vehicle. In addition to the charging option, these tiny houses could also run on normal gasoline or be solar-powered, depending on which option is most accessible.
Finalists:
Telescope Glasses
Isabella Lehman, 7th Grader, Normal Park Museum Magnet
TableTalks
Silas Wiltshire, 7th Grader, Normal Park Museum Magnet
High School Recipient: Coding for Girls
Ellie Betts created an elementary and middle school curriculum that teaches girls how to code, with the goal of getting girls excited about coding and STEM careers through gender-neutral activities in an all-girl environment. Betts has educated 75 girls in coding camps with this curriculum, with 200 students on a waiting list.
Finalists:
Weather Probe
Dell Zimmerman, 12th Grader, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Science
Water Quality Drones
Evan Buttram, 12th Grader, Red Bank High School