(From Press Release) Davis Roots, a business accelerator based in Davis, CA has announced that Trace and Trust and Next Level Supplements will join SonanuTech Inc. and MathCode.net in its current roster of in-residence companies. “These exciting new companies are just further evidence that Davis can and will continue to produce cutting-edge business ideas that can thrive in our region,” said Anthony Costello, co-founder of Davis Roots and CEO of Mytrus, a medical technology company with headquarters in Davis. “We are thrilled to have these companies at Davis Roots and we look forward to the community getting to know them better as they make their way through our program.”
On average, companies spend 10 months at Davis Roots, working on critical, early-stage milestones related to corporate development, product development, and fundraising. The program culminates in a public event called Demo Day, at which the companies present their progress, products, and services to an audience of customers, investors, and other local entrepreneurs.
With the addition of Trace and Trust and Next Level Supplements, the current portfolio of companies at Davis Roots will offer solutions to a wide array of markets, including food technology, health, biotechnology, and education.
Trace and Trust lets restaurant-goers discover the origins of the seafood, meat, and produce on their plates. From suppliers to distributors, retailers to restaurants, much of this information is difficult to verify if not lost entirely. Trace and Trust solves this problem by bringing transparency to each part of the supply chain. With the company’s mobile application, users can find restaurants by product, supplier, location of harvest, and date of delivery. For now, the application includes restaurants in New England and San Diego, but will expand coverage to Sacramento and the Bay Area in 2015. At the helm of the Trace and Trust is Michael Clayton, who previously founded and managed a consulting firm focused on sustainable fisheries.
Jack Atlasov, a biotechnology major at University of California, Davis (UC Davis), established Next Level Supplements to apply alcohol fermentation research to ventures beyond the lab. The company’s first product, After Party, will alleviate hangover symptoms by delivering highly bioavailable nutrients to both the brain and liver. Atlasov plans to sell the supplement directly to customers in bars, nightclubs, and special events; and in retail and health food stores.
SonanuTech Inc. and Mathcode.net (formerly Everybody Codes) will build on the progress they have made since joining Davis Roots in the spring:
SonanuTech Inc. was founded by Sudhee Lakshmana, a PhD in Materials Chemistry, and Ian Kennedy, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC Davis. Lakshmana and Kennedy are developing a two-hour test to detect bacteriophage contamination in fermented dairy products. The company was recently awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant to survey the commercial potential of its rapid testing platform in industrial cheese-making. Unlike current tests, which require at least twenty-four hours, a rapid test would allow cheese producers intervene earlier in the fermentation process—saving both time and money.
Despite the growing number of jobs in technical fields, most high school students do not receive an education in computer science. MathCode.net seeks to close this gap. The organization’s ultimate goal is to ensure that every student is well-versed at computational thinking and aware of undergraduate studies and careers in technology. MathCode.net’s curriculum, training, and support will help K-12 educators establish computational thinking classes and after school coding clubs. “Roots has played a critical role,” said Terry Toy, founder of MathCode.net, software developer, and former high school math and computer science teacher. “They’ve helped me analyze the market, figure out who my customers are, and how I should reach them.”
About Davis Roots
Davis Roots is a non-profit startup accelerator located in Davis, CA. Its mission is to foster the development of high-growth ventures in Davis by providing local startups with mentorship, networking, office space, and a suite of technology tools and professional services.
