Qunnect Inc.

Physics and Astronomy

Teams Award 2018

Physics and Astronomy

Qunnect Inc.

Teams award 2018

Qunnect was founded by three Stony Brook physicists, Prof. Eden Figueroa, director of the Quantum Information Technology lab in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Senior Scientist at BNL, Dr. Mehdi Namazi, a recent Ph.D. graduate from the lab, and Mael Flament, who received the MS in Instrumentation for his work in the lab. The company, which occupied incubator space in CEWIT and the AERTC on campus, originally licensed technologies developed in the lab for optical, long-distance and quantum-secured communication. The company is building field-deployable proprietary hardware solutions utilizing its novel quantum memory and source technologies to facilitate invulnerable communications operating at room temperature over current fiber networks. In September 2021, Qunnect sold the world's first commercial quantum memory. Two DOE SBIR awards received in May, 2022 will develop the photon source for quantum-secure communication. Initially funded by the Accelerate NY Seed Fund, the Long Island Angel Network and French venture capital fund Quantonation, the company expects to close a $10M round this summer.

Mechanismic Inc.

Mechanical Engineering

Teams award 2019

Mechanismic designs and manufactures a first-in-the-world design-driven DIY robotics education platform that is used in SBU's Manufacturing Extension Partnership robotics summer camp and many secondary and post-secondary institutions as well as informal STEM learning centers — museums, libraries, STEM programs and camps, hackathons, and robotics competitions. In addition to two SUNY Research Foundation Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF) awards to Prof. Purwar, his company has received SBIR/STTR Phase I and II funding of $1.245M from NSF as well as additional grants from Stony Brook’s MEP, the Manufacturing Technology and Research Consortium, and the SUNY SPIR program. Mechanismic’s Snappy XO platform teaches engineering design, practical electronics and programming all in one place, enabling students to engage in the entire design innovation cycle from conceptualization to programmable robots. The long-range goal is to bring together rigid body kinematics and machine learning to develop software and algorithms for an AI-driven mechanism design architecture, democratizing design innovation and invention and put the power of creativity in the hands of every user.

Orchid Imaging

Computer Science; Managing Director, NYS Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology

Teams award 2020

Orchid is a startup company co-founded by Prof. Zhao and SUNY Empire Innovation Professor of Computer Science David Gu  commercializing 3D imaging technologies invented by Prof. Gu, including a high-performance 3D scanner and advanced 3D image analysis software based on his research in computational conformal geometry. The company’s initial focus is on early detection of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the US. 3D scanning creates an extremely accurate digital twin — a virtual representation of a person, object or process that provides a bridge between the physical and digital worlds. The company is partnering with Stony Brook Dermatology and other clinics to develop a full-body 3D scanning system and demonstrate that its skin analysis software can identify and track changes at a level of accuracy that supports skin cancer screening. The technology can also be used by orthodontists, oral surgeons and plastic surgeons for treatment planning, evaluation and adjustment. The company won the SUNY Startup Summer School (S4) Class of 2021 Demo Day quick pitch competition, which uses I-Corps instructors.