Three engineering teams earn spot at Panasci Tech competition finals

Adapted from the School of Management

Layer Slayers, led by biomedical engineering students Kamal Patel and Daunel Augustin, and Daniel Hutchinson, earned second place and $10,000. The company offers a proprietary cloud-based education platform for 3D printing that enables companies to take advantage of additive manufacturing technologies. Both Kamal Patel, who helps compile the Buffalo Bridge newsletter, and Daniel Hutchinson, the founder of PostProcess Technologies, are well-known in Buffalo’s start-up community.

Spectators voted on a People’s Choice award that came with $1,000, which went to BOSQ. The company offers a breast pump that creates a personalized experience for nursing mothers, while providing comfort, efficiency, affordability and portability. Six women formed the company, Mirka Arevalo, Sreeya Guha, Ojonugwa Marv Ibrahim, Gabrielle Reed, Myanah Pierre-Louis and Sauravpunit Sidhu, all from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. 

Courtney Burris, a PhD student in industrial engineering, pitched her company, RHM Innovations, Inc., which offers a shower chair accessory that promotes independence while bathing, aiding in injury prevention within the aging community. Burris was inspired to develop the accessory after her father became disabled. Brandon Davistin, a biochemistry PhD candidate, is a co-founder of the company.

Pared down from 30 first-round pitches and 11 semifinalists, the three were among five teams of finalists who delivered 5-minute virtual presentations via Zoom to a panel of judges and other viewers and were evaluated on how well they described the feasibility and marketability of their venture, proved the need for their product or service and presented potential sources of capital. The competition was held on April 9.

Now in its 21st year, Panasci TEC was created by the UB School of Management and the UB Office of Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships, and is funded with a $1 million endowment from the late Henry A. Panasci Jr. to facilitate and promote the commercialization of UB-generated technologies.

Hosted by UB’s Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars, the event brings together UB students from science, technology, business and other disciplines to maximize their potential and create viable businesses in Western New York.