News & Media
New MSU Startup TheraB Launches with Pre-Seed Stage Funding
Quantum Medical Concepts invests $150,000 in new company founded at MSU Innovation Center
TheraB developed the SnugLit Portable Phototherapy Blanket, a wearable swaddle that treats newborn jaundice. Jaundice is caused by a high level of pigment in the blood called bilirubin, which causes the skin to look yellow. A newborn baby's still-developing liver may not yet be able to remove this bilirubin from the blood. TheraB's swaddle provides the blue light needed to help the newborn break down the bilirubin molecules as the liver develops.
According to TheraB CEO Ryan Jankovic, "the unique SnugLit swaddle design promotes parent-infant bonding while decreasing the stress to mother and baby, and allows for easier breastfeeding. Traditional treatments may include separating mother and infant treating the child on a light board, or the use of bulky non-portable blankets. The SnugLit swaddle design is a more intimate and more cost-effective method of treating jaundice."
"Startup companies developed at MSU help us solve complex challenges, create jobs and diversify our economy. Our partnerships with investors like Quantum play an important role in our work to help make Michigan State University's great ideas become great realities," shared Charles Hasemann, MSU’s Assistant VP for Innovation & Economic Development, President of Spartan Innovations, and leader of the MSU Innovation Center. "Quantum Medical Concepts is a valued partner in launching TheraB, and in helping to bring a new therapeutic device to market."
Quantum Medical Concepts is a partnership of the Michigan State Medical Society and Common Wealth Enterprises. Through this partnership, Quantum provides early-stage investment funding to Michigan companies in the medical sector. In addition to investing between $50,000 and $150,000 in startup funding in new companies, Quantum provides access to more than 15,000 medical professionals, which helps to quickly identify and support medical products and companies that have a high likelihood of success.
"We believe physicians are key to the success of health care delivery, and can play an equally important role in medical innovations," said Benjamin Louagie, Managing Director of Quantum. "The medical establishment is becoming more open to entrepreneurship. Oftentimes, physicians are the ones coming up with the best new ideas for medical devices or therapeutics. Quantum is always looking for ways to support Michigan physicians and help them better care for their patients."
The MSU Innovation Center works with innovative students and faculty alike to help move their ideas into the marketplace. MSU Innovation Center works collaboratively in launching more than 130 discoveries into patented products, commercial agreements, and startup businesses each year.
TheraB won The Hatching grand prize in 2014, the undergraduate division of the 2014 Greenlight Business Model Competition and placed 4th in the 2014 International Business Model Competition. The product has also been featured on A&E’s Project Startup, CBS Detroit, KTRK TV Houston, FOX47 Lansing, WHAS11 Louisville & WILX10 Lansing. To learn more, visit http://www.therabmedical.com
The MSU Innovation Center combines innovation, technology transfer, start-up support, and a portfolio of dedicated business and community partnerships to bring cutting-edge ideas to the marketplace. Composed of MSU Technologies, Business-CONNECT and Spartan Innovations, the MSU Innovation Center stewards ideas from concept to product, launching more than 130 discoveries into patented products and start-up businesses annually. Learn more at http://innovation.msu.edu.
Quantum Medical Concepts is a partnership of the Michigan State Medical Society and Common Wealth Enterprises. Through this partnership Quantum provides early-stage investment funding to Michigan companies in the medical sector. In addition to investing in startup funding, Quantum provides access to more than 15,000 medical professionals and active management support for our portfolio companies. For more information, please visit http://quantummedicalconcepts.com.