Have you met Vestaron?
Vestaron has developed a new biopesticide that holds promise to create an entirely new field in the $18 billion global insecticide market. Many experts predict the effect could be similar to what the development and emergence of biologic drugs have done for the pharmaceutical industry.
CEO Anna Rath describes the science and technology behind Vestaron’s new Spear-branded products as “our own little revolution” in agricultural chemistry that’s going from an “industry based predominantly on small molecule synthetics to one where biologic molecules with proven modes of action as well as great safety and environmental attributes will play a major role.”
Vestaron relocated their headquarters to North Carolina in 2019 causing some in Michigan to think that the company may not be fully committed to the state or Kalamazoo any longer. This is not the case. Vestaron is committed to keeping its R&D function in Kalamazoo, MI. The company continues to grow, increasing administrative headcount in North Carolina but also increasing head count and lab space at the WMed Innovation Center in Kalamazoo. The company recently took on two more lab units and is hiring more scientists. The technology is scaling well and the company is poised for an incredible year of growth in 2020. Additionally, they have been nominated for the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) 2020 Client of the Year award. That award will be formally announced later this year.
To learn more about this amazing company, visit their website at http://www.vestaron.com/.
Welcome, Videka LLC
Videka LLC is a joint venture between Kalsec in Kalamazoo and Diana Pet Food in Europe. Diana Pet Food is the global leader and pioneer of high value solutions improving pets’ well-being and owners’ satisfaction. Kalsec is the leader of naturally sourced antioxidants and rosemary extracts. Videka LLC is a separate startup entity located in the Innovation Center where they work to produce the best natural antioxidant solutions for the pet food industry. The company leased space in September 2019 with 2 labs, 1 small office, and 3 people. It is now up to 5 people with an additional office suite.
Videka LLC will feature a history of innovation in palatability and in pet behavior understanding with Diana Pet Food, and oxidation management expertise with antioxidants sourced from rosemary through Kalsec. Videka LLC will provide customized, natural solutions for pet food protection, supported by world-class research and development, sensory and analytical capabilities.
To learn more about this exciting company, visit their website at https://www.videkapetfood.com/.
New Start-Up, Next Stage Labs
Next Stage Labs is a new startup with a unique twist. The founder, Kelly Elsworth, was hired by an existing agriculture company in Hudsonville to perform plant tissue culture work. The company leased space in the Innovation Center as a skunk works client and placed Kelly here to work. Less than a year
into this arrangement, Kelly caught the entrepreneurial bug and negotiated with her employer to leave the company, take over the lab lease, and keep the Hudsonville company as her first client. Since the transition in November 2019, Kelly has acquired additional equipment for her lab, expanded her service offerings, secured additional contracts, hired two part-time scientists, and has first right of refusal on the lab next to hers.
Next Stage Labs focuses on the ornamental plant industry. Helping plant breeders develop new varieties, ensuring disease free plant stock, and enabling breeders to ship their genetics internationally. Their services include clean stock maintenance, international shipping of plant cultures, virus elimination, virus testing, ploidy manipulation, and ploidy estimation.
To learn more about this growing company (pun intended!), visit their website at https://nextstagelabs.com/.
Northern Biomolecular Services
NBS entered the Innovation Center in November 2019 with 4 people and a single lab. Just 2 months later they added 2 more people and another lab. They are now talking about leasing a third lab in the next few months. The founders are all seasoned industry experts who exited a global corporation in order to start this entrepreneurial contract research organization (CRO).
NBS specializes in advanced molecular biological techniques for the determination of biodistribution, persistence, and gene expression of cell and gene therapy products. Shane Woods Co-founder and President says, “We aim to be the industry leader for quantitative PCR assays in the preclinical research sector, supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in their quests to bring solutions to market for unmet medical needs.” The company has a very bright future!
To learn more about this fascinating company, visit their website at https://nbslab.com/.