Excell Partners

Excell Partners is a venture capital firm based in Rochester, New York, founded in 2005. It operates as a New York State-supported seed fund, focusing on early-stage investments across various sectors, including medical devices, biotechnology, energy, ag-tech, imaging, information technology, and software. Although it is structured as a not-for-profit organization, Excell Partners employs a for-profit discipline by utilizing convertible debt and equity returns for its investments. This approach aims to establish a self-sustaining or evergreen fund over time. Additionally, Excell Technology Ventures serves as an offshoot of Excell Partners, furthering its investment capabilities in technology-driven ventures.

Nessi Harari

Venture Analyst

Alan Z. Lee

Director of Investment and Finance

Theresa B. Mazzullo

CEO

35 past transactions

OWL Autonomous Imaging

Series A in 2022
Owl Autonomous Imaging, Inc. develops and delivers two-color infrared camera for the US Air Force. The company also developing a 4D-camera that combines 1550nm Flash-LiDAR and Thermal imaging (IR) within a single solid-state mega-pixel focal plane, targeting ADAS and Autonomous vehicles. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Fairport, New York.

RealEats

Series A in 2021
RealEats is a food tech company that offers a premium meal prep delivery service. Its first product innovation is a line of healthy hyper-convenient meals that reduce food waste. RealEats meals are delivered directly to consumers. Its products are chef-designed, nutritionally rich, and made from whole, unprocessed, responsibly sourced, junk-free ingredients, many of which are from local farms in the Finger Lakes agricultural region of New York State where the company's kitchen is located.

Casana

Seed Round in 2020
Heart Health Intelligence Inc. design and develops healthcare technologies for heart health monitoring. It offers Heart Seat, which combines a toilet seat with a cardiovascular monitoring system that enables patients to check their heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, ECG, and blood oxygenation. The company’s Heart Seat is a cloud-connected toilet seat-based platform that captures cardiac data from the patient’s home. Heart Health Intelligence Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.

WexEnergy

Pre Seed Round in 2020
WexEnergy improves single-pane window energy efficiency by 49% (double-pane by 23%) at <15% of window replacement cost. WS to be sold B2B: to landlords to improve rental property windows, B2C: e-commerce & direct to consumer. WS custom fit is guaranteed when measurement is taken with WindoWareTM (WW), which takes accurate window measurements with a single digital photo.

VPG Medical

Seed Round in 2020
VPG Medical Inc., a digital health service company, develops monitoring solutions using video-based sensors embedded in smart devices and personal computers. It offers CardioGuard, a cardiac monitoring technology that helps in diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, sleep apnea, obesity, and stroke. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Rochester, New York.

Soos Technology

Venture Round in 2020
N.R Soos Technology Ltd develops an incubation technology. It controls the sex-development process in poultry embryos and changes genetic male embryos into functional female chickens capable of laying eggs. The company’s AI-guided hatching system controls environmental conditions during incubation stage, and is able to affect the reproductive system development process in poultry embryos. N.R Soos Technology Ltd was founded in 2017 and is based in Beersheba, Israel.

EkoStinger

Venture Round in 2019
EkoStinger, Inc. is a manufacturer of aerodynamic trailer systems based in East Rochester, New York. Founded in 1999, the company specializes in producing EkoStinger, an aerodynamic after-treatment product designed for both dry and refrigerated trailers. These devices aim to optimize fuel efficiency in various driving conditions while also protecting airlines and suspension systems. EkoStinger provides an effective alternative to conventional side skirts, which often underperform and present challenges in the transportation industry. The company's products are distributed through a network of distributors, ensuring accessibility to a wide range of customers.

Rialto Markets

Seed Round in 2019
Rialto Markets is a New York-based company that specializes in providing trading solutions for institutional traders in the fixed income market. The company operates a trading platform that offers tools for anonymous sourcing and execution of fixed income trades. Its primary products include BondCross, which allows traders to upload portfolios across various fixed income asset classes, and the Liquidity Portal, a real-time search engine designed to identify alternative and replacement liquidity options based on customized parameters. The combination of BondCross and the Liquidity Portal enables clients to place block orders anonymously and to connect with suitable counterparties while maintaining confidentiality regarding trade details. Through its innovative tools, Rialto Markets aims to enhance trading efficiency and liquidity sourcing for its clients.

Kinvolved

Seed Round in 2018
Kinvolved, Inc. is a technology company that develops mobile and web applications to facilitate communication between schools and families, aiming to improve student attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism. Its flagship application, KiNVO, allows schools to send messages to entire classrooms or individual parents regarding attendance, behavior, grades, and school updates. The platform also provides tools to analyze attendance trends, flag chronically absent students, and generate communication reports. Kinvolved targets schools and after-school programs, particularly in underserved communities across the United States. By combining technology with expert consulting and community engagement, the company seeks to enhance educational outcomes and foster economically viable communities. Founded in 2012 and based in New York, Kinvolved is focused on creating solutions that support district leaders, school principals, teachers, and parents in their efforts to improve student engagement and success.

Humonix Biosciences

Seed Round in 2018
Humonix Biosciences is a biotechnology company focused on reducing the cost of ophthalmic drug development through innovative platform technology. Established in 2014 and based in Albany, New York, the company offers a comprehensive range of services including drug screening and discovery, dose response analysis, biological and physiological assessments, as well as safety and toxicity evaluations. Utilizing a 3D tissue system, Humonix aims to provide physiologically relevant data that enhances the drug development process, helping to identify and validate effective compounds and biologics. This technology supports clients in accelerating their drug development efforts, ultimately increasing confidence in the success of clinical trials.

WexEnergy

Seed Round in 2018
WexEnergy improves single-pane window energy efficiency by 49% (double-pane by 23%) at <15% of window replacement cost. WS to be sold B2B: to landlords to improve rental property windows, B2C: e-commerce & direct to consumer. WS custom fit is guaranteed when measurement is taken with WindoWareTM (WW), which takes accurate window measurements with a single digital photo.

GRYT Health

Seed Round in 2018
GRYT Health is an award-winning, mobile app-based social community founded by cancer survivors and caregivers who wanted to create a more human approach to helping people live on their own terms. PURPOSE: Through the GRYT app, we’ve created a platform for people affected by cancer to connect to others with similar experiences, and to tailored information that helps our users become more aware of options specific to their needs or diagnosis – empowering them to make choices that are right for them. MISSION: Information is not a luxury, but an undeniable right to patients. Our mission is help provide patients, survivors, and caregivers achieve personal triumph by providing the information and human connections that empower them to make choices that are right for them - based on their personal values and lifestyles. VALUES: GRYT’s core values are Authenticity, Community, and Relentlessness. These are non-negotiables that keep the GRYT company in check with ourselves. Acceptance and agreement to these integral words are a must for every GRYT Partner that agrees to collaborate with us. Read our GRYT Principles – these are the standards that guide our growth and help us determine appropriate partners for our community. CULTURE: The GRYT community promotes a culture of inclusion and equality, where everyone is respected for the experience they bring, where authenticity and openness are revered, and where our collective voice and choice matter. Our team and the GRYT community are authentic and relentless, and together, we are working to make sure no one ever has to suffer this journey alone. We encourage anyone affected by cancer to download the GRYT app to see how our community can help you live life on your terms. Search for “G-R-Y-T” to download the app from the iTunes App Store and Google Play store.

Tencar

Seed Round in 2017
Tencar develops ostomy appliances for active-lifestyle colostomy and ileostomy patients. The Choice Cap System provides patients with a “double flanged” attachment method, which includes a lightweight, airtight, molded waterproof cap to be worn with or without the traditional soft inner pouch. This added protective barrier offers greater resilience to motion and activity, giving the wearer protection against leakage and escaped odors that are common in everyday activities. The result is increased confidence, self-esteem, body image and quality-of-life, everyday, for the nearly 1M ostomy patients in the US alone.

SelfArray, Inc.

Seed Round in 2017
LED Tech

Viggi Kids

Venture Round in 2017
Viggi Kids, Corp. designs and manufactures chairs for kids. Its products include Vidget chair, a three-in-one model that transforms from a chair into a desk or stool by turning it over; and Digit Widgit, a learning tool that enables children to learn about numbers, additions, and more. The company’s Vidget chair is used in classrooms, resource rooms, home playrooms, occupational and physical therapy, daycare centers, children's hospitals, pediatric offices, and libraries. It also sells its products online. The company was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Fairport, New York.

Conamix

Seed Round in 2016
Conamix is commercializing new low-cost high-energy materials for the global lithium ion battery market. The company’s materials are designed to drop-in to existing manufacturing infrastructure to both improve the energy density and lower the cost of lithium ion systems. Founded in 2014, the company is led by an experienced team of chemical and battery industry leaders and has intellectual property agreements with multiple leading global research institutions

Traverse Biosciences

Seed Round in 2016
Traverse Biosciences, Inc. is a bioscience company based in Stony Brook, New York, specializing in the development of drug candidates for inflammatory diseases and age-related conditions in humans and companion animals. Founded in 2013, the company is focused on commercializing a proprietary library of molecular entities developed at Stony Brook University. Its lead product, TRB-N0224, aims to be the first FDA-approved, once-daily prescription medication for the prevention and control of canine periodontal disease, working by modulating elevated matrix metalloproteinases and pro-inflammatory mediators to resolve inflammation. In addition to TRB-N0224, Traverse is exploring complementary therapeutic indications and other drug candidates that have potential applications in both veterinary and human medicine, thereby addressing a critical gap in treatment options for inflammatory conditions.

Sensor Films

Venture Round in 2016
Sensor Films Inc. is leading the development of digital manufacturing processes with widespread industrial applications. The Starlight Digital Manufacturing Platform built on ink jet deposition of decorative and functional materials is enabling rapid, low cost prototyping and efficient high volume production in specialty graphics and printable electronics industries. Digital manufacturing systems offer more efficient processes with greatly simplified workflow and several time-saving and cost-reducing benefits that include rapid prototyping, faster product development, shorter time to market, higher throughput and often opens up economical short run production.

GiveGab

Seed Round in 2015
GiveGab is a company that offers an online fundraising and crowdfunding platform tailored for nonprofit organizations, community foundations, and educational institutions. Founded in 2011 and based in Ithaca, New York, GiveGab provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to facilitate online fundraising efforts. Its platform enhances the connection between nonprofits, volunteers, and fundraisers, allowing clients to effectively promote their programs and events while also recruiting volunteers. Through its focus on community giving and peer-to-peer fundraising, GiveGab supports organizations in their efforts to raise money and foster relationships within their communities.

Pharmapotheca A

Seed Round in 2015
Pharmapotheca A, LLC is a company based in Delmar, New York, that specializes in developing and commercializing pharmaceutical drugs and technologies specifically for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in both children and adults. Founded in 2014, the company focuses on creating novel pharmaceutical technologies that address complex organic synthesis challenges through innovative chemistries and analytical methods. In addition to its core focus on ADHD treatment, Pharmapotheca A provides technology development and consulting services to various sectors, including veterinary, cosmetic, agrochemical, nutritional, and flavor and fragrance industries.

Molecular Glasses

Seed Round in 2015
Molecular Glasses, Inc. focuses on non-crystallized molecular glasses for stable and long lived OLED and other organic electronics. It develops hole-transporting, electron-transporting, ambipolar, fluorescent, phosphorescent, cross linkable, water/alcohol soluble, green solvent soluble, vacuum-coatable, and solution-coatable products. The company was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.

Augmate

Seed Round in 2014
Augmate Corporation is a New York-based company that develops an enterprise platform for managing industrial smart eyewear applications tailored for deskless workers. Established in 2013, Augmate offers a comprehensive IoT and wearable device management platform that facilitates the creation and deployment of cloud-based applications across various industries, including agriculture, automotive, aviation, construction, manufacturing, medical, and pharmaceuticals. The platform integrates advanced technologies such as IoT, blockchain, and AI, enabling organizations to securely manage and connect their wearable devices. Augmate's InnoVision program allows businesses to evaluate and pilot wearable technology in workplace settings, while its platform supports features like remote device management and secure data distribution, enhancing productivity and safety across the workforce. The company collaborates with notable hardware partners, including Google Glass and Vuzix, to deliver tailored solutions that optimize operational efficiency.

Yorango, Inc.

Seed Round in 2014
Yorango is developing a comprehensive real estate platform making rental simple.

StrongArm Tech

Seed Round in 2013
StrongArm Technologies, Inc. is a safety science company that specializes in developing data collection and assessment solutions aimed at enhancing the safety of industrial workers. The company offers a risk monitoring device that utilizes machine learning to analyze risks related to musculoskeletal injuries, along with the FUSE Risk Management Platform, a cloud-based IoT-enabled software that leverages motion-interpreting sensors for real-time monitoring and assessment. Additionally, StrongArm provides a posture feedback system designed to assist industrial workers with proper lifting mechanics and postural support. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, StrongArm Technologies focuses on improving workplace safety through innovative technology.

GiveGab

Seed Round in 2013
GiveGab is a company that offers an online fundraising and crowdfunding platform tailored for nonprofit organizations, community foundations, and educational institutions. Founded in 2011 and based in Ithaca, New York, GiveGab provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to facilitate online fundraising efforts. Its platform enhances the connection between nonprofits, volunteers, and fundraisers, allowing clients to effectively promote their programs and events while also recruiting volunteers. Through its focus on community giving and peer-to-peer fundraising, GiveGab supports organizations in their efforts to raise money and foster relationships within their communities.

GiveGab

Seed Round in 2013
GiveGab is a company that offers an online fundraising and crowdfunding platform tailored for nonprofit organizations, community foundations, and educational institutions. Founded in 2011 and based in Ithaca, New York, GiveGab provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to facilitate online fundraising efforts. Its platform enhances the connection between nonprofits, volunteers, and fundraisers, allowing clients to effectively promote their programs and events while also recruiting volunteers. Through its focus on community giving and peer-to-peer fundraising, GiveGab supports organizations in their efforts to raise money and foster relationships within their communities.

Yorango, Inc.

Seed Round in 2012
Yorango is developing a comprehensive real estate platform making rental simple.

Graphenix Development

Seed Round in 2012
Graphenix Development.(“GDI”), founded in 2009, is a leader in graphenic dispersions, coatings, and high value applications. GDI's core competitive advantage is product oriented chemistry. GDI produces "Graphenic Intermediate Dispersion Systems" under their product line GRIDS(TM). GDI has developed a conductive ink with IIMAK, that was launched globally in Q1 2013. GDi will continue to develop new products with current and new partners.

e2e Materials

Series A in 2010
e2e Materials, Inc. designs, develops, engineers, and produces biocomposites for the furniture, cabinetry, and other markets. Its composites are made from soy flour and natural grass fiber, such as jute, flax, and kenaf. The company serves customers through its distribution partners in the United States and internationally. e2e Materials, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is based in Ithaca, New York.

AndroBioSys

Venture Round in 2009
AndroBioSys, Inc. (ABS), is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development of novel treatments for prostate disease. Based on technologies developed at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, AndroBioSys is pioneering new approaches to make treatment of prostate cancer curative, not palliative. Preventing progression of prostate disease is intertwined intimately with disruption of the androgen axis. ABS performs contract research screening services for academic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients and develops collaborative partnerships to discover new drugs to proprietary prostate disease targets.

Cerion Technology

Series A in 2007
Cerion Technology produces diesel and power products.

Tetragenetics

Seed Round in 2007
Tetragenetics, Inc. is an early-stage biotechnology company meeting the needs of customers who seek a cost-effective alternative platform technology for the production of genetically engineered proteins. Their technology is particularly well suited to the production of eucaryotic membrane and secretory proteins that are difficult to express in conventional systems. Such proteins include vaccine antigens, monoclonal antibodies, and a variety of therapeutic proteins for the treatment and prevention of human and animal disease.

Tetragenetics

Seed Round in 2005
Tetragenetics, Inc. is an early-stage biotechnology company meeting the needs of customers who seek a cost-effective alternative platform technology for the production of genetically engineered proteins. Their technology is particularly well suited to the production of eucaryotic membrane and secretory proteins that are difficult to express in conventional systems. Such proteins include vaccine antigens, monoclonal antibodies, and a variety of therapeutic proteins for the treatment and prevention of human and animal disease.