Mid-America Angels

Gross-Wen Technologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Slater, Iowa, that focuses on innovative solutions for wastewater treatment. Founded in 2013, the company has developed the Revolving Algal Biofilm (RAB) system, which effectively removes nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants from municipal and industrial wastewater. This sustainable technology not only treats wastewater but also produces algae biomass that can be repurposed as fertilizer or bioplastics. By offering an economical and eco-friendly approach to water treatment, Gross-Wen Technologies aims to assist municipalities and industries in managing water quality while promoting environmental sustainability.

Stackify, LLC is a developer of tools designed to enhance application performance, founded by Matt Watson in 2015 and based in Leawood, Kansas. The company specializes in cloud-based solutions that provide insights into application performance, enabling software developers to monitor and manage their applications effectively. Stackify's offerings include Prefix, which details application logs, errors, and queries, and Retrace, which delivers application performance insights and log management. The platform supports various functionalities such as application performance management, error monitoring, tracking, reporting, and application metrics monitoring. In April 2021, Stackify was acquired by Netreo, further expanding its capabilities in the realm of application performance management.

Balance the Superfood Shot is a Kansas City-based health supplement company founded in 2011. It develops nutritional products that promote daily fruit and vegetable intake and offers shelf-stable tonics that provide about half a day’s serving of organic produce along with essential vitamins, aiming to support preventive health. The formulations emphasize bio-available and whole-food blends to deliver nutrients conveniently for everyday use.

Flow Forward Medical is a company focused on enhancing vascular access sites to improve post-surgery success rates, particularly for patients undergoing hemodialysis. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Olathe, Kansas, the company has developed the Arteriovenous Fistula Eligibility (AFE) System, which is a small, temporary external blood pump. This innovative device is designed to stimulate flow-mediated dilation of veins, thereby increasing the eligibility of patients for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) procedures and improving their surgical outcomes. By facilitating the establishment of reliable AVFs, Flow Forward Medical aims to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among hemodialysis patients and lower the overall costs associated with their care.

Artio Medical, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing and commercializing catheter-based solutions for cardiovascular diseases. Based in Olathe, Kansas, the company specializes in endovascular devices designed for embolization of vessels, aneurysms, and other vascular structures. Its product offerings include Solus Gold and Solus Flex, both embolization devices featuring unique delivery systems, as well as Aneura and Endura, which combine coils and accessory balloons for the immediate occlusion of saccular and cerebral aneurysms, respectively. Artio Medical was founded in 2011 and was previously known as Metactive Medical, Inc. before rebranding in February 2020. The company operates as a subsidiary of Novita Therapeutics, LLC, and its innovations aim to enhance the speed and safety of vascular occlusion procedures for physicians.

Hilary's Eat Well specializes in creating plant-based foods that cater to individuals with dietary restrictions, offering a range of allergen-free products. Their lineup includes millet medleys, veggie burgers, veggie bites, salad dressings, and veggie sausages, all made from real, minimally processed ingredients. By focusing on foods that are free from gluten, corn, dairy, eggs, soy, and nuts, Hilary's aims to provide tasty and nourishing options for consumers seeking healthier culinary choices. The company is dedicated to improving the American diet by making convenient, wholesome foods accessible to everyone.

Kenzen, Inc. is a health technology company that specializes in developing wearable solutions for health and performance monitoring. Its flagship product, the Kenzen ECHO, is a wireless smart patch designed to provide real-time monitoring of vital signs and physiological data, with a focus on preventing injuries related to heat stress, fatigue, and over-exertion in industrial settings. The ECHO system includes a mobile application that delivers personalized health insights and alerts, ensuring that workers and their supervisors can take proactive measures to enhance safety and productivity. Incorporated in 2014 and based in New York, Kenzen sells its products through various distributors, resellers, and retail locations, aiming to harness physiological data to improve workforce safety and well-being.

Artio Medical, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing and commercializing catheter-based solutions for cardiovascular diseases. Based in Olathe, Kansas, the company specializes in endovascular devices designed for embolization of vessels, aneurysms, and other vascular structures. Its product offerings include Solus Gold and Solus Flex, both embolization devices featuring unique delivery systems, as well as Aneura and Endura, which combine coils and accessory balloons for the immediate occlusion of saccular and cerebral aneurysms, respectively. Artio Medical was founded in 2011 and was previously known as Metactive Medical, Inc. before rebranding in February 2020. The company operates as a subsidiary of Novita Therapeutics, LLC, and its innovations aim to enhance the speed and safety of vascular occlusion procedures for physicians.

Voxello, Inc. is a company that develops and markets innovative communication devices aimed at enhancing the quality of life for disabled hospitalized patients. Its primary product, noddle, is a communication device equipped with a microphone that can be mounted to a ventilator line, allowing ventilated patients to communicate effectively. This device utilizes patented technology to detect even the smallest intentional gestures, enabling patients to access nurse call systems and control a proprietary chat application. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Coralville, Iowa, Voxello was originally known as Iowa Adaptive Technologies, Inc. until its name change in June 2015. The company is committed to creating universally adaptable assistive technology devices and plans to expand its product offerings to include a range of input devices, such as microphones and switches, all designed to improve communication and care for patients in healthcare settings.

Rawxies LLC is a cookie production company based in Kansas City, Missouri, specializing in vegan, gluten-free, and guilt-free cookies. Founded in 2011, Rawxies offers a diverse range of flavors, including chocolate brownie, banana nut bread, chocolate chip cookie dough, cranberry pecan, lemon poppy seed, and mint chocolate chip cookies. In addition to cookies, the company provides crunch packs and assorted snack packs tailored for chocolate and fruit lovers. Rawxies markets its products through retail stores across the United States and online, catering to health-conscious consumers looking for nutritious snack options. The company also sells branded merchandise such as T-shirts, tanks, and bags through its online platform.

RiskGenius is a developer of a policy review platform that utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance the efficiency of insurance professionals. The platform is designed to streamline the work of underwriters, brokers, and regulators by interpreting, organizing, and standardizing policy language. Through its custom algorithms and workflow modules, RiskGenius enables its customers to gain a better understanding of policy language, thereby facilitating more efficient underwriting workflows. The company's focus on true policy automation allows insurance professionals to connect with digital knowledge, ultimately improving their operational effectiveness and decision-making processes.

Bulu Inc., established in 2012 and headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, operates as a subscription box company specializing in private label boxes for retail brands. Its primary offering is Bulu Box, a B2C discovery e-commerce platform allowing consumers to sample vitamins, supplements, and healthy snacks while providing valuable data insights back to brands. Additionally, Bulu provides third-party logistics services, transitioning consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands from traditional linear fulfillment to hybrid hub-and-spoke logistics models, enhancing efficiency, scalability, and convenience at competitive rates.

Nitride Solutions Inc. is a manufacturer specializing in aluminum nitride products tailored for the electronics market. The company develops and produces aluminum nitride templates, bulk substrates, and coatings that serve various applications, including deep-UV LEDs, high-power switches, motor controls, and UV laser diodes. Their products enhance electronic device structures by maintaining thermal conductivity and voltage resistance, addressing critical challenges in power generation, transmission, and high-speed communications. Founded in 2007 and based in Wichita, Kansas, Nitride Solutions focuses on providing solutions that meet the evolving demands of the electronics industry.

EyeVerify Inc. is a biometric technology company based in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 2012. It specializes in eye-based biometric solutions for mobile devices, offering its primary product, EyePrint ID. This patented authentication solution utilizes existing smartphone cameras to capture and analyze the unique patterns of blood vessels in the eye, providing a secure and password-free mobile experience. EyePrint ID is designed to enhance data security with an encryption key equivalent to a complex 50-character password, making it suitable for use on both iOS and Android platforms. The company primarily serves businesses looking to secure customer data through its innovative biometric verification technology. As of September 2016, EyeVerify operates as a subsidiary of Ant Financial Services Group.

Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing therapeutics for dogs and cats in the United States. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, the company focuses on addressing unmet medical needs in companion animal care through high-quality medicines. Its product portfolio includes various therapeutics, such as NOCITA for post-operative pain management in dogs, ENTYCE for appetite stimulation, and GALLIPRANT for pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. Aratana is also advancing treatments for conditions like osteosarcoma in dogs and a range of therapies for cats, including a specialized formulation for pain management and treatments for feline herpes virus-induced conditions. The company has established collaboration agreements with other health organizations to enhance the development and commercialization of its products.