Zak Niazi was a student in the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester and asking the question: What if? What if he could find a way to show 360-degree video without the complicated and tedious stitching required to make a seamless stream?

The question led Niazi to find solutions in physics for that kind of real-time, spherical, 360-degree streaming video. In overly simplified terms, he used polygonal lenses and designed them to have polygonal fields of view, instead of circular lenses with circular fields, and stuck them together so that where they touch each other the fields of view line up.

Niazi let the person who assembled the first system name the product. He chose Hydra, after the mythical Greek character with multiple heads. In 2017, Niazi founded Circle Optics, which is now based in Rochester. Who might use Hydra and Circle Optics technology?

NASA and the Department of Defense, especially the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, are among customers. So are companies developing technologies for fields in UAS, the unmanned aerial systems commonly called drones.

What makes it useful in drone technologies?

“You get much higher quality data, and you don’t get the overlapping fields, which is what takes lots of post-processing and computer resources,” Niazi said. “On a small drone, an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), and other aircraft, it drains away your battery.
“Higher quality data then leads to better AI (artificial intelligence). That leads to better decision making from the drone. Better data also leads to a more complete visual perception of the drone’s surroundings for remote operators.”
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The drone application brought Niazi to the GENIUS NY program at The Tech Garden in Syracuse, where his company was a GENIUS finalist and won a $500,000 investment.
He’s learned that starting and leading a growing company requires giving autonomy to others. It can be hard for an entrepreneur: “When you start a company, it’s your baby, and so you’re very protective of it.” He said good leaders establish a bold purpose larger than themselves, creating a North Star for their company.

Read the full article from Stan Linhorst on syracuse.com, here.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — It is a success story for this one-time Syracuse *startup”, now a unicorn, Density, which is now valued at over a billion dollars.

It’s also a success for the Syracuse Tech Garden, and the region.

Density is now opening a major manufacturing facility in the Whitlock building on South Salina Street, across from Salt City Market.
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Watch the interview with NewsChannel 9, here.

Company is prepared to scale its operations and grow in the region
 
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – CenterState CEO announces the graduation of Duct Wind Turbines from its Clean Tech Center program. The Clean Tech Center program is housed at The Tech Garden and is a NYSERDA-funded initiative focused on supporting companies commercializing environmental and clean energy technologies. Ducted Wind Turbines was founded in 2016 as a spinout of Clarkson University and now employs eight people. The company is now prepared to scale its operations and advance its sales and commercialization.
“Ducted Wind Turbines is better positioned to grow and scale our company here in the region thanks to the support we received through The Clean Tech Center Program,” said Joe Dickson, CEO of Ducted Wind Turbines. “We are ready to advance our vision for this company, which is to improve our environment and human lives simultaneously, providing electricity to those who can’t afford it, who don’t have it, or those living in the dark after a natural disaster.”

Ducted Wind Turbines are unique in that they can produce up to twice the energy of a conventional open bladed turbine of the same size. This means it can provide the lowest cost per kilowatt-hour in the small turbine market, reducing the time for return on investment to half of what it takes for conventional open rotor wind turbines. Applications include micro-grids and nano-grids, EV charging stations, building LEED certification, emergency preparedness and remote power generation. The company’s high-performance, economical small wind turbine can also be assembled and installed in less than a day.
“The ultimate goal of The Clean Tech Center is to support our client companies by providing the training, resources and expertise needed to grow,” said Jeff Fuchsberg, vice president of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at CenterState CEO. “As a graduate of The Clean Tech Center, Ducted Wind Turbines, is ready to attract follow-on investments, and advance toward being cash flow positive by successfully commercializing its emerging clean energy technologies. Their progress supports the region’s evolving tech ecosystem, and we will continue to connect them to the resources they need as they begin the next phase of their company’s growth.”

Clean Tech refers to an emerging sector of products, services and processes that harness renewable energy sources, reduce the carbon footprint and advance sustainability. The Clean Tech Center offers support for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies through incubation, acceleration and retention. The program also connects clean tech companies with national and state resource providers for acceleration support of staged growth. The Clean Tech Center has maintained an active cohort of 11 teams since 2017, with one graduate company being the region’s first start-up unicorn and another company being featured on the television show, Shark Tank, earning investment from two ‘Sharks.’ The Clean Tech Center accepts qualified companies on a rolling basis, please contact [email protected] for more information.

To learn more about Ducted Wind Turbines visit www.ductedwind.com. To learn more about The Clean Tech Center, click here.

About CenterState CEO
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CenterState CEO is an independent and forward-thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce; dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the region. We serve as an advocate and resource for smart business, catalyze and facilitate regional growth, and promote community prosperity through results-driven partnerships, planning and problem-solving. www.centerstateceo.com

CenterState CEO announced new leadership for The Tech Garden and for one of its signature programs, GENIUS NY. Jeff Fuchsberg is named vice president of CenterState CEO’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship portfolio. Sarah Hood is named Senior director of operations at The Tech Garden. Kara Jones is named the director of GENIUS NY.
 
As the vice president of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Fuchsberg is responsible for leading CenterState CEO’s entrepreneurship support programming, operated out of its incubator, The Tech Garden, located in downtown Syracuse.  He previously served as the director of GENIUS NY, a startup competition and one-year in-residence accelerator located at The Tech Garden. Fuchsberg brings several years of innovation and business development experience to his new role. Before joining CenterState CEO he was senior director of Innovation Projects at the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation in El Paso, Texas. In that role, he managed incubator operations, delivered programs to support innovation and entrepreneurship and supported ecosystem development. Fuchsberg holds a bachelor’s degree in entomology, magna cum laude with distinction in research, from Cornell University, and a juris doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law, summa cum laude, with an advanced certificate in technology commercialization law from the New York State Science & Technology Law Center. He is also certified as a business incubator manager by the International Business Innovation Association.
 
“We are excited to announce new leadership at The Tech Garden, as Jeff, Sara and Kara have been integral to the success of this portfolio and will enable us to scale our support for the companies we serve,” said Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “These new roles support the many changes and growth we are seeing across the ecosystem. They will each play a critical role as we embark on the expansion of The Tech Garden and its programs and operations.”
 
As, senior director of Operations at The Tech Garden, Hood is responsible for overseeing operations of The Tech Garden and will lead its strategic and business development. She most recently served as director of The Clean Tech Center at The Tech Garden. Before joining CenterState CEO she was the program manager for Saab Corporation. Hood also served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in public relations and communications from Jacksonville State University. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse, class of 2019.
 
As director of GENIUS NY, Jones will manage the programming and support for companies in the GENIUS NY program, administered by CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden. She previously served as content and marketing manager and director of communications at The Tech Garden. Additionally, she has played a key role in supporting the success of the GENIUS NY program since its launch in 2017. Jones earned her master’s degree in integrated marketing communication from Marist College and her bachelor’s degree in public relations and business management from SUNY Oswego. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse, class of 2020. 
 

Potsdam, New York – LC Drives announced today that the company has delivered an electric motor to Bosch Rexroth for evaluation and testing. The companies are exploring its use for a variety of industrial applications where advanced hydraulic and motor technologies can be combined to generate manufacturing process improvements, operational efficiencies, and economic savings.

“We believe the compact but powerful motors from LC Drives have the potential to be used in many of the industrial market segments where Bosch Rexroth enjoys significant market share today,” said Winfried Hegel, vice president systems and solutions at Bosch Rexroth AG. As we look to the future, power density will be an important aspect for the evolution of electrohydraulic industrial applications that Bosch Rexroth supplies,” continued Hegel.

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of drive and control technologies, Bosch Rexroth ensures efficient, powerful, and safe movement in machines and systems of any size. The company offers its customers hydraulics, electric drive and control technology, gear technology, and linear motion and assembly technology, including software and interfaces to the Internet of Things.

“We are happy our discussions with Bosch Rexroth regarding our novel thermal management technology and resulting power-dense electric motors have progressed to the stage of hardware evaluation,” said Russel Marvin, LC Drives Co-Founder and CEO. “Bosch Rexroth is an outstanding, world-class company, and we are privileged to be working with them toward the commercialization of our technology” concluded Marvin.

​LC Drives is targeting a variety of applications including marine, industrial, transportation, and wind energy. Applications where space is limited and weight important are ideal for motors or generators from LC Drives.

East Syracuse, NY – Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOACNY) has installed the IoTRight monitored Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) solution with Active Pure Technology in the Brittonfield, Community and Auburn facilities.  This monitored air Purification solution expands the capabilities of the filtration that HOA is currently using within their facilities to address not only COVID 19 but also numerous other air and surface contaminants.   

“We are excited to have installed the Active Pure and IoTRight technologies to protect our patients and staff,” explains HOACNY’s CEO, Maryann Roefaro. “Providing the safest environment for our patients and staff and using cutting edge technology is at the core of our mission to provide the highest level of quality care in a healing environment.” 

By installing the brand new IoTRight IAQ solution within the existing HVAC systems, HOA is able to fight
and destroy contaminants on surfaces and in the air almost immediately, around the clock and all year
long. Additionally, the monitoring platform ensures that the systems are running effectively and alerts
the staff if there is a problem. This non-stop air purification combats thousands of microscopic
contaminants that not only include COVID-19 but other viruses, mold, odor-causing bacteria, pollen,
mildew and dust.

How It Works:

Air and water molecules are drawn into the ActivePure Air Scrubbers which have been installed into the
buildings’ existing HVAC system. Once inside the air purification system, this technology turns oxygen and
water molecules into pathogen hungry Hydroxyls (friendly-yet-powerful oxidizers) that are dispersed back
into the HOA space. These “healthy” molecules fight and destroy contaminants on surfaces and in the air
in real time.

The IoTRight sensor package is installed in conjunction with the Air Scrubbers to monitor the power to the
unit as well as the humidity and airflow around the Air Scrubber. This information is then sent to the
IoTRight Smart Building platform which enables HOA staff to monitor the effectiveness of the system at
all three locations from a single dashboard. Additionally, the system is set up to send alerts to staff when
there is a problem with any of the Air Scrubbers.

“IoTRight is very excited to partner with HOA to provide our Monitored Air Purification Solution and help
them create a safe and healthy environment for their patients and staff.” says Michael Marley, IoTRight
CEO. “We look forward to expanding our relationship and continuing to develop solutions with HOA.”
The system was installed by Postler and Jaeckle Mechanical Contractors with support from IoTRight. The
Brittonfield location went online in February. This was followed by the Onondaga Hill facility, and most
recently the Auburn facility.

Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY was established in 1982 with a vision to serve the community
by providing the highest level of quality care to patients dealing with cancer and blood disorders. With
office locations in Auburn, East Syracuse and Onondaga Hill (Syracuse), plus a Wellness Center in
Camillus, HOA continues that vision with a multifaceted team dedicated to holistic, patient-centered
care. The only cancer practice in CNY Certified for Quality by The American Society of Clinical Oncology,
HOACNY also serves as the only certified oncology medical home in New York State.

IoTRight is an innovative IOT Solution provider developing smart building solutions by partnering with
our customers to address their business needs. Based in Syracuse NY, the IoTRight team builds
customer-centric solutions that provide actionable data for not only the efficient management of
your building, but also occupant centric solutions which provide a safe and secure environment in
which to work. For more information visit iotright.com or email [email protected].
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Tonquin, the leading on-demand last-mile delivery and logistics platform for the automotive space, is pleased to announce Denise Novak, CPA, and Mike Roe are joining as investors and members of the board of directors. Tonquin is bringing auto part suppliers into the world of automation and connectivity with next generation logistics technology. The new investors and members bring years of experience and leadership to assist the Tonquin team during this high-growth phase of the organization.
 
Novak has an extensive background in finance, accounting and asset management. She will bring her skills and experience to support the senior leadership team of Tonquin with financial reporting and forecasting as well as innovate on the platform’s big data reporting capabilities. Novak graduated from Ithaca College and serves as the head of fund operations for the Americas at Prudential’s PGIM Real Estate division.
 
Roe is a seasoned technology leader and finance guru. He is an operating partner at NexPhase Capital Partners as well as the former CEO/president of three successful software startups. Roe’s critical thinking, digital savvy and sound leadership will help guide the growth strategies for Tonquin as well as blocking and tackling opportunities across the market.
 
Jeff Lyman, CEO of Tonquin, said, “I’m very excited to have these leaders serve on our board, provide guidance and lend their experience to help us navigate the challenges of a high-growth startup.”           
 
Tonquin was founded in 2017 and launched the platform in 2019 with its first paid deliveries in the Syracuse market. Tonquin is headquartered in The Tech Garden. Tonquin is providing services across Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo and is expanding into the Springfield, Massachusetts, Boston and Hartford, Connecticut areas. Learn more at www.Tonquin.com

Eget Liber, a UAS startup and previous GENIUS NY accelerator program participant, is partnering with the U.S. Army's Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to validate the company's water preserving technology in freshwater lakes to combat harmful algal blooms. 

Eget Liber prides itself on being an eco-friendly company that is providing new technologies for tackling environmental issues without adversely affecting the fragile environment. They are currently working on a multi-vehicle response to mitigating toxic algae. 

To learn more about Eget Liber, please visit ​eget-liber.com/

Brian Pitre is the co-founder and CEO of SkyOp.com which offers drone training courseware, certification test prep, and flight training for drones and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).
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He is also a serial entrepreneur and member of the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. In this role, he recently had two Forbes articles published: Getting Started with Drones: What Business Leaders Need to Know and STEM Drone Programs Are Creating Career Pathways For Today's Modern Workforce.