Recipients are JUA Technologies International LLC, which is building multipurpose crop dehydrators, and ZeaVaxx LLC, which is developing a plant-derived nanoparticle for animal vaccines.

June 5, 2018

2 Min Read
Purdue Ag-celerator invests $100,000 in two startups
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The Purdue Ag-celerator Fund has invested a total of $100,000 in two plant science startups for the spring round of investments. The recipients are JUA Technologies International LLC, a startup building multipurpose crop dehydrators, and ZeaVaxx LLC, a startup developing a plant-derived nanoparticle that can improve animal vaccines.

“The Ag-celerator is moving into the third year in its goal to help Purdue agricultural entrepreneurs commercialize their innovations,” said Karen Plaut, the Glenn W. Sample dean of the Purdue College of Agriculture. “With this funding through Ag-celerator, these startups have the opportunity to continue to advance their technologies to the public.”

Both startups presented their technology to the Ag-celerator Selection Committee, which includes entrepreneurial and industry professionals from Purdue and beyond, alongside other finalists earlier this month. JUA Technologies International and ZeaVaxx each received $50,000 in funding.

The Purdue Ag-celerator was founded jointly by Purdue Ventures, Purdue Foundry and Purdue College of Agriculture in 2015. A research advancement initiative, Purdue Moves, supports Ag-celerator with a $2 million fund.

ZeaVaxx was founded by Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine associate dean for research Harm HogenEsch and research associate Fangjia Lu, along with Purdue department of food science associate professor Yuan Yao. The team developed a plant-derived nanoparticle that, when included in animal vaccines, can help boost the immune response, enhance their resistance to temperature changes and provide alternative vaccine delivery routes.

ZeaVaxx plans to invest its funding in further researching and developing its technology. Lu said the first goal is to validate the nanoparticle’s stability and efficiency after thermos treatment.

“Current vaccines use killed or purified microbe parts to increase their safety,” Lu said. “These components do not produce a strong immune reaction and lead to suboptimal protection. Our nanoparticles enhance immune response and therefore better protect for the animals.”

In the future, the startup plans to license its product to large animal health care companies, and then, to develop proprietary vaccines based on ZeaVaxx technology.

JUA Technologies, founded by husband and wife team Klein Ileleji and Reiko Ileleji, has built two solar dehydrators: the DEHYMELEON, a multipurpose solar dehydrator and power generator, and the DEHYTRAY, a hygienic drying tray. The devices use thermal solar energy to dry crops, such as unprocessed and processed grains, fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, fish and meat.

JUA Technologies intends to use its funding to improve market visibility and enhance product development. The startup intends to build up marketing and branding infrastructure to boost its market visibility.

 

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