Award will expedite Pendar X10 product introduction
Cambridge, MA, July 17, 2019 – Pendar Technologies has been awarded a State-funded grant from MassVentures to expedite commercialization of the breakthrough Pendar X10™, a handheld instrument assisting first responders in identifying unknown chemicals quickly and safely at a distance of up to 3 feet during EOD, HAZMAT, or Narcotics operations.
Christian Pfluegl and Kalyani Krishnamurthy (center) from Pendar Technologies receive START program award from Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and MassVentures President Jerry Bird. (Photo credit: Bethan Brome of Blue Blazer Photos)
Over the past eight years, the START program has awarded nearly $21.1 million to 85 Massachusetts Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II projects and helped winning companies raise additional capital of more than $1.1 billion. This highly competitive program supports Massachusetts-based entrepreneurs and innovators as they make the leap from concept to commercialization. 12 companies from a field of 62 applicants were chosen to receive Stage 1 awards this year.
“People who have had an early chance to work with Pendar X10™ are excited about a Raman identification system that does not require close proximity to potentially dangerous chemicals, explosives and narcotics such as fentanyl,” said Dr. Daryoosh Vakhshoori, CEO and Founder of Pendar Technologies. “First responder safety was a prime concern when we designed Pendar X10. The MassVentures START program award will help us expedite our product introduction, bringing new levels of safety to the field with a shorter timeline.”
Contact:
Chris Vander Rhodes | +1.617.588.2128 x734 | media@pendar.com
About MassVentures
MassVentures is a quasi-public venture capital firm focused on fueling the Commonwealth’s innovation economy by funding early-stage, high-growth Massachusetts startups as they move from concept to commercialization. MassVentures also awards funding through its award-winning START (SBIR Targeted Technologies) program, which helps growing Massachusetts-based companies commercialize technologies developed under SBIR and STTR contracts.