Philadelphia Startup Competes For Funding At South By Southwest Conference In Texas
By Melony Roy
AUSTIN, TEX. (CBS) -- A Philadelphia biotech company has been chosen by South by Southwest in Austin, Texas to participate in a startup competition during the interactive conference.
More than 500 startups applied, but only 48 were chosen for South by Southwest's annual two-day pitch competition. One of the finalists is a 3D bioprinter company BioBots. It was started in a dorm room by University of Pennsylvania alum Danny Cabrera.
"The devices build 3D living tissues using mixtures of cells and bio compatible materials," Cabrera says. "The ultimate goal is within a few years we can begin to use these devices to print living tissues that can begin to be implanted into patients."
Biobots is a finalist in the digital health and life sciences category that involves patient-centric health applications and technologies that connect patients, physicians and care providers.
"I know it sounds a little bit futuristic," Cabrera says, "but already simple tissues have been printed and implanted. Things like tracheas and bladders and even skin."
Biobots will pitch the 3D desktop bioprinter in front of a live audience and a panel of industry insiders. The winners will receive a grand prize at the South by Southwest accelerator awards ceremony.
Notable past winners include Siri and Klout. Fifty percent of previous competing companies have received funding and 12 percent were acquired by major companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook.