New Company Launches To Accelerate Research And Technology Discoveries In Agriculture, Animal Health And Food Science

LEAWOOD, Kan., Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the launch of Technology Acceleration Partners, LLC (TechAccel), the first private capital development company of its kind, advancing transformative and disruptive innovations in animal health, agriculture and food ingredient markets. Michael Helmstetter, Ph.D., the company's lead founder and CEO, brings a 28-year proven track record of successful research management, enterprise growth and technology commercialization. Co-Founders are Kansas State University and Bicknell Family Holding Company.

TechAccel partners with global industry leaders to provide the solutions needed to perfect technologies, as well as accelerate their time to market. The company also sources and acquires technologies internationally, addressing specific industry needs in adjacent market segments.

"We're excited to bring this unique and much-needed resource to the animal health, agriculture and food science sectors," said President & CEO Helmstetter. "Having worked in the research sector my entire career, I know all too well the pain point between proof of concept discoveries and the stage at which industry takes a technology into their pipeline. I also appreciate the tremendous value to global industry leaders of shared risk in moving these technologies forward into new market segments."

Often the risk profile and research demonstration of transformational technologies prevents their advancement. As a result, many remain stalled at universities, small businesses or in global industry leader portfolios. TechAccel deploys integrated technology sourcing/acquisition, innovative de-risking research and development strategies, and best-in-class project management to identify and advance technologies. TechAccel then leverages its strategic partners' regulatory infrastructure and vast distribution network to commercialize products and accelerate their time to market. The company expects to invest in six new advancement projects annually.

TechAccel's founding investors bring the significant firepower of some of the nation's most successful business leaders and entrepreneurs. They include Terry P. Dunn, President and CEO of JE Dunn Construction Group, who serves as TechAccel's Chairman of the Board; Marty Bicknell, CEO of Mariner Holdings; Paul DeBruce, CEO of DeBruce Companies; Gary Forsee, former Chairman, President & CEO of Sprint and former President of the University of Missouri System; Greg Graves, President & CEO of Burns & McDonnell; Cliff Illig, Vice Chairman of the Board of Cerner; Roshann Parris, President & CEO of Parris Communications and John Sherman, Founder and former CEO of Inergy and CEO of MLP Holdings.

"Our unique business model lowers the development risks and costs associated with transformative product development for our company and our global strategic partners," said Terry Dunn, TechAccel Chairman. "We share the financial risk, scope and manage the research & development effort, and then our partner conducts any regulatory testing and takes the technology to the market. We share in the financial rewards once technologies achieve important development milestones and are commercialized."

"TechAccel is a way to expand Kansas State University's expertise and leadership in global food systems to help industry meet the world's growing need for safe, quality food," said K-State President Kirk Schulz. "We developed this unique model to more rapidly commercialize the results of research and development."

Helmstetter served more than three years as President and CEO of MRIGlobal during his 14-year tenure at the independent, not-for-profit research organization. Prior to that leadership position, he was President and Chairman of a highly recognized Florida start-up, BTR Labs, Inc., which was sold to MRIGlobal in 1999. Helmstetter is supported at TechAccel by an integrated team of sector experts, strategists and financial analysts, all of whom have strong relationships with industry leaders, research universities and contract research organizations for consulting and research support.

About Technology Acceleration Partners, LLC (TechAccel): Founded in 2014 by Michael Helmstetter, Ph.D., Kansas State University, and Bicknell Family Holding Company, TechAccel is a first-of-its-kind private capital development company that acquires and accelerates early-stage discoveries and technologies in animal health, agriculture and food ingredient sectors. Through collaborations with universities and research organizations, TechAccel manages innovative research and development strategies to ready technologies for commercialization by TechAccel's global industry partners. 

Contact: Laurie Roberts, Parris Communications
816-931-8900
[email protected]

SOURCE TechAccel