Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal) is a small, innovative economic and policy analysis research and software development firm located at the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. Optimal has conducted over 200 evaluations, nationally and in 28+ countries incorporating research rigor and innovative technology tools, such as business intelligence software, integrated data repositories, and machine-learning algorithms.

HY-TEK Bio is an early stage company developing a patent-pending system to remove carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases from smoke stack flue gas using a unique strain of algae while producing valuable byproducts from the algae. The company’s system mitigates greenhouse gas from flue gases by injecting the flue gas into a tank full of a unique strain of algae. The tank is a patent-pending, closed bioreactor produced in-house from a lamination of Mylar and Kevlar. This patent-pending construct allows the bioreactors to be produced inexpensively while being extremely light weight. In addition, patent-pending LED Grow Lights are used along with a nutrient developed in-house, made from fresh chicken manure and a blend of other proprietary components.

The algae feeds on the CO2 and NOx in the flue gas, as well as on the nutrient. CO2 consumption is enhanced through the use of proprietary LED Grow Light technology, yielding minimal greenhouse gas emissions and high yields of high-value algal biomass. The process produces little to no CO2 or NOx emissions, while enhancing the lipid-oil production in the algae as well as a by-product of Lutein-Zeaxanthin, an ultra-antioxidant that is in high demand in the market place. The algal biomass can be sold to brokers, who place the biomass into markets that produce Lutein-Zeaxanthin-based products, bio-plastics, skin care products, cosmetic and paint thickeners, additives for human and animal food products, and biofuel.

Firefox Pharmaceuticals is a start-up biotechnology company developing and commercializing a novel class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, creating first-in-class small molecules for reverse cholesterol transport enhancers (RCTE). After nine years of uninterrupted academic research and pharmaceutical R&D, the company has made discoveries in the direct reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) process. Firefox’s strategy tackles all four RCT steps: 1.) increase nascent HDL availabilities; 2.) increase macrophage cholesterol efflux; 3.) increase cholesterol esterification; and 4) increase liver uptake for fecal excretion. Others have focused on strategies to increase HDL (and decrease LDL). Firefox’s quadruple-pronged plan of attack could reduce cholesterol to unprecedented levels by enhancing RCT and eliminating cholesterol already present. The company’s lead compound has showed desired activities, both in vitro and in vivo, for enhanced RCT. A patent application was filed with USPTO on April 3, 2017.

Manta Biofuel is a producer of renewable algal crude oil that is cost-competitive with traditional crude oil. The company employs technological advantages in a three-step process to produce crude oil from algae. The first is growing algae. Manta can convert algae from any source, leaving options open from farming to collecting natural blooms. For the second step, harvesting the algae, Manta uses a proprietary magnetic harvester that efficiently collects and concentrates algae. The company then converts the algae to crude oil through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).

PaverGuide has developed a product called PaverGuide™, an injection-molded, recycled plastic, modular system designed to replace stone as a road base and reservoir below permeable paving. The reservoir allows for infiltration, or beneficial harvesting of storm water.

PaverGuide™ is a structural base for paving systems and exceeds H-20 loading. PaverGuide™ is installed faster and cheaper than the stone it replaces, and at 90 percent void, it provides a large rainwater reservoir and expansive infiltration surface.