Purdue startup named to most fundable list

January 17, 2023

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 10:03 AM EDTUpdated: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 11:51 AM EDT
By Wes Mills, Content Manager
Purdue-affiliated biotech company OmniVis developed the iSpyDx, a hand-held device capable of rapidly detecting pathogens in food, water and plant samples. (image provided by Purdue)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - For the third consecutive year, a Purdue University-affiliated company has been named to the Most Fundable Companies list from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. This year, the business school named biotechnology company OmniVis to the prestigious list. Pepperdine says companies that qualify for the list are “worthy of serious investor consideration.” The company developed a hand-held that enables users to rapidly detect pathogens in food, water and plant samples in less than 40 minutes. “When paired with the right sample preparation and primers to amplify nucleic acids, the platform can detect pathogens from food, water and agricultural products, as well as those causing human diseases,” said co-founder Jacqueline Linnes, who is an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Purdue. “We have demonstrated the detection of cholera from water samples and malaria, SARS-CoV-2 and HIV from human saliva and blood samples.” The devices perform to laboratory method standards, but users do not require special equipment or training. OmniVis competed against more than 4,000 early-stage U.S. companies in all 50 states. Just 16 were recognized. “The Most Fundable Companies process involved six months of due diligence on OmniVis, providing even further confidence behind everything we are doing at the company,” said OmniVis CEO Katherine Clayton, who earned who earned her PhD in mechanical engineering from Purdue “By winning the Most Fundable Companies, we were able to extend our network by meeting great entrepreneurs and investors as well as those excited about entrepreneurship. We can’t wait for what comes next.” This is the third consecutive year a company with Purdue connections has appeared on the Most Fundable Companies list. Life science diagnostics company Amplified Sciences was recognized in 2021. Adranos, which developed solid rocket fuel for long-range missiles and space systems, was named in 2020.