by Augustine Daudu

Rev: Ithaca Startup Works is excited to announce its second cohort of the Protofacturing Hardware Accelerator. Consisting of 28 teams and over 50 individuals, this cohort brings together inventors and entrepreneurs from a wide variety of industries, from pet health to urban hydroponic agriculture. Participants will refine their business model, secure initial funds for manufacturing, and refine their prototypes to achieve a commercially reproducible version of their product.

Over 50% of this new cohort were also participants of the 2025 Prototyping Hardware Accelerator, where they brought concepts of new inventions to reality. The Protofacturing Hardware Accelerator will give them the opportunity to re-evaluate and improve upon their designs until reaching a design freeze – the final stage before production.

“Our Prototyping founders didn’t miss a step transitioning into Protofacturing. The energy level is consistently high, despite the transition to virtual content, and the founders that have joined in are picking up and contributing that same energy as well,” said Deanna Kocher, Associate Director of Hardware Programs. “We are seeing collaboration and strategic progress across our largest cohort yet, and I’m looking forward to seeing where they land at the end of the program in December”.

The program has two tiers of support: Advising and Development Support. Advising level participants access all curriculum, workshops, and mentorship, including  Entrepreneurs in Residence. Development Support participants receive engineering and hardware prototyping assistance from Rev’s hardware team, with remote lab access and the option for in-person sessions at Rev for regional teams.

The Protofacturing Hardware Accelerator offers four specialized tracks tailored to different sectors: AgTech, ClimateTech, MedTech, and the Classic Track (open to any field). Each track provides sector-specific mentorship, tailored access to regional resources, and informed technical support to prepare to scale the production of their products.

 

Classic Track Hardware Accelerator

Open to all innovators in any field since 2014, Rev’s classic track provides foundational training across industries.

Meet the startup teams from the Classic Track:

• AVOL is developing electric aircraft that transport medical supplies between hospitals up to 11 times faster than cars, integrating seamlessly into existing workflows.

• AskQuerida focuses on preventing health issues by monitoring indoor pollutant levels and removing dust mites.

• GO2 is creating an on-the-go soda maker that allows users to carbonate their drinks, without the need for wasteful single-use cans or bottles.

• LexiTiles helps close early literacy gaps by using tactile tiles, and playful phonics activities to teach letter recognition and reading skills to children ages 2-5.

“I hope to gain hands-on support refining the LexiTiles prototype into a production-ready product, with guidance on design, materials, and manufacturing processes,” said Angela Martinez Becker, Founder of LexiTiles. “I’m also looking to connect with mentors and partners who can help scale LexiTiles and expand its impact on early childhood literacy.” 

• Little Oxford creates sustainably made, sensory-rich fabric books, inspired by timeless literature to set children up for success

• Machado RoadSafe develops traffic control devices that keep flaggers safe, eliminating the risks and high costs associated with manual traffic control.

• MotionX is developing wearable technology that incorporates digital displays into clothing and accessories, eliminating the need for wasteful traditional merchandise.

• Polar Athletics is developing customizable hockey equipment anatomically tailored for girls and women, delivering superior comfort, mobility, and protection for a rapidly growing sport.

• Pourtrait offers a new kind of bar experience where guests receive custom cocktail or mocktail recipes tailored to their taste, printed instantly as a keepsake.

• YEKA Dismore Teknologi is making a Self-driving full electric stacker/forklift to help small businesses with moving goods from one place to another.

AgTech Prototyping Hardware Accelerator

Supported by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s University Center program, these entrepreneurs are immersed in specialized training and connected to experts within the agriculture industry.

Following the completion of the accelerator, these AgTech entrepreneurs have the opportunity to participate in the Grow-NY Food and Ag Business Competition, in which startups can win up to $1 million and further contribute to the regional agrifood system.

Meet the startup teams participating in the AgTech Track:

• Averra is making a device that combines biosensors, microfluidics, and optics to deliver affordable, real-time soil health data directly from the ground.

• BuzzSense is making a wearable camera for farmworkers that captures data to detect plant health issues early and provide insights to growers.

• City Greens Farm is building shipping container farms that are cost-effective, modular, and easy-to-operate to improve food security in urban areas.

• Conduit is creating cost-effective drip irrigation systems that have user friendly monitoring and easy set up.

“We hope to finalize a design capable of being mass produced and consumer-ready along with utilizing the expertise of mentors and the Rev network to accelerate our product’s development,” said Kireeti Kompella, Founder of Conduit.

• Dairy Grazing Alliance is making PaddockTrac, a tool to measure forage availability in pastures and help farmers manage pasture rotations

• Kingfisher AG is making fully automated indoor farming units that produce fish and vegetables year-round to feed people in urban areas.

• Strange Plant People is making an efficient composter that makes composting possible indoors with minimal electricity.

• PYRO makes a device that converts restaurant food waste into biochar using pyrolysis, offering a renewable energy solution that can replace traditional wood and charcoal in cooking.

MedTech Prototyping Hardware Accelerator

This track is funded by the $2 million “Build to Scale” grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and a local matching fund of $2 million, including $1 million from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). The MedTech track participants will have access to design resources, equipment, and faculty in the university’s Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and College of Human Ecology; Weill Cornell Medicine will be a source of applicants and industry expertise for the track.

Meet the startup teams participating in the MedTech Track:

• Conan MedTech Corp. is making a device that uses salivary biomarkers to diagnose concussions quickly, accurately, and non-invasively at the point of care.

• The DeTICKtives are creating an IR-based scanning tool that quickly and accurately spots ticks on animals with dark fur without needing a full manual inspection, making routine checks easier for both pet owners and vets.

• Docfully Inc is making a wearable device that uses biological data to give real time feedback and advice to people experiencing distressful episodes.

• Graiy Inc is making a headset that integrates brain activity sensors and multi-sensor data to capture objective, quantifiable insights during concussion assessment.

• mPulse-02 is developing an innovative tool that accurately measures blood oxygen levels across all skin pigmentations, helping detect hidden hypoxia and making biomedical devices more inclusive.

• NovvaCup is making an ergonomically engineered menstrual cup that makes reusable period care safer, more intuitive, and more comfortable than existing options.

• NuBiru is developing improved radiological devices that maximize clinical precision and patient outcomes in tumor removals.

• OneTouch Diagnotics is making an affordable, patient-focused glucose monitor for people living with diabetes for seamless blood glucose level monitoring.

• Sanare Entreprises makes a bandage that hardens upon application, providing enhanced protection from bumps and scratches without compromising mobility.

• TailHeart Technologies makes a minimally-invasive heart implant to treat mitral valve disease, the most common heart condition in dogs, helping veterinary cardiologists treat more pets with less trauma and greater precision.

“I’m excited to gain structured guidance on advancing our prototype into a robust engineering design so we can begin usability testing with clinicians. I’m also looking forward to refining our funding strategy as we continue customer discovery to build out our business model” said Kathy Le, Co-Founder of TailHeart Technologies.

 

The Protofacturing Hardware Accelerator, backed by a $4 million investment from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and Empire State Development, bridges the gap between prototype and production. This diverse group of entrepreneurs will benefit from expert-led workshops, networking opportunities, and access to industry-specific mentors to take their products to market faster.

For additional details and to stay updated on the startups’ progress, follow Rev: Ithaca Startup Works on Instagram and LinkedIn. Visit our website to learn more about the Protofacturing program.