Clemson spinoff participates in exclusive entrepreneurship showcase

CLEMSON — KIYATEC, a Clemson-based company, was among just 20 startups from across the country selected to participate in The University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase that took place on Capitol Hill on April 10.

Hosted by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Association of American Universities (AAU), the event spotlights companies that have created products and services using federally funded, university-based research. Participants were chosen based on the level of student engagement in the startup, the strength of the technology and its relationship to research.

“On behalf of all of the innovators at KIYATEC, it was truly an honor to have our exciting work highlighted on Capitol Hill and to represent the great things that come out of Clemson University,” said Matt Gevaert, founder and CEO of KIYATEC. “It was especially gratifying for two of the event speakers to mention us specifically in their podium talks in recognition of the potential impact of our efforts to improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients.”

The showcase highlights the impact federally funded research has on driving entrepreneurship and innovation. Speakers at the event included U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu; National Institute of Standards and Technology Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services Phillip Singerman; House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson and Ranking Member Frank Lucas; APLU President Peter McPherson; and AAU President Mary Sue Coleman.

KIYATEC’s innovative research on 3D cell culture began at Clemson University. Its ex vivo 3D cell culture technology allows accurate modeling and prediction of cancer patient response to drug therapies. KIYATEC’s 3D-PREDICT clinical study analyzes live cancer cells taken from patients via surgical or biopsy tissues to create a lifelike replication to determine what treatments the patient will respond to prior to beginning the treatment. This validated process is now being used in clinical studies at leading hospitals.

“KIYATEC is a great example of the potential for university-based research to create meaningful, marketable discoveries and technologies,” said Chris Gesswein, executive director of the Clemson University Research Foundation. “Recognition and participation in this showcase provided KIYATEC with a fantastic opportunity to get the word out on how innovative and cutting-edge their team is, and we thank Matt for representing Clemson research so well on this national stage.”

For more information on KIYATEC, click here.