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ECR Logic: streamlining fieldwork through mobile technology

A University of Iowa spinout company, ECR Logic, is developing a mobile fieldwork data application that aggregates map data for use in the field by scientists and professionals.

The idea is to make remote field work and environmental compliance reporting easy, fast, and accurate by combining data found in different data sets, and allowing users to modify that data in the field.

The company recently participted in the I-Corps Innovation Workshop, a four-week program specifically designed for faculty and staff.

“The program was such an eye opener, said John Doershuk, co-founder and CEO of ECR Logic. “They cut right to the chase and got us thinking about markets, who we would be serving and what their problems were. It introduced me to a totally different way of thinking that I’m now even using in my day-to-day work more. I just look at the word differently because of going through that training exercise.”

ECR Logic recently received a $25,000 award from the state’s Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR) Fund.

The $25,000 award will help the startup hire programmers to build on its core intellectual property, licensed from the UI Office of the State Archaeologist, and pay for additional customer discovery activities.

Merging academic applications into the business world

ECR Logic is a direct result of the University of Iowa pushing faculty and staff to become more entrepreneurial and explore ways to take the good ideas being conducting in labs and market them outside of the university.

In the process of doing archaeological research at the University of Iowa, mapping software was developed for field scientists. ECR Logic is an expansion of that mapping software that is applicable to all sorts of environmental sciences, not just archaeological compliance work.

“We’re just really pleased we’ve been able to translate what we’re doing at the university into something that might have a major impact on a national level,” said Doershuk.

Streamlining every step of the process

The ECR Logic app makes every stage of performing fieldwork faster whether at be prepping for a project, the field work itself, or processing reports.

“Our software is useful because it will allow someone sitting in an office environment pull in all kinds of map data all these different kinds of variables to put together that first step,” said Doershuk. 

The app is also useful for crews out in the field that need easy access to this information. If somebody got something wrong in the office or there is new data in the field that needs to layer in, fieldworkers can do that directly through the app.

Bringing the product to market

“We’re now at that tipping point where everything is really in place and we’ve got to take that blind leap off the cliff,” said Doershuk. “We’re hoping this summer to come up with some investment capital that will allow us to do that and really take off. We’ve done some beta testing. We’ve done some customer discovery. I think we’re on the right track. Now we’ve got to commit to full out sales efforts.”

ECR Logic currently is in contact with some of the larger environmental firms in hopes of getting them to adopt the application.

“If we can get some quick hits with them, they’re going to start to reshape the market towards this level of efficiency,” said Doershuk. “We’re expecting in a couple years to have either made a big splash or have missed the pool.”

 

 

 

 

ECR Logic: streamlining fieldwork through mobile technology | Clay & Milk
A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.
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