Investors in the health care solutions company include New York’s Innovation Venture Capital Fund, Plum Alley, Tamiami Angel Funds, BELLE Capital USA, Connectivity Ventures and Others
Troy, NY (January 25, 2018) –Vital Vio, Inc., the health care solutions company that has reinvented disinfection with its patented VioSafe™ White Light Disinfection™ technology, today announced it has closed a syndicate investment round to expand applications of its technology and adoption of its germ-killing LEDs.New participating investors include New York’s Innovation Venture Capital Fund, Plum Alley, Tamiami Angel Funds, and others. Previous investors BELLE Capital USA, and Connectivity Ventures, among others, also invested in this round.
Vital Vio’s technology is proven effective – by independent research and case studies – in safely and continuously killing bacteria and other harmful organisms including: MRSA, Salmonella, E. coli, and C. diff. growing on interior surfaces.
CEO Colleen Costello, who co-founded Vital Vio in 2013 after her grandmother contracted MRSA during a hospital stay, said: “Infection prevention is one of the most vexing and costly global health challenges. Companies and consumers are quickly adopting Vital Vio’s innovative, effective, and versatile option to add a layer of protection against deadly germs. This round of funding will accelerate our ability to invest in innovation, develop new technologies, expand markets and partners, and grow our team; so that we can provide our customers with new tools for continuous disinfection.”
“The creative and nimble team has established Vital Vio as a market leader, and is demonstrating that its patented VioSafe™ White Light Disinfection™ technology has diverse applications across multiple markets. Vital Vio’s performance and potential is reflected in the strength of this investment round,” said Dr. Irene Hrusovsky, BELLE Capital USA, managing director and Vital Vio Board Chair.
In just the last year, Vital Vio announced licensing agreements to incorporate its antibacterial technology into the LED product offerings of Acuity Brands, Inc., a leading provider of lighting and building management solutions; Code 3® a leader in engineering and manufacturing lighting and warning products for emergency response vehicles; and VidaShield™, an innovator in fast, continuous air purification technology.
In 2017, Vital Vio provided its continuous disinfection solution in a range of new markets. For example, Vital Vio’s VioSafe White Light Disinfection technology was adopted by Duke Athletics Department adding an innovative layer of infection protection for its students and staff by incorporating VioSafe dual mode troffer antibacterial lights into its training facilities; by the Boston-based Chicken & Rice Guys incorporating VioSafe replacement tubes into its fleet of food trucks; and by Code 3 offering a patient compartment light powered by Vital Vio, to safely, effectively, and continuously kill germs while illuminating the interior of ambulances.
New products are scheduled to move to market in the coming year as a result of existing and new partnerships, while ongoing research and innovation are driving future technologies and partnerships. To facilitate its multi-market growth, in the last year Vital Vio expanded its staff including adding a Vice President for Commercialization, Senior Director of Technical Operations, and Senior Director of Strategic Marketing. Additional senior-level hires are planned for 2018.
New York State, Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said: “New York Ventures is proud to support the expansion of Vital Vio and spur innovation in the state’s growing healthcare and technology industries. We look forward to Vital Vio’s continued success as the company seeks to broaden our understanding of infection prevention and grow its workforce in the Capital Region.” New York Ventures is the investment arm of Empire State Development, administering the Innovation Venture Capital Fund among others.
Plum Alley Founder & CEO Deborah Jackson said: “Plum Alley formed a syndicate to invest in Vital Vio because our team and our members saw the potential of this disinfecting LED technology to provide an innovative solution to a longstanding problem impacting millions each year. Colleen Costello exemplifies a next generation founder who has assembled a high performing team determined to make public and private environments safer. She is an inspiring role model for future founders,”
Tamiami Angel Funds, Fund Administrator, Susi Kimball said: “The first time I heard Colleen Costello describe Vital Vio’s value proposition, I knew the members of our angel fund would want to invest. Thanks to the Angel Capital Association (ACA), a Florida Angel Fund met a New York startup in California at the ACA’s Summit. With Belle Capital’s early involvement, it was a quick decision and an easy syndication effort.”
Connectivity Ventures Fund, CIO, Denmark West said: “We at Connectivity Ventures are big fans of Colleen Costello as an entrepreneur. We are excited to see Vital Vio being recognized by large lighting manufactures as a market leader and believe the company is only beginning to scratch the surface on the market opportunity.”
About Vital Vio
Vital Vio is a health care solutions company that has reinvented disinfection, providing facilities managers and home-owners new tools to continuously kill germs indoors with the flip of a light switch. The company’s VioSafe™ White Light Disinfection™ technology is suitable for continuous human exposure. Used in combination with traditional intermittent cleaning in hospitals, homes, public spaces, and workplaces, Vital Vio’s technology multi-tasks to safely, effectively, and continuously kill bacteria and other harmful organisms on indoor surfaces, while also illuminating the room. Vital Vio has been awarded several U.S. Patents for its innovative technologies and products, with numerous more patents pending. Research has shown that the company’s LED’s and other product offerings dramatically reduce contamination and infection risk for its customers. More information at www.vyv.tech.
Media inquiries: [email protected] | Customer inquiries: [email protected]
For more information on Vital Vio go to: www.vyv.tech
About New York Ventures – New York Ventures is dedicated to encouraging innovation and fueling economic growth in communities across the State. This venture capital investment arm of Empire State Development is one of New York State’s business resources and innovation investments, including the Governor’s START-UP NY program, Innovation Hot Spots, the Regional Economic Development Councils, the Centers of Advanced Technology and Centers of Excellence networks, and the SUNY 2020 Initiative.
About Plum Alley – Plum Alley Investments is a membership of investors creating the future with intention and resources. Plum Alley gives individual, family and corporate members access to highly selective private companies so they can build a portfolio of direct investments; exclusive learning experiences so they can stay “future literate” about innovation; and a way to leverage their expertise and relationships to advance women entrepreneurs building companies with technological and medical breakthroughs. Plum Alley has closed nine syndicate investments in the last 24 months aggregating over $6.5 million invested in women entrepreneurs. The other Plum Alley syndicate investments include a sharing economy driven designer bridesmaids rental platform, companies with innovations in cardiovascular disease prevention, incubating stem cells to grow new bone, deep learning video recognition technology, and a digital market for private investigators. For more information about Plum Alley visit www.plumalley.co.
About Tamiami Angel Funds – Tamiami Angel Fund I, Tamiami Angel Fund II, and Tamiami Angel Fund III are member-managed funds that allow high-net-worth individuals and families to invest in promising early stage and expansion-stage companies located in the U.S., with a preference to those in the state of Florida. The funds are members of the Angel Capital Association and the Florida Venture Forum. For more information, visit www.tamiamiangels.com.
