The Knewton Blog

Every day for the past month, the Knewton Blog has profiled one of the 2011 Technology Pioneers. The more we learn about these companies, the more humbled we are to have the opportunity to stand alongside them at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. Each and every Tech Pioneer is doing truly awesome, innovative work.

Below, we’ve compiled the links to all thirty company profiles, along with a short summary of each. Be sure to check them out — and stay tuned for on-the-ground reports from Switzerland!

Digital Lumens: Digital Lumens has developed a “smart” industrial lighting system that combines LEDs with high-tech networking and software innovations, saving energy and allowing customers to get 100% of the lighting for 10% of the cost.

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies: Ostara’s wastewater treatment systems extract nutrients from wastewater to prevent pipe-clogging and produce environmentally-friendly fertilizer.

On-Ramp Wireless: On-Ramp Wireless’ wireless communication technology is the unsung hero of many emerging technologies–smart grids, location tracking, and much, much more.

Novacem: The cement industry is a notorious carbon emitter, but Novacem is out to improve their image: their cement actually absorbs more CO2 than it emits during production.

Flexoresearch Group: Flexoresearch Group has created enzymes that allow previously unrecyclable materials, like milk cartons and fast-food wrappers, to be recycled — along with other environmentally-friendly innovations.

OPOWER: OPOWER helps utility companies engage with and motivate their customers to save energy — and money — by providing them with concrete, targeted suggestions on how to increase their energy-efficiency.

NetQin Mobile: NetQin’s mobile security services protect your privacy on the go; its cloud security platform is specially designed for mobile phones.

OpenDNS: OpenDNS’s security services make the web safer, helping consumers and networks protect themselves without additional software or appliances.

Ion Torrent: Ion Torrent has created a faster, cheaper gene sequencing method that will allow many more labs and clinics to use sequencing in their research.

Neuronetics: Neuronetic’s Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy System serves as a non-invasive, effective alternative treatment for depression, without the side effects commonly caused by drug treatments.

Molecular Partners: Molecular Partners is using proteins known as DARPins to develop more effective, less expensive treatments for a variety of diseases.

Medicine in Need (MEND): MEND works with academics, NGOs, and pharmaceutical companies to produce vaccines and drugs that are suitable for countries in the developing world, where millions of people each year die from preventable diseases.

Adimab: Adimab’s platform (the first fully integrated yeast-based human antibody discovery and optimization platform, to be exact) speeds up and lowers the cost of pharmaceutical research.

Vortex Engineering: Vortex brings the power of banking to remote areas by developing ATMS specially designed for rural environments.

Spotify: Spotify is a legal way to get music on the web that works across many hardware platforms.

Secondmarket: SecondMarket is a secondary market for illiquid, restricted, and alternative investments; SecondMarket provides liquidity to sellers who would have few options otherwise.

Scribd: Scribd is a document-sharing site that allows anyone to publish their work — anything from romance novels to medical research — on the web and gain readers immediately.

ReputationDefender: If you thought it was impossible to bury unflattering personal information on the web, think again: ReputationDefender helps protect the privacy and manage the online identities of individuals and businesses alike.

Aster Data: Aster Data’s super-powerful programming framework allows companies to store and analyze lots and lots of data, without overwhelming the system.

Layar: Layar’s “augmented reality” mobile app uses your phone to identify your location and surroundings, then gives you a glimpse at things you can’t see. Peek inside buildings, visualize historical incarnations, play location-based games, and much more.

GetJar: GetJar is an apps store that delivers applications to telephones of all kinds — it’ll figure out what kind of phone and platform you have, and let you download apps in one click.

Foursquare: Foursquare is a free mobile app that combines the fun of exploration with gaming and social networking; users can “check in” at locations to find friends, compare destinations, and even receive special discounts or rewards from merchants.

Atlassian: Atlassian’s software helps technical teams work more efficiently, allowing the process of product development and other projects to become faster and more streamlined.

Transonic Combustion: Transonic Combustion’s fuel injection system is a near-term, affordable (and much-needed!) solution to improve the fuel economy of cars.

Topell Energy: Topell Energy has developed a super-efficient way of making solid bio-fuel, which can be used in the place of environmentally-harmful fossil fuels at little to no extra cost.

Tendril: Tendril helps consumers and utilities alike manage their energy consumption; their consumer software is particularly helpful for its easy to understand, tangible reports and energy-saving tips.

TaKaDu: TaKaDu improves the efficiency of water distribution, helping to make the most of an oh-so-necessary (and already-scarce!) resource.

Quintas: Quintas’s work in renewable energy generation helps Nigeria make use of its natural resources; its production of inverters helps stabilize Nigerian life in the face of frequent power outages.

Ecovative Design: Ecovative’s all-natural products are sustainable replacements for the plastics currently piling up in landfills.

Ferrate Treatment Technologies: Ferrate Treatment Technologies has developed a safe, affordable, and ultra-efficient method for cleaning water–particularly important for its applications in developing countries.

Posted in EdTech, Education & Technology, Knewton, Technology | No comments