Vermont Business Magazine Step Ahead Innovations, Inc, creators of the revolutionary MindStream aquarium water monitoring system, has announced that it has completed a recent $1.5 million capital round, which moves the firm aggressively towards bringing its innovative water monitoring technology to market. This latest round brings the total amount raised by the Burlington company in seven rounds of funding to over $7 million, a substantial amount for a Vermont technology start-up. Investors to date are angel investors and small investment groups, including a mix of advisers and suppliers (patent attorneys, technology partners, and component suppliers) and private individual investors (local North Country Angels, investment advisors, and a number of high end saltwater aquarists). The company plans to begin taking pre-orders for its initial product, The MindStream Aquarium Monitor, in Q4 2017, with shipments beginning after the first of the new year.”
The MindStream Monitor saves hobbyists and professional aquarium maintenance companies time and worry by eliminating the error-prone and repetitive testing associated with manual water testing. The product replaces numerous traditional test kits with a fully automated solution for aquarists to perpetually monitor and balance up to 10 vital water parameters – the key to keeping fish and corals healthy. Monitor results are transmitted via Wi-Fi and Cloud technology in real time to any web-enabled device. And, if water parameters are out of optimal range, aquarium enthusiasts are alerted immediately via text or email so that they can adjust water chemistry accordingly. The MindStream Monitor lets aquarium hobbyists relax and enjoy their beautiful fish and coral, instead of worrying about the tedious tasks of maintaining their water.
“Our founders and team have invested a tremendous amount of time, energy, and care to refine this advanced technology, and bring to market a product that will be reliable, accurate, and easy to use,” said Brian Degen, Step Ahead Innovations CEO. “Our customers tell us this is a total game changer for them and they can’t wait to get their hands on one, and we are confident that this product will exceed expectations. Perhaps the highest endorsement of the quality of our prototypes--currently in beta testing--is our investor group’s commitment to the MindStream technology and platform. They recognize the remarkable technological innovation in the product, the very significant market potential, and the strong defensible position of our intellectual property and patents. We are extremely grateful for the trust and confidence they have shown in our board, leadership team, and our talented and hard-working employees.”
About Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.: Step Ahead Innovations is dedicated to developing innovative aquarium monitoring and management products and services that enable aquarium enthusiasts to maintain healthy fish and coral ecosystems. The company was founded in 2012 by James Clark, a successful inventor, entrepreneur and electrical engineer, and Giuseppe Petrucci PhD, professor of chemistry at the University of Vermont with extensive experience in medical chemical sensor technology, which forms the basis for the MindStream Monitor. The MindStream Monitor grew out of their shared belief that aquarium enthusiasts should be freed from the burden of constant manual water testing and maintenance regimens so they can relax and enjoy their beautiful aquatic showpieces.
Source: Step Ahead. More information about MindStream is available online at www.MindStreamH2O.com. You can find MindStream on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.