KY SBIR/STTR MATCH AWARDEES:  Dalton Shaull and  Eric Pahl

Company: OmniLife 

Describe your SBIR/STTR project and what your company does or will do? 

 OmniLife is a Health IT software provider for the human organ and tissue transplantation industries. Our Phase II SBIR award funded the clinical feasibility study of a mobile clinical decision support tool with predictive algorithms for physician use during the time-sensitive organ acceptance process.  

What is innovative about your SBIR/STTR project? 

 Clinical decisions in organ acceptance for transplant are made in the middle of the night with very little data resulting in tremendous organ waste. Using our mobile-accessible clinical decision support system and proven predictive algorithms, physicians are confident that they are selecting the best organs for their patients and not missing an opportunity to save a life. 

What was the greatest challenge you encountered in developing your innovation and/or launching your startup and how did you overcome it? 

 The greatest challenge we’ve faced in launching our company has been financing. With the support of KY SBIR Matching Funds program we are able to extend our SBIR project past the clinical feasibility and into commercialization. Companies are more investible after they have completed significant R&D and commercialized products already in the market. 

What are you most proud of about your company? 

 OmniLife is positioned as the leading collaborative software platform across the organ and tissue procurement and transplant network. Sales and adoption have grown exponentially this spring and on track to facilitate 80% of the transplant volume in the USA by the end of the year. 

What piece of advice do you have for SBIR/STTR applicants – or – what have you learned that you wish you’d known when pursuing SBIR? 

 Leverage the support of grant writing consultants to help with reviewing drafts of the application, submission, and administration.  

What is the most important ingredient or ingredients for a thriving innovation ecosystem? 

 Funding and support for action-oriented entrepreneurs with a heavy focus on translational science. 

What makes Kentucky a great place to pursue SBIR and/or innovate? 

We have many helpful programs and trustworthy people in Kentucky. Our local employees, businesses, startup ecosystem members are dependable.