The Innovation Journey featuring O2 Innovate, a business unit of AIRS
HOUGHTON, MI – September 17, 2024 –
The Innovation Journey, powered by MTEC SmartZone, is a series that spotlights some of our standout clients. This week we focus on O2 Innovate, another company that just graduated from our AMMP Accelerator program and has been working closely with Michigan Tech.
O2 Innovate is a new business unit of AIRS, Advanced Interactive Response Systems, founded by Valerie Obenchain. O2 Innovate addresses the lack of innovation in oxygen therapy for supplemental oxygen users with a new oxygen concentrator that has unique remote monitoring features. With collaboration from Michigan Tech University’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization and the AMMP Accelerator program, O2 Innovate is on the path to generation funding.
Valerie has over twenty years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. She has seen first-hand the unmet need for oxygen therapy while working in the hospital and by having a grandmother with COPD who required supplemental oxygen therapy. Her motivation for founding O2 Innovate and AIRS is rooted in her grandmother, she wanted to solve the issues she faced daily with her oxygen. AIRS strives to bring respiratory support technology to provide excellent quality of care for oxygen therapy patients.
O2 Innovate solution focuses on a new oxygen concentrator with remote monitoring performed by Respiratory Therapists. Right now, there is a big gap in the monitoring of oxygen post-hospital discharge which leads to 1 in 3 patients being readmitted. Remote monitoring enables proactive treatment for these patients. This streamlines the communication between patients and healthcare providers, helping minimize the likelihood of readmission.
Valerie and Nate Yenor, an advisor for O2 Innovate, were one of the five companies that graduated from the AMMP Accelerator program this past year. The program is trailed for Advance Materials and Manufacturing companies that are in the early stage.
Valerie shared her experience with the AMMP Accelerator program. Sharing how the coaching and mentorship with the brilliant AMMP team was her favorite part of the program. “It has been a great experience. It has been a unique opportunity to work with three wonderful, brilliant women who have been very successful in their careers. Their support and guidance for our company has been a pleasure.”
To learn more about AIRS, be sure to check out their website at https://oxygenalarms.com/
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About MTEC
Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) is one of 21 SmartZone Incubators in the State of Michigan. MTEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), its mission is to facilitate the creation and ongoing success of high-tech value propositions in conjunction with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since 2003, the MTEC SmartZone has provided mentoring, technical support, and other services to local companies that have led to the creation of over 800 high-tech jobs in the Houghton and Hancock Michigan area.