Bluminate (formerly VAPGuard) is transforming infection prevention in critical care with a novel, patent-pending medical device that reduces the risk of the most costly and deadly hospital-acquired infections, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Based in Rochester, NY, Bluminate’s technology has demonstrated a 99.999% reduction in bacterial growth and is projected to reduce infections by up to 75%. This translates to an approximate $1.5B in savings for health systems across the country. The team has secured several non-dilutive funding grants through competitions including the Mark Ain Business Plan Competition, and advanced to the Hult Prize International Summit as a top 40 global venture. Bluminate is now in the final stages of product design and preclinical testing.
Reflections on the I-Corps experience from the founders: “Being a part of the NSF I-Corps program was the turning point for our team. It pushed us beyond the lab and into hospitals and ICUs to speak directly with physicians, nurses, and administrators. The customer discovery process sharpened our understanding of the clinical pain points, reimbursement challenges, and adoption barriers. That experience fundamentally shaped our product development strategy and gave us the clarity to move toward clinical validation.”