Military veterans are deservedly getting a lot of attention this week. But in a unique approach to honoring veterans, a Chicago incubator geared to veterans who are also entrepreneurs is expanding to six cities, including Philadelphia, according to Technically Philly.
Mike Maher, the co-founder of Philadelphia co-working space Benjamin’s Desk and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, will host the Philadelphia chapter of The Bunker. It will host five companies in its first class early next year and will stick to technology companies, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Although they may be a bit too complex for the confines of a technology incubator, a medical device startup formed by veterans called Osiris Biomedical 3D is getting a higher profile from its recent win at the 2nd Annual Veteran Entrepreneur “Shark Tank” Business Pitch hosted by the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network earlier this month. It uses 3D printers to produce surgical implants, and won a pitch competition for veterans . The medical device company bested veterans earlier this month
The company is led by CEO Dr. Theodore Gerstle, with his brother Christopher Gerstle, COO. Part of Theodore’s work with the Department of Defense involved designing 3D CAD models of modular ceramic body armor, according to an interview with Plastics Today trade journal. It has applied for a patent for single-anesthetic reconstructive surgery, which would allow 3D printing a custom device or implant based on a patient scan, and sterilizing and surgically implanting it in one procedure.
Theodore told Plastics Today: “As veterans and healthcare providers, we are passionate about improving patient care and providing improved solutions and better outcomes for trauma patients. 3D medical device printing provides many opportunities to improve patient care and decrease healthcare costs.[Photo from Flick]
