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`3/14/2017
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`N E W S > P R E S S R E L E A S E S
`Skip West, Valencell and
`RapidSOS Honored with CTA's
`2016 Innovation Entrepreneur
`Awards
`
`San Jose, CA – September 21, 2016
`Today, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ named Skip West,
`an entrepreneur with a passion for creating innovative products;
`Valencell, a company focused on advancing technology to deliver the
`most accurate biometric wearables; and RapidSOS, a startup developing
`technology that could completely transform emergency
`communications, the winners of the 2016 Innovation Entrepreneur
`Awards.
`
`Launched in 2012 by CTA's flagship magazine It Is Innovation (i3) and CTA's
`Small Business Council, the annual awards honor entrepreneurs and
`businesses with revenues under $30 million for their contributions to the
`U.S. economy. Each year, a panel of tech experts recognizes one
`executive, a small business and a startup company.
`
`"Each of this year's Innovation Entrepreneur Award winners demonstrates
`the innovative spirit that makes our industry so remarkable," said Gary
`Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. "Valencell's passion and commitment to
`advancing biometric sensor technology are helping expand the potential
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`https://www.cta.tech/News/PressReleases/2016/September/SkipWestValencellandRapidSOSHonoredwith%C2%A0CT.aspx
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`of wearable devices. RapidSOS is a startup helping save lives by
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`developing technology to predict and preempt emergencies before they
`occur. And Skip West is an entrepreneur whose passion for creating
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`innovative products is matched only by his desire to help other small
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`businesses, startups and students."
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`Small Business Executive of the Year: Skip West has been a member of
`CTA's Board of Industry Leaders and the CTA Foundation since 2014 and
`was founding chairman of the association's Small Business Council. West
`founded and sold his first company in 2003, then founded MAXSA
`Innovations where he serves as president. From its beginning, MAXSA
`Innovations has worked tirelessly to develop new and innovative
`products, most recently entering the world of solar energy and lighting.
`The company's products are designed to ensure protection, safety,
`comfort and enhance consumers' enjoyment of life. West also is an
`adjunct professor at George Mason University.
`
`Small Business of the Year: Valencell's technology is focused on creating
`the most accurate wearables for applications including sports and fitness,
`health, gaming and first responders. The company's success derives from
`a passion to enable people to live healthier, fuller lives through biometric
`wearable technologies. Accuracy in all conditions is at the heart of what
`Valencell does - anyone, anywhere, doing anything, wearing any device.
`Valencell's biometrics lab puts consumer products through rigorous
`testing on people with a wide range of skin tones, physical ability and ages
`to validate real world accuracy.
`
`Startup of the Year: After witnessing challenges in our existing
`emergency communications infrastructure, RapidSOS formed with the
`mission of transforming the world of emergency response,
`communication and management. The company is dedicated to
`harnessing cutting-edge technology that will change the outcomes of
`millions of emergencies across the U.S. and globally. The RapidSOS team
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`has developed mission-critical code at two national labs, developed back-
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`end and mobile products for tech startups and helped commercialize
`more than 70 technology companies.
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`A distinguished panel of media and industry judges selected the
`Innovation Entrepreneur Awards honorees:
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`Jim Barry - CTA's Digital Answer Man
`Trace Cohen - New York Venture Partners
`Joellyn Gray - Fujifilm
`Frank Gruber - Tech.Co
`Larry Richenstein - Peak Ventures
`Paul Sabbah - Stamford International
`Eric Schwartz - NAPCO Media
`Michael Sorrentino - Sorrentino Media
`Kristen Stippich - Airfoil Group
`Haley Velasco - Whistle Sports
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`To learn more about the Innovation Entrepreneur Awards, visit
`CTA.tech/IEA for videos of the winners and information on the 2017
`nomination process. Find complete profiles of the IEA winners in the
`January CES issue of It Is Innovation (i3) magazine.
`
`P R E S S C O N T A C T
`Elliot Grimm
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`Tyler Suiters
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`T A G G E D
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