Univ. of Michigan Innovation Partnerships Celebrates Spinout of Taza Aya

In a bell-ringing ceremony reminiscent of the end of trading day at the DJIA, Innovation Partnerships, a unit of the UM Office of the Vice-President for Research, officially recognized Taza Aya as a UM spinout and licensee.  

Co-founders Mike Drake and Herek Clack, along with newly appointed CEO Alberto Elli, each briefly spoke to the assembled audience, reflecting on the early days of the company, the challenges that arose, and the many ways in which Innovation Partnerships helped the company overcome them.  Associate Director of Licensing, Physical Sciences & Engineering Keith Hughes related the company’s record of innovation as measured by invention disclosures and patent filings, and Associate VP for Research and Innovation Partnerships Kelly Sexton presented the company with a crystal memento to commemorate the moment.  Statewide Mentor-in-Residence Karen Studer-Rabeler was on hand narrate and answer questions about animated renderings of the company’s lead product, a plasma-enabled air curtain visor for mask-less personal respiratory protection.