We are following the recommendations of many friends from around the world and launching a crowd funding campaign for the Tikü™ Neonatal Incubator on Indiegogo.com from 12 November 2014 through 11 January 2015. You may connect to our site by clicking on the link to the right of this post. We hope that you will visit us.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with crowd sourcing, it begins by sharing news of the campaign with your friends and family via email and social media. These folks pass on the news to their networks, who in turn continue sharing the news. The people who are contacted are asked to contribute to the campaign to help launch the project.
Our goal is to raise the necessary capital to fabricate several incubators for evaluation. These will be tested by the students and staff of St. Petersburg College. We shall then gain approval for manufacturing and quality from the FDA and the ISO. We want travel to Haiti to demonstrate the pre-production incubators and gift them to caregivers. When we have completed these steps, we shall be able to meet the requirements of interested agencies and commence commercial production.
We thank you in advance for your help. Everyone has been most supportive, when they have learned about our innovation to help reduce global infant mortality. It is easy to encourage an endeavor that can potentially ameliorate the survival of millions of newborn babies. Clinicians working in Sub-Saharan Africa have told us the the Tikü™ can be a "game changer".
Designs for the World LLC creates the 3 i's for the world--idea, innovation, and invention. We develop sustainable, market-based, humanitarian products for the developing world. We help aspiring inventors with design, prototyping, intellectual property protection, limited production, and manufacturing. We instruct job candidates and grade school students in 3D digital manufacturing technologies. We design and construct bespoke furnishings and architectural appointments.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
A Patent for Humanity
The utility patent for the incubator has been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Now the long wait commences. Since there is a backlog of patent applications (584,998) for 8,192 patent examiners, first action on a patent usually comes 18.2 months after submittal and total pendency averages 29.1 months. Innovations are protected from the date that they are filed but the award of the patent takes some time.
The United States government initiated a program in 2013 to accelerate the review of patents for humanitarian inventions. The President renewed the program this year, so we have entered the competition. Winners receive official recognition at a function in Washington, DC and have the review of their patent filings or appeals expedited. Although there is no monetary award, the public exposure and 'quicker' review are worthwhile. We have declared our candidacy by entering with the Tikü and are hoping for good results.
Designs for the World is actively seeking seed funding to initiate limited production of the incubator. In order to begin commercial production, we have been tasked to obtain quality and manufacturing approval by the agencies that are interested in procuring the Tikü. Furthermore, we want to demonstrate the incubator in the field to humanitarian and governmental organizations that are working with mothers and children. Our intent is to go to Haiti and/or El Salvador for this part of our mission and gift several of the incubators after our presentation. Success always comes down to finances but we feel that we are beginning to make headway.
The United States government initiated a program in 2013 to accelerate the review of patents for humanitarian inventions. The President renewed the program this year, so we have entered the competition. Winners receive official recognition at a function in Washington, DC and have the review of their patent filings or appeals expedited. Although there is no monetary award, the public exposure and 'quicker' review are worthwhile. We have declared our candidacy by entering with the Tikü and are hoping for good results.
Designs for the World is actively seeking seed funding to initiate limited production of the incubator. In order to begin commercial production, we have been tasked to obtain quality and manufacturing approval by the agencies that are interested in procuring the Tikü. Furthermore, we want to demonstrate the incubator in the field to humanitarian and governmental organizations that are working with mothers and children. Our intent is to go to Haiti and/or El Salvador for this part of our mission and gift several of the incubators after our presentation. Success always comes down to finances but we feel that we are beginning to make headway.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Reaching Out to the Caregivers
We are bringing the news of the Tikü directly to the caregivers. The most qualified people to address the functionality and utility of the incubator are the physicians, who help infants begin their lives. We are now reaching out to Neonatologists, Practitioners of Perinatal Medicine, and Pediatricians across America to garner their input and support.
We are seeking feedback from these experts on three points:
1. Do they think that the Tikü could enhance the survival of pre-term or at-risk babies?
2. Do they believe that there is an interest in purchasing the commercial-version of the Tikü by humanitarian organizations, religious missions, and governmental agencies?
3. Are they acquainted with clinicians who offer their expertise in infant care to international humanitarian missions? AND How to we contact these health professionals? [These are the caregivers working on the 'front lines' with mothers and families in remote and undeveloped regions.]
As with many game-changing innovations, support by qualified and influential Early Adopters leads to acceptance by the whole population. This 'grass roots' support is helping us to get underway and begin enhancing the chance at life for many of the world's youngest citizens.
We are seeking feedback from these experts on three points:
1. Do they think that the Tikü could enhance the survival of pre-term or at-risk babies?
2. Do they believe that there is an interest in purchasing the commercial-version of the Tikü by humanitarian organizations, religious missions, and governmental agencies?
3. Are they acquainted with clinicians who offer their expertise in infant care to international humanitarian missions? AND How to we contact these health professionals? [These are the caregivers working on the 'front lines' with mothers and families in remote and undeveloped regions.]
As with many game-changing innovations, support by qualified and influential Early Adopters leads to acceptance by the whole population. This 'grass roots' support is helping us to get underway and begin enhancing the chance at life for many of the world's youngest citizens.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Out of Africa
We are continuing our discourse with the Ministers of Health in the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa through the ongoing projects of the World Bank. These ladies and gentlemen are on the front lines in the fight against infant mortality. They are working to improve the health of mothers and infants in their countries by investing in their health care systems. To date, we have corresponded with Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Togo, and Uganda. The newest citizens of these countries, who struggle to enter the world, will benefit from life-enhancing qualities of the Tikü.
Many regions in these nations have epidemics of malaria, dengue, and/or leishmaniasis. Funding is allocated to treat these debilitating and often fatal diseases. Since the Tikü has ports fitted with insect mesh, exposure of the infant to the mosquitoes and sand fleas that carry these illnesses is limited, even in outdoor locations or in structures open to the environment. For patients in these areas with endemic vector-borne diseases, the Tikü offers another life-enhancing feature, reduction of fever. The incubator functions with water; hence, cool water for reducing body temperature may be used instead of warm water for elevating body temperature. The mattress will accommodate a toddler up to 74 cm tall.
It is good to be able to offer the end users of the Tikü features of great use to them that are not available in conventional, commercial incubators. We are working to develop accessories that will broaden the capabilities of the incubator and extend its benefits to children and adults.
Friday, May 9, 2014
A Four-figure Donation!
A Very Good Weekend for Mothers!
While celebrating the launch of the blog for Designs for the World, we have been blessed by an extraordinary event. We received the contribution from an anonymous donor in Europe, who had previously pledged to help. We were overwhelmed that the donation was for a four-figure amount. The message that was conveyed was a wish of success and an assurance that "we were doing the right thing for the world". We extend our heartfelt appreciation.
Since the announcement of the Tikü incubator a few months ago, we have received enthusiastic support for our endeavor to help save the lives of at-risk infants. We are now experiencing fiscal generosity from people, who place a special value on these newest members of the human race. We thank all who have chosen to assist us in realizing our goals.
We wish a Very Happy Mother's Day to all mothers and mothers-to-be around the world! May your children be healthy and happy and live long lives!
Thursday, May 8, 2014
The Journey Begins
Greetings to All of Our Friends!
Many have requested that we provide a forum to post news about our rapidly evolving venture. We welcome you to our blog, where you may follow our developments, post your comments and suggestions, and/or contribute to our endeavor with a donation, http://bit.ly/1nrES0M.
Since the introduction of our incubator last January, we have been recognized by several prestigious international agencies that are helping us to get our innovation to the families who need it. We have been endorsed by the Under-Secretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordination of the United Nations and by the Administrator of the Bureau for Global Health of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The incubator is currently being evaluated by UNICEF and by the World Health Organization.
We have tendered our candidacy for a grant from the the consortium funding the Saving Lives at Birth challenge, http://bit.ly/1kPtLvQ. We are amongst 500 applicants for endowments. It is excellent to learn that so many are striving to help improve the lives of mothers and families.
When we are able to properly assess requisite annual production from commitments for procurement from humanitarian projects, we are ready to commence manufacturing at an initial level of 2,500 or 10,000 incubators per year. Over 80% of our vendors and subcontractors are located within a 75 mile radius of Tampa Bay, so our enterprise will create jobs and revenue for Florida. Furthermore, 98% of all components of the incubator are “Made in the U.S.A.”, so we are helping our fellow Americans.
The mission and progress of Designs for the World has been presented to civic and entrepreneurial groups. We were well-received at a 1 Million Cups event of the Kaufman Foundation, http://bit.ly/1kPuxcf, in Saint Petersburg. Following the presentation, we had a lively question-and-answer session, wherein many from diverse backgrounds voiced enthusiastic support. Notably, I spoke with a missionary, who had just returned from a tertiary hospital in Kenya. She expressed that the Tikü would be perfect for this new facility, since it was so simple-to-use and well-suited to the conditions that she had encountered.
We have begun to reach out to local churches for their support. We have approached pastors of congregations from a range of denominations, including Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite, Mormon, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Epispicolian, and Evangelical Christan. Many faiths have missions overseas that could be directly helped by our incubator. Others are involved in support of victims of disasters, like those caught in the aftermath of Supertyphoon Haiyan in the Philippines. We feel that these good people will be moved by the teaching in Mark 10:14.
To connect with those who are dealing with infant mortality daily, we have begun contacting the Ministers of Health of developing nations, who are confronting the crisis with the help of the World Bank. Our incubators are currently being considered for procurement by projects in Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Mozambique, Peru, Togo, and Uganda. We have many others to approach, primarily in South Asia and in Africa.
We have now brought you up-to-date on our progress. There are many causes to which to contribute but we feel that helping babies to have a chance at life is particularly compelling. We believe that Designs for the World has a great deal to give to humanity. We welcome your help. Remember, "It takes a village to raise a child".
Many have requested that we provide a forum to post news about our rapidly evolving venture. We welcome you to our blog, where you may follow our developments, post your comments and suggestions, and/or contribute to our endeavor with a donation, http://bit.ly/1nrES0M.
Since the introduction of our incubator last January, we have been recognized by several prestigious international agencies that are helping us to get our innovation to the families who need it. We have been endorsed by the Under-Secretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordination of the United Nations and by the Administrator of the Bureau for Global Health of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The incubator is currently being evaluated by UNICEF and by the World Health Organization.
We have tendered our candidacy for a grant from the the consortium funding the Saving Lives at Birth challenge, http://bit.ly/1kPtLvQ. We are amongst 500 applicants for endowments. It is excellent to learn that so many are striving to help improve the lives of mothers and families.
When we are able to properly assess requisite annual production from commitments for procurement from humanitarian projects, we are ready to commence manufacturing at an initial level of 2,500 or 10,000 incubators per year. Over 80% of our vendors and subcontractors are located within a 75 mile radius of Tampa Bay, so our enterprise will create jobs and revenue for Florida. Furthermore, 98% of all components of the incubator are “Made in the U.S.A.”, so we are helping our fellow Americans.
The mission and progress of Designs for the World has been presented to civic and entrepreneurial groups. We were well-received at a 1 Million Cups event of the Kaufman Foundation, http://bit.ly/1kPuxcf, in Saint Petersburg. Following the presentation, we had a lively question-and-answer session, wherein many from diverse backgrounds voiced enthusiastic support. Notably, I spoke with a missionary, who had just returned from a tertiary hospital in Kenya. She expressed that the Tikü would be perfect for this new facility, since it was so simple-to-use and well-suited to the conditions that she had encountered.
We have begun to reach out to local churches for their support. We have approached pastors of congregations from a range of denominations, including Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite, Mormon, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Epispicolian, and Evangelical Christan. Many faiths have missions overseas that could be directly helped by our incubator. Others are involved in support of victims of disasters, like those caught in the aftermath of Supertyphoon Haiyan in the Philippines. We feel that these good people will be moved by the teaching in Mark 10:14.
To connect with those who are dealing with infant mortality daily, we have begun contacting the Ministers of Health of developing nations, who are confronting the crisis with the help of the World Bank. Our incubators are currently being considered for procurement by projects in Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Mozambique, Peru, Togo, and Uganda. We have many others to approach, primarily in South Asia and in Africa.
We have now brought you up-to-date on our progress. There are many causes to which to contribute but we feel that helping babies to have a chance at life is particularly compelling. We believe that Designs for the World has a great deal to give to humanity. We welcome your help. Remember, "It takes a village to raise a child".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)