It is worth noting that Airing is still under the Encite LLC parent company, or so it says on their WeFunder page. Just a little history of Stephen Marsh and his company, read this:
http://mandalitigationcommentary.blogspot.ca/2008/09/can-founder-director-and-30-stockholder.htmlIn the above linked article, it basically mentions how Marsh was 30% owner of IFCT, and the company had a group of investors in it named Echelon Ventures. IFCT burned through cash and developed absolutely nothing, so in a cunning and strategic move, Marsh declared bankrupcy for IFCT and before Echelon could make a move to cash out or purchase assets, Marsh formed a new company Encite LLC to purchase what was left of IFCT for pennies on the dollar... Thereby reacquiring everything under a new company name and shielding himself from Echelon's claims. In any case, the lawsuit above was unable to establish Marsh and IFCT were the same and that he acted with full control over the entire process, but that the board was also involved in rejecting Echelon's bid, so Marsh and Encite LLC got away unpunished.... only to repeat the process now again with Airing.
On their WeFunder page it says:
KEY FACTS
We've established a very strong brand – 8 million visitors to fundairing.com; 136,000 followers on Facebook; over 55 million views of unsolicited web videos about Airing.
Over $4M has been raised to date – $1.9 million on Indiegogo from over 20,000 contributors since June 2015, making Airing one of the top grossing medical device campaigns across all crowdfunding platforms, and $2.15 million raised from investors.
Functioning prototypes of various components, some of which are moving at operational speed, have already been built. A key component has yet to be demonstrated – micro-blowers blowing air.
Multiple patent applications filed by Airing’s parent, Encite LLC, for technologies licensed to Airing for use in the device, with more being filed.
Strategic relationship with a major international manufacturer that provides key equipment for testing and demonstrating feasibility of the technologies used in the device.
So Encite LLC is actually parent company of Airing. And other than just filling a bunch of patents, they have yet to turn a profit from any product. They are a kind of patent trolling firm in that they make patent after patent and never seem to turn it into a practical application, but may eventually be able to sue others if they come close to infringement and perhaps cash in then on it.
Interesting also to note the following:
http://www.burlington.org/Legal_Notice1NorthAve.pdfAnd I quote....
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLANNING BOARD
TOWN OF BURLINGTON
The Planning Board hereby gives notice that it will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, July 16, 2015 starting at or
after 7:00 p.m. in the Main Hearing Room of the Burlington Town Hall, 29 Center Street, Burlington, MA, to
consider the application of Encite LLC for approval of a Special Permit pursuant to Section 1.5.2 “Laboratories
engaged in research, experimental, and testing activities” of the Northwest Park PDD to allow a research and
development laboratory to relocate from Second Avenue and operate on property located at 1 North Avenue
in the Planned Development (PD) and Water Resource (WR) Districts, Burlington, MA, as shown on Assessor's
Map 39 as Parcel 8.
Documentation in support of this proposal is available for public inspection in the Planning Board office, Town Hall
Annex, Burlington, MA, during normal office hours, Monday through Friday and on the Planning Board’s website at
www.burlington.org/community_development/projects.php.
BURLINGTON PLANNING BOARD
Barbara L’Heureux, Chairman
So this is probably the lab where they are working on the Airing.
There is also an article here:
http://burlington.wickedlocal.com/article/20150724/news/150727677Two small technology companies gained approval for special permits from the Planning Board July 16.
One is a relocation within Northwest Park and the other, based in Woburn, is branching out to Burlington to locate a biotechnology lab.
“We have some very interesting big companies in Burlington, Microsoft, Nuance, and so forth, but we also have some very interesting small companies,” Planning Board member Paul Raymond said.
Encite, LLC, is planning to move from its current offices at 41 Second Ave. to 1 North Ave. Although the special permit for “laboratories engaged in research, experimental and testing activities,” was previously approved, the upcoming move to a new location necessitates the use to be approved again.
Steve Logan, senior vice president of Nordblom Company, which owns Northwest Park, represented Encite at the meeting. Logan explained that Encite is a small company with fewer than 10 employees that started out doing research on fuel cells. It had a government contract to produce miniaturized fuel cells, and during that time discovered a method for making tiny fans that, when linked together in a series, form a contraption that attaches to the nose for sleep apnea patients.
Though still at the experimental stage, the discovery could potentially replace the large masks that patients typically to control their breathing during sleep, a machine commonly known as a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP).
The new product is called “Airing” and through an online funding campaign, close to $1 million has been raised for this device to continue through the design process, including FDA approval. Encite, LLC is owned by Stephen Marsh. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Marsh holds several patents for technology devices.
The other company, Abpro Corporation, is located in Woburn and plans to open a satellite location at 15 A St. in Burlington. The company employs a total of 25 employees.
Ian Chan, CEO and president at Abpro, who represented the company at the public hearing with research scientist Sean Murphy, explained the company is focused on antibody research using natural molecules that fight disease.
“We have a novel platform that can create antibodies much faster,” said Chan. “This can be applied to oncology, which is our current focus.”
Abpro was approved for a special permit to engage in biotechnology activities, bio-safety levels 1 and 2, and the generation or storage of hazardous waste limited to the volumes classified as a very small quantity generator (VSQG) as defined by Burlington zoning bylaws, which require a positive recommendation from the Board of Health.
Planning Board member Carol Perna asked what defines a “small quantity” of hazardous waste. Chan said that based on his meeting with Board of Health staff, his understanding is it is defined as up to 27 gallons per month, but that Abpro would produce up to four liters (about one gallon) per year.
Any updates from Airing lately? NOPE.
Here's the latest update on IndieGoGo from 3 months ago:
posted by Airing Inc.
Dec 14, 2017 • 1:09PM
3 months ago
We are not going anywhere!!
Dear Airing Contributors,
We want to offer some clarity concerning our last update. At this time we have stopped taking contributions on Indiegogo. To be clear, nothing has changed regarding your vouchers and we are still moving ahead, full steam, to develop Airing’s micro-CPAP device to get this important product out to everyone as soon as possible.
For the time being, we have shifted our focus to selling equity to raise the capital needed to see this mission through to a successful completion. It is important that you, our loyal supporters, understand that we will continue to fulfill our obligations to you under our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.
We want to reiterate these important points:
While we have stopped taking new contributions on Indiegogo, that does not affect the existing contributors.
Vouchers are still valid and can be redeemed when Airing becomes available.
We will continue to provide regular updates on Indiegogo, our website, and social media. And you can email us anytime.
We have received hundreds of emails, so please be patient and we will try to reply to everyone.
If you still haven't received your voucher, email us at contact@fundairing.com.
We are working as hard as we can to bring Airing to the market as soon as possible.
Keep faith in Airing and the mission we are on.
Sincerely,
Stephen Marsh
Yes.... They said it....
WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!!!That's right, not going anywhere with the progress in development of this vapourware. Now that they've bilked the crowdfunders, they can go after venture capitalists too... just like they did with Echelon a few years earlier. Here's a prediction... When they run out of money and things start to grind to a halt, Marsh will make a new company and buy up all the assets of Encite LLC after it declares bankrupcy for pennies on the dollar, and continue on as a new corporate entity, shielded from any legal recourse. History repeating itself?