The lineup includes eight new scientific firms poised to market discoveries including devices for communication in the hospital, compounds for treating neuropathic pain and a variety of tools for areas such as supporting basic and neuroscience research, diagnosing and treating cancer, managing side effects of dialysis for end-stage kidney disease patients, training cardiothoracic surgeons and supporting clinical decisions.

The showcase also includes six new technology firms offer solutions for community banking, water testing, sound engineering, online commerce and lesson planning for K-12 educators.

The event is 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education in Chapel Hill. Admission is free; however RSVPs are required by registering here.

It is hosted by the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network; Carolina KickStart; the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences (TraCS) Institute; Innovate@Carolina; the UNC Kenan-Flagler Center for Entrepreneurial Studies; the UNC Office of Technology Development; and RENCI, the Renaissance Computing Institute.

“The showcase provides a unique opportunity to see UNC’s most promising startups,” said Don Rose, Ph.D., director of Carolina KickStart, which is part of the NC TraCS institute, home of UNC’s Clinical and Translational Science Awards from the National Institutes of Health. “For the firms, it provides an excellent forum for seeking capital, finding management and networking with the greater startup community. As in years past, we anticipate the event will result in fruitful connections and investment.”

Companies presenting in the scientific track are: Augment Medical, Cell Microsystems, Cortical Metrics, GeneCentric Diagnostics, Katharos, KindHeart, NeuroGate Therapeutics and RealTromins. Companies presenting in the technology track are: Directed Deposits, KM Water Solutions, Impulsonic, Gift Boogle, Prepped and Yardsprout.

The event supports the Innovate@Carolina Roadmap, UNC’s plan to help Carolina become a world leader in launching university-born ideas for the good of society. To learn more about the roadmap, visit innovate.unc.edu.