Tribune Democrat Article   |   Daily American Article   |   News Release

Windber-Based Applied Computational Technologies
Wins $35,000 in Ben Franklin Business Plan Competition

Radiation Therapy Breakthrough Startup Beats Largest-Ever Field of Competitors


WINDBER, PA (July 14, 2006)—Applied Computational Technologies LLC – a newly formed Windber, PA-based company offering breakthrough software enabling faster, more accurate radiation technology procedures – won the eighth annual Ben Franklin “Big Idea” Business Plan Competition.

Jay McClatchey and Andy Holland, co-founders of the company, also known as AppCompTech, recently accepted a $35,000 check from the Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum as the first-prize award winners. The Ben Franklin group administers the annual competition in the various regions of Pennsylvania. AppCompTech won for the 34-county Central and Northern Region, beating 51 other entrants – the largest pool of competitors in the event’s history.

Pictured (L to R)

Steve Brawley, President BFTP/CNP, PA Senator John Wozniak, 35th District,

Jay McClatchey, CEO, Andy Holland, CTO

AppCompTech’s dose calculation software, called ProACTive™, replaces the dose calculation module used in all modern radiation treatment planning systems, enabling both better accuracy in applying radiation to oncology patients and greater speed in planning the treatment regimen. In a recent test, ProACTiv™ accurately calculated a treatment planning dose at an exponentially faster rate – 170 times faster, in fact – than the current high standard for accuracy in treatment planning.

“We are thrilled to win the Ben Franklin Big Idea award,” explained AppCompTech’s McClatchey. “We believe our product has the potential to make a real, tangible, and very positive difference in how cancer patients receive radiation treatment. It is so gratifying to earn the endorsement of a respected collection of entrepreneurial experts like the people at Ben Franklin.”

The Big Idea competition is judged on four main criteria: the degree of innovation represented by the product; the strength of the management team; the potential for job creation, economic development, and expansion of the tax base; and the overall potential for successful commercialization. Six finalists are selected, with one winner receiving the $35,000 cash prize.

“Jay and Andy really had strong rankings in all four areas of consideration in the judging,” said Jill D. Edwards, executive director of the Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum. “They had a lot of solid competition.”

“The people at Applied Computation Technologies have the perseverance and the character to pull off a world-class technological breakthrough and commercialize it,” added John Johnston, regional director for the Central and Northern Region of the Ben Franklin group. “If they succeed, it’s a home run – no doubles or singles.

“The $35,000 cash award comes with no strings attached,” Johnston said. “We want the winners to use it to build the core of their company, of course. With Jay and Andy, we know they will treat that prize money like they earned it themselves walking a newspaper route. They’re that trustworthy.”

For more information on Applied Computational Technologies, visit www.appcomptech.com.

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Tribune Democrat Article   |   Daily American Article   |   News Release

Windber-Based Applied Computational Technologies
Wins $35,000 in Ben Franklin Business Plan Competition

Radiation Therapy Breakthrough Startup Beats Largest-Ever Field of Competitors


WINDBER, PA (July 14, 2006)—Applied Computational Technologies LLC – a newly formed Windber, PA-based company offering breakthrough software enabling faster, more accurate radiation technology procedures – won the eighth annual Ben Franklin “Big Idea” Business Plan Competition.

Jay McClatchey and Andy Holland, co-founders of the company, also known as AppCompTech, recently accepted a $35,000 check from the Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum as the first-prize award winners. The Ben Franklin group administers the annual competition in the various regions of Pennsylvania. AppCompTech won for the 34-county Central and Northern Region, beating 51 other entrants – the largest pool of competitors in the event’s history.

Pictured (L to R)

Steve Brawley, President BFTP/CNP, PA Senator John Wozniak, 35th District,

Jay McClatchey, CEO, Andy Holland, CTO

AppCompTech’s dose calculation software, called ProACTive™, replaces the dose calculation module used in all modern radiation treatment planning systems, enabling both better accuracy in applying radiation to oncology patients and greater speed in planning the treatment regimen. In a recent test, ProACTiv™ accurately calculated a treatment planning dose at an exponentially faster rate – 170 times faster, in fact – than the current high standard for accuracy in treatment planning.

“We are thrilled to win the Ben Franklin Big Idea award,” explained AppCompTech’s McClatchey. “We believe our product has the potential to make a real, tangible, and very positive difference in how cancer patients receive radiation treatment. It is so gratifying to earn the endorsement of a respected collection of entrepreneurial experts like the people at Ben Franklin.”

The Big Idea competition is judged on four main criteria: the degree of innovation represented by the product; the strength of the management team; the potential for job creation, economic development, and expansion of the tax base; and the overall potential for successful commercialization. Six finalists are selected, with one winner receiving the $35,000 cash prize.

“Jay and Andy really had strong rankings in all four areas of consideration in the judging,” said Jill D. Edwards, executive director of the Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum. “They had a lot of solid competition.”

“The people at Applied Computation Technologies have the perseverance and the character to pull off a world-class technological breakthrough and commercialize it,” added John Johnston, regional director for the Central and Northern Region of the Ben Franklin group. “If they succeed, it’s a home run – no doubles or singles.

“The $35,000 cash award comes with no strings attached,” Johnston said. “We want the winners to use it to build the core of their company, of course. With Jay and Andy, we know they will treat that prize money like they earned it themselves walking a newspaper route. They’re that trustworthy.”

For more information on Applied Computational Technologies, visit www.appcomptech.com.

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