A Metairie-based company that makes a disposable device that regulates the flow of medications won the Baton Rouge Entrepreneurs Week business pitch contest Thursday night.
SafePush won an investment prize of $100,000 and earned a spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in California in October to compete for $1 million.
SafePush is a disposable mechanical device that screws onto the tip of a syringe to control the speed at which medication is injected into the patient.
Tonia Aiken, a nurse, lawyer, and co-CEO of SafePush, said she got the idea for the company after a client lost a hand and arm after getting a shot too quickly. Aiken also serves as co-CEO. He co-founded the business with Kevin Edwards.
Nurses are now having to carefully push out more drugs, she says. But at the same time, a severe nursing shortage is increasing stress levels, workloads, and potential for error.
“This gives nurses a sense of security and security,” Aiken said.
This is the second time SafePush has won a business pitch contest sponsored by Nexus Louisiana. In 2021, the company won his $1,000 in his PitchBR contest.
The other two finalists in the BREW contest are Falaya, a Baton Rouge company that provides a user-friendly platform that makes buying and selling homes easier and cheaper, and Leroy’s LipSmack, a Baton Rouge company that sells a full range of products. ‘n Lemonade. A natural drink made with water, sugar and freshly squeezed lemon.
