Christian Sagardia and Gary Grant moved into their second-floor office space at Ohio University’s Innovation Center this past summer with a goal in mind: create an immersive navigation system that gives users information about everything around them.
Now, they have a fledgling app that pinpoints users’ locations with 3-to-5 meter indoor accuracy.
Their long-term goal is to make the app marketable to everyone from gadget geeks to the U.S. Department of Defense.
After all, “Uncle Sam doesn’t buy from the App Store,” Sagardia said.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, toured the Innovation Center on Friday and used it as a backdrop for his vision of domestic economic policy: A government that makes sure the duo’s startup, Razor Dynamics, and others like it, are able to get off the ground smoothly and create jobs.
He also used the stop to highlight his ambition to introduce legislation that would keep foreign students working in the country after graduation and would size down government so small businesses can prosper.
But sometimes government can get in the way, he said, pointing to President Barack Obama’s landmark Affordable Care Act. Portman said the health care law is hampering that development because entrepreneurs don’t always have the means to purchase expensive premiums.
“One thing that I’ve advocated is that small businesses like this should be able to come together as a group and to be able to buy (health care) because then you have a bigger pool of people and you get some of the advantages that larger companies have,” he said.
While at the center, located at 340 W. State St., Portman tried on Sagardia’s beta Google Glass frames, handled a chess set made by the center’s 3D printer and was briefed on the benefits of one company’s solar panels.
Portman acknowledged the Innovation Center as “one of the great incubators in the country” and said he would be open to the prospect of helping its officials apply for grants to expand the center by 10,000 square feet by sometime in 2016.
Anna Jensen, the center’s associate director, said Portman’s support could be key in securing future funding.
“By investing in innovation and places like the Innovation Center, that opens up more opportunities to build more businesses,” she said, adding OU will not start construction on the project until at least half the currently undetermined cost is fundraised.
Portman also met with OU President Roderick McDavis before touring the center.
“Having our government leaders take the time to personally learn more about our efforts to spur economic development and innovation within our region and state is invaluable,” said Jennifer Kirksey, McDavis’ chief of staff, in a statement.
Portman’s stop was valuable for Innovation Center entrepreneurs such as Sagardia and Grant as well.
“Having a contact like that is fantastic — someone that supports local businesses, startups, local innovation here in Ohio — is great,” Sagardia said.
“I wish I had a little bit more time with the senator to pitch him some things and give him the ‘ask.’”
jr992810@ohiou.edu
@JimRyan015
