Innovate Utah: NEW IDEAS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FROM UTAH COMPANIES

A Salt Lake City startup is taking the pain out of online and instore shopping ordering mistakes. Oops, which launched in June, offers doorstep return pickups of purchases and serves neighborhoods along the I-15 corridor from Spanish Fork to Ogden, including most of Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Weber and Summit counties.

Founded by Jonathan Crawley and Joseph Hatch, Oops raised a $5 million seed round led by Peterson Partners, with contributions from EPIC Ventures, Maverick Ventures, Pelion Venture Partners, Village Global and other angel investors.{mprestriction ids="1,3"}

Using an intuitive website and mobile app for iPhone and Android, Oops customers schedule a pickup and an Oops driver in a signature blue van completes the return on the customer’s behalf. Boxes and printed labels are not required, and all returns are insured up to $1,000.

“We have an incredible opportunity to close the loop in logistics and enable a novel shopping experience where retail happens entirely from the home,” said Hatch, president of Oops.

“Standing in line at Best Buy or Home Depot is not the best way to interact with my kids,” said Crawley, CEO of Oops. “Particularly as a working parent, quality time is really valuable for me, and doing returns just sucked that time away.”

“The idea for Oops came as I was sitting in a UPS parking lot, the first stop on a returns escapade that I realized was about to steal my Saturday,” said Hatch. “The core value-add of the platform is to create a single, consumer-oriented touchpoint for returns and give people time back to spend doing the things that they love with the people they love.”

In an effort to improve the adoption of new technology in healthcare, Draper-based Xenter has introduced XenFI, the first product in its wireless “Technology in Medicine” ecosystem. XenFI is comprised of the company’s XMD, a HIPAA-compliant, global healthcare cloud, and its XenFI-Hub, a wireless communications device that is designed for use in various healthcare settings. The product is designed to automate clinical workflow, enable smart/wireless devices, improve patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. “Historically, the healthcare industry has been slow to adopt new technologies,” said Richard J. Linder, Xenter’s CEO, chairman and founder. “The reality is that tomorrow’s healthcare technologies cannot be delivered through the largely connected/cabled healthcare world that’s been the standard practice for decades. Xenter is building a new medical ecosystem and a suite of connected smart/wireless devices,”

Lehi-based Tranont, a direct-sales producer of health products, has released its first skincare product. Rejuvenate is an advanced hydrating serum that the company said revitalizes the skin’s natural moisture and restores the appearance of firmness and elasticity in the skin with its combination of vitamins, antioxidants and botanicals. “When you feel good about the way you look, you feel confident, able to enjoy the small moments with your family and friends. We’re embracing life’s experience at every age. That’s why we’re so excited about this product. And the early demand for it in the marketplace validates the need,” said Scott Bland, Tranont’s owner and president. Bland said test group participants reported seeing reduced fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and circles, and improved hydration after one to four weeks of use. 

Skullcandy, a Park City-based producer of mobile audio equipment, has announced its entry into the gaming category with the introduction of three headsets designed for all level of gamers. Offering compatibility across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile, the SLYR, SLYR Pro and PLYR multi-platform gaming headsetsÊare purpose-built for gamers. “Everyone knows Skullcandy offers a premium sound experience and getting back into gaming is something our fans have been requesting for years. We’re stoked to release our new multi-platform gaming collection into the wild,” said Jason Luthman, director of global product management at Skullcandy. “As gamers will attest, exceptional audio, seamless communication and comfort are absolutely crucial. From illuminating unique nuances with personalized audio profiles, to executing crystal-clear player-to-player comms, these headsets feature the must-have technologies that gamers demand.”

Vineyard-based NarcX, a company that eliminates the diversion of medications and controlled substances for abuse, has been awarded a U.S. patent for its medication disposal solution. The company’s technology is an environmentally safe, liquid-based solution that immediately renders prescription drugs inert and non-retrievable. The process meets the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) strict definition of non-retrievable and eliminates the need for incineration, therefore eliminating the possibility for diversion. “As many are aware, we’ve had a major opioid problem in the U.S.,” said Gavin Collier, NarcX co-founder and principal “This revolutionary drug disposal solution helps hospitals, pharmacies, law enforcement agencies and people at home dispose of their unused medication or potentially harmful narcotics safely. This patent will continue our large-scale efforts to combat an epidemic that has already affected too many lives.”

Merit Medical Systems Inc., a global manufacturer and marketer of healthcare technology devices based in South Jordan, has announced U.S. commercial release of the TEMNO Elite Soft Tissue Biopsy System, the latest addition to Merit’s portfolio of biopsy devices. The single-use device is designed for use in soft tissue locations, such as the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, kidneys and other soft tissues. “Merit is committed to helping physicians provide the best care possible for their patients, and this includes the crucial step of accurate diagnosis,” said Fred P. Lampropoulos, Merit Medical Inc.’s chairman and CEO. “The TEMNO Elite is the latest innovation in our portfolio of soft tissue biopsy devices, and it highlights Merit’s ability to understand clinician and patient needs and innovate and deliver technologies that advance patient care."

Pleasant Grove based direct-sales health and wellness company doTerra International has launched the MetaPWR Metabolic System. The company said “Meta” stands for “metabolic health” and PWR means “personal wellness realized.” The all-natural product system is formulated to promote healthy metabolism. The system includes six products: Metabolic Blend, Metabolic Blend Softgels, Metabolic Blend Beadlets, Satiety Gum, Assist and Advantage. “A recent survey published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology revealed that only 6.8 percent of US adults have optimal cardiometabolic health," said Russell Osguthorpe, doTerra chief medical officer. “This means the majority of our population has suboptimal metabolic health. A serious focus on the five main pillars of a healthy lifestyle — healthy eating, daily movement, stress management, healthy connections and smart supplementation — can help maintain excellent metabolism and maximize well-being.”

Provo-based experience management platform Qualtrics has released Video Feedback, a new way for organizations to collect qualitative feedback within the Qualtrics XM Platform. Organizations can capture video feedback from customers, analyze words and emotions and use that data to make business decisions. “Now more than ever, companies need to make decisions with empathy, speed and scale,” said Michel Feaster, Qualtrics’ chief product officer of research. “With Video Feedback, Qualtrics is defining the next era of research and empowering organizations to understand what really matters to the next generation of consumers and design the products, services and experiences they want now and next.” Video Feedback automatically translates and transcribes audio and text analytics built into the product enable researchers to quickly surface themes and set up automated alerts to prompt action.{/mprestriction}