After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late February, the time has come for one innovative local company to close its doors. San Antonio-based tech startup WiseWear is selling its intellectual property, as well as its advanced technical equipment in online auctions.
Heritage Global Partners is overseeing the auction of WiseWear’s intellectual property, while Tranzon Asset Strategies is auctioning the company’s tangible assets. The auction listing reflects the company’s comprehensive in-house fabrication capabilities for product design and fabrication as well as specialized testing equipment.
WiseWear’s 5,000 square foot space is located in the heart of San Antonio ’s medical district at 5828 Sebastian Place. Those interested in acquiring the startup’s high-tech equipment may tour the company’s headquarters 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 22. The company’s innovative intellectual properties will be sold in one lot and consist of granted patents and patent applications, trademarks, website and domain name, and customer lists. All bids must be submitted online for equipment here and here for intellectual property by close of business May 22, with full payment due by May 24.
Launched in San Antonio in 2013, WiseWear had been covered extensively as an award-winning technology startup success in the internet-connected IoT (internet of things) wearables market. Company founder Gerald or ‘Jerry’ Wilmink had raised at least $6.5 million from investors and was preparing other IoT wearable products for market in addition to scaling up production of the WiseWear smart jewelry line of sensor bracelets.
Representative items up for bid include design tools:
- MATLAB is a high-level language and collaborative software used by engineers and scientists to visualize design concepts across disciplines, including signal and image processing, communications, and control systems.
- SolidWorks Professional Mechanical designs software (with current software maintenance agreement) helps engineers design products.
- Rowley and Associates CrossStudio for ARM is a complete C/C++ and assembly code development system.
- The Altium Designer Electronics software (with current software maintenance agreement) is used for executing printed circuit board designs.
Major pieces of fabrication and prototyping equipment include:
- The Next Engine 3D scanner is a high-resolution scanner of models to assist in prototype development.
- A 3D printer can fabricate parts out of plastic, using 3D computer-assisted designs from Solidworks and Fused Deposition Modeling technology.
- The Universal Laser Systems 50-watt CO2 laser cutter and etcher cuts intricate shapes from plastic or other nonmetal materials.
- A 3-axis CNC mill creates intricate 3D shapes out of plastic or metal.
- The Zephyrtronics hot air reflow station melts solder on individual electronic components for easy removal.
- The LPKF ProtoPlace S semi-automatic pick and place system sets electronic components precisely onto a printed circuit board.
- The Protoflow S reflow oven heats an entire electronic circuit board with placed components to help melt the solder and solidify the circuit placement.
Specialized testing equipment includes:
- The Highly Accelerated Life Test or HALT chamber tests prototypes for design weaknesses that might otherwise be apparent after failure in the field. The HALT chamber exposes the prototype to temperature extremes of -100° to 150° Celsius and mechanical vibrations.
- The electrostatic discharge tester can test electronics against discharges up to 30 kV in both open-air and human model test configurations.
- The custom-design RF anechoic chamber (12 x 8 x 8 feet space) is used to test electronics for unintentional emissions, as well as to test radio frequency communications, such as Bluetooth.
“WiseWear was founded to develop connected technologies to keep individuals healthy and safe,” Wilmink said. “We are proud of the many major milestones that we have reached over the past five years, and look forward to finding a good home for our valuable patents and physical assets.”
Featured image is of WiseWear’s LPKF ProtoPlace S semi-automatic pick and place system, which sets electronic components precisely onto a printed circuit board. Courtesy WiseWear photo.
