Cyber-Anatomy, Inc. (CAI) was originally created for medical education in countries where, due to religious beliefs and customs, cadavers are not available. Today the company has expanded its market to include researchers and medical students throughout the world. By providing a realistic and immersive environment for virtual dissection and exploration of anatomy, teachers and doctors using CAI products are able to advance their students’ core curriculum and understanding of the human body.
The company’s products include a number of virtual reality systems. The two main ones are:
- Cyber-Anatomy Virtual Reality - a system that allows multiple students to watch an instructor interact with anatomical structures in 3D.
- Cyber-Anatomy Student Edition - a CD that allows users to interact with the anatomy in 3D on their computer.
CAI technology was developed over two years and is based on technologies adopted from virtual reality, real-time simulation, gaming engines, CAD modeling, and clinical/medical knowledge. The company faced numerous problems, including finding distributors overseas, defining markets, penetrating language barriers with potential partners, financing marketing and operations, finding publishers, and developing a convincing business plan
To help CAI overcome these challenges the SBDC helped in a variety of ways:
• Reviewed the company’s business plan and suggested changes.
• Arranged for a graduate student to do market research for the company to find appropriate publishers.
• Located a student team in the business college; the team did an extensive report for the company on market entry strategies.
• Worked with CAI on alternatives for financing to help the company develop, market, and sell their products during the first year.
President Phil Knickelbein says, “The Small Business Development Center provided resources and contacts for us to utilize in getting timely, correct answers. From patent attorneys, financial advisors, critique of our business plan, markets to penetrate and advice on financing, the SBDC clearly is a “one stop” shop.”
The company has signed up several distributors in numerous countries and is close to signing agreements with multiple publishers. The medical college at The University of Iowa has reviewed the company’s products and is considering utilizing it in their curriculum. In short, with the help of the University of Iowa SBDC, Cyber-Anatomy Inc. is turning the original vision into an exciting business.