Vestagen Technical Textiles Named 2014 Florida Companies to Watch Winner

ORLANDO, Fla. – September 3, 2014 – Vestagen Technical Textiles is proud to be selected as one of this year's Florida Companies to Watch winners. Fifty leading companies were selected from more than 500 nominations statewide for the 2014 class.

Florida Companies to Watch is an awards program that celebrates privately held second-stage companies headquartered in the state. To be eligible, applicants must employ between 6 and 99 full-time employees and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue or working capital in place. Awardees are selected for demonstrating the intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, sustainable competitive advantage, outstanding corporate culture, inspired community giving and other notable strengths.

"Florida Companies to Watch is honored to recognize another outstanding group of stage-two companies," said Dr. Tom O'Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute and associate vice president for the University of Central Florida's Office of Research and Commercialization. This is our fourth year of celebrating second-stage business leaders throughout the state of Florida. The companies selected for the Florida Companies to Watch awards program stand out among their peers as companies that should be celebrated. In Florida, they account for 5 percent of the companies and nearly 30 percent of the jobs. These companies make a difference and we're happy to offer the recognition they deserve."

"We're excited to be recognized in this class of great companies," said Uncas "Ben" B. Favret III, president and CEO of Vestagen. "This recognition reflects the transformative potential of our Vestex® fabric and the commitment our team to protect healthcare workers, their patients and the community."

Since securing $15.5 million in capital less than a year ago, Vestagen has added 10 employees, all of which support the expanded commercialization of Vestex. Vestex is the first in a new class of engineered, protective fabrics with a variety of applications, including healthcare, public safety and athletic use.

The expansion lead to Baptist Health of Jacksonville becoming the first hospital system in the world to adopt uniforms with Vestex technology. In July, Vestex protective scrubs and lab coats were distributed to more than 6,000 staff members across its five-hospital system. "Baptist Health and Vestex protective performance has set a new standard for both employee and patient safety for every hospital systems to follow," said Favret.

The protection provided by Vestex fabric comes from three technologies permanently built into the fabric. First, a durable fluid barrier that is highly repellent to body fluids, water, oil, and dirt serves as the primary mechanism to reduce the acquisition and retention of contaminants. Second, an embedded antimicrobial inhibits the growth of bacteria on the fabric. Third, breathability and moisture wicking ensures wearer comfort so they are comfortable all day long and therefore able to wear Vestex for the unexpected and unknown exposures. Vestex fabric is the first fabric clinically proven to minimize the acquisition and retention of pathogens(1). These benefits are engineered to last for the life of the garment.

About GrowFL
GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida legislature as an economic development program focused on assisting second-stage growth companies prosper in the state of Florida. By providing strategies, resources and support to second-stage companies for next level growth through Strategic Research and peer-to-peer CEO mentoring, GrowFL helps companies overcome obstacles to growth and leads them towards prosperity. Based on the philosophy of Economic Gardening®-to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state-GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, is a critical component to the state's economic development strategy and Florida's entrepreneurial ecosystem. GrowFL is a statewide economic development organization certified by the National Center for Economic Gardening through the Edward Lowe Foundation. For more information, visit growfl.com.

About Vestagen
Vestagen Technical Textiles develops and markets advanced performance textile products and technologies. Vestagen has developed Vestex®, the first in a new class of technology-based, active barrier protective fabrics combining antimicrobial, liquid repellent and breathability properties. Vestex uniforms and scrubs for healthcare applications are designed to protect workers and their patients from dangerous contaminants. They are clinically proven to prevent or reduce the acquisition and retention of contaminants on clothing and are comfortable, durable and affordable. For more information, visit vestagen.com.

(1) Bearman, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiology, 2012