ABLE

ABLE is a biochemical technology R&D company that’s created a patented chemical formulation to eliminate harmful pathogens in water and air.

As it says, it's "on a mission to save lives."

By targeting four key markets, ABLE’s solution is 99.9% effective at killing bacteria and viruses, and has the potential to save more than 1.2 million lives per year.

The company is led by an experienced team. CEO Arthur Freeman spent 22 years in the water treatment business, and 15 years serving as CEO for multiple startups.

Chief Science Officer Henry Grage has 30 years in the medical products industry, with a specific focus on commercializing new ideas. He’s been issued 20 patents.

(Please note: This particular startup is raising funds from “accredited” investors only. An accredited investor is someone with a net worth of at least $1 million, or annual income of at least $200,000, or $300,000 with their spouse.)

ABLE's goal is to eliminate the existence of harmful, and potentially deadly, pathogens. A pathogen is a term for any bacterium, virus, or microorganism that can cause disease.

Over the past 15 years, infectious diseases transmitted through water and air have increased nearly 400%. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that infections caused by advanced pathogens, known as “superbugs,” could kill 10 million people globally by 2050.

ABLE’s solution can prevent these deaths by eliminating harmful pathogens in water and air.

More specifically, the company’s technology provides the detection, identification, and deactivation of pathogenic microbes in cold or hot water systems. This technology is so effective that pathogens don’t have a chance to mutate or gain resistance. As a result, microbes in water and air are eliminated before they can infect humans, without using any electricity or waste by-product.

The secret behind the technology is the company’s patented chemical formulation. This has been used to develop what ABLE calls “the world’s most powerful disinfectant” called MAJEC.

With MAJEC as a base, the company can add other non-proprietary chemical powder elements as needed, enabling it to modify formulations to meet market demands.

These formulations are dry, insoluble substances that are flexible and can be embedded in almost any material. The targeted anti-microbial formulations deactivate bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and certain viruses by a catalytic reaction that, on contact, instantly disrupts the cell membrane. The result is a dead organism.

ABLE incorporates its patented technology into water and air purifiers. The purifier formulations include MAJEC, as well as components to provide retention and removal of heavy metals, organics, suspended solids, and microbes. As a result, all purifier formulations with MAJEC meet or exceed EPA drinking water standards.

With its purifiers, ABLE is targeting four markets that create the most preventable deaths. These include markets for water purification, pool & spa infections, trauma wounds, and legionella in hot water systems. All told, this is an $8.8 billion opportunity.

Each of these markets is using outdated treatments that are no longer effective. For example, the CDC recently identified 15 “superbugs” that are antibiotic-resistant due to overexposure. As ABLE says, the only true way to prevent these diseases is to kill them in water and air before they can infect people.

ABLE sells its filtration purifier apparatus for a one-time cost, followed by replacements filters every 6 months. The company achieves a 60% return on investment from each sale of its apparatus, and 120% profit on each filter.

Using this business model, a two-story nursing home, for example, would bring in roughly $78,000 per year in profits. There are more than 110,000 nursing homes in the U.S.. Capturing just 1% of these homes would equal $85 million in annual profits.

In addition, using its system in one hospital would return about $290,000 profits per year, and there are more than 48,000 hospitals in the U.S. Capturing just 1% of these hospitals would equal an estimated $139 million in annual profits.

Team Background

Henry Grage - Chief Scientific Officer

Henry brings more than 30 years of experience in the medical products industry to ABLE.

Before joining the company, he owned HG BioMedical, an importer/exporter of biotech materials. Prior to that, he spent 13 years as owner of HG Consulting, a company focused on drug discovery and pre-clinical development of medical devices.

Henry spent three years as Chief Scientific Officer of Palco MicroSensors, a company developing sensors to advance insulin therapy treatment. In addition, he was Chief Technology Officer of Plantacor, a company developing therapeutic drugs for cancer and other human diseases.

He spent two years as a systems development manager for Roche (OTCMKTS: RHHBY), a global healthcare company.

He holds 20 patents for various products he's created.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University, and a Master’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of Texas at Houston.

Arthur Freeman - Co-Founder & CEO

Arthur has 22 years of experience in the water treatment industry.

He began his career as a regional sales manager for Betz Laboratories, a company specializing in industrial water treatment and water recycling.

From there, he was an executive at IBM, focusing on selling IT contracts to Fortune 100 companies.

Arthur spent two years as Executive Director of the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce in Brookhaven, Georgia, before becoming Director of Operations for SKA International, an Atlanta-based accounting company.

He spent the bulk of his career with Quest International, a global support service company for original equipment manufacturers. All told, he spent 41 years with the company, serving as a consultant for more than three decades.

Arthur earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Teresa Bolyard - Chief Financial Officer

Prior to joining the team at ABLE, Teresa spent 16 years as President of Bolyard Consulting Services, handling accounting and treasury duties.

Before that, she was a senior manager for Ernst & Young, a professional services company.

Teresa spent two years as Senior Manager of International Taxes for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. In addition, she was Director of Corporate Taxes and Treasury at Bazaarvoice.

She began her career as an international tax director with Lexmark International, an IT services company.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree and Law degree from Northern Kentucky University.

Larry Murff - Chief Operating Officer

Larry has 30 years of financial and operations experience.

Before ABLE, he was an operations and financial consultant for Thrive Global, a software-as-a-service company targeting the health and wellness industry.

Prior to that, he was Vice President of Global Sales Operations for Quantcast, a data research company for advertising brands.

Larry spent three years at Bazaarvoice, a computer software company, serving as Director of Finance and VP of Operations. Before that, he was Chief Financial Officer at Expediter Services, a freight company.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama.

Co-Investors