For several years prior to forming her company, Dr. Melton had been performing mtDNA analysis on a contract basis for the FBI as a Penn State researcher, and had developed an expertise in interpreting the results. Frustrated with the financial return she was receiving from the University for her efforts, and believing that such a service had good business potential, she approached Gateways through the Penn State Office of Research Commercialization to review and evaluate her business concept.

Gateways first conducted a brief market study and cost analysis to determine the feasibility of the new business start-up. After becoming convinced of the potential, Gateways connected Dr. Melton with Dr. Fred Fochtman, Chief Toxicologist in the Coroner’s Office of Allegheny County, who served as a “mentor” and provided expert corroboration of the business concept as well as sound advice on how to best establish a testing laboratory.

• Gateways helped craft a comprehensive business plan including detailed pro-forma financial statements.
• Gateways assisted in the formation of the new business as an LLC (Limited Liability Company).
• Gateways made an equity contribution into the company as a “match” to induce other angel investors to support the new venture.
• Gateways helped Mitotyping Technologies obtain an SBA bank loan to finance laboratory equipment.
• Gateways helped the company locate in the newly formed Penn State Zetachron Center for Science and Technology incubator facility.
• Dr. Melton’s mtDNA analysis and interpretation of the results has served as evidence in cases proving that several inmates were wrongly convicted, resulting in their release from prison.
• Mitotyping Technologies has been a profitable business since its first year of operation, serving as one of the nation’s few laboratories dedicated exclusively to the forensic applications of human mitochondrial DNA analysis.