Paragon Innovations

Paragon Innovations

Company type	Public
Industry	Engineering
Founded	1990
Founder	Mike Wilkinson (GM & VP)
Fate	Acquired by TTI, Inc.
Headquarters	Richardson, Texas, USA
Key people	Sandy Wilkinson, (CFO retired) Mike Willey, (VP) Allan Rich, (Director of Operations)
Services	Electrical engineering Embedded system design Mechanical engineering and industrial design Business incubator
Website	ParagonInnovations.com

Paragon Innovations is an engineering firm based in Richardson, Texas, ^[1] that provides product development services for clients across the USA. Since its founding in 1990, Paragon has expanded significantly to become one of the fastest-growing engineering firms in Texas. ^[2]

In August 2021, Paragon Innovations was acquired by TTI, Inc., Berkshire Hathaway company for an undisclosed amount. ^{[3] [4]}

Services

• Electrical engineering
• Embedded system design
• Mechanical engineering and industrial design
• Business incubator

Paragon has developed products for a wide range of industries, with specialization in:

• Medical devices
• Video / Camera technology
• All things IoT
• Portable wireless devices

Notable Projects

Notable Paragon Innovations projects include:

• A video display controller for a first-of-its-kind flat-screen presentation system for 3M ^[5]
• An airport video docking system that provides precise guidance information for pilots during the docking process for Siemens ^[6]
• An automated infusion pump that reduces IV medication errors and provides increased safety for patients for B. Braun ^[7]
• A transmission system for drilling data for Advantage R&D ^[8]
• The next-generation Ignition Interlock, a handheld device that is connected to ignitions of cars of repeat drunk-driving offenders, for Smart Start ^[9]
• A small, lightweight device that can control and monitor the temperature of medications over several days for Kewl Innovations ^[10]

Relationship with Texas A&M University

Paragon Innovations is an Aggie-owned business, and many of the firm's employees graduated from Texas A&M University. Paragon Innovations sponsors several events hosted by Texas A&M, including:

• the Annual Ideas Challenge, ^[11] a campus-wide competition in which students submit their ideas for a new product or service.
• the annual MBA Tech Transfer Challenge, ^[12] hosted by the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship (formerly the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship) at the Texas A&M Mays Business School. The annual competition asks teams of MBA students to assess the commercial viability of an A&M invention.
• the Senior Capstone Experience at Texas A&M Electronic Systems Engineering Technology department. Paragon provides a $10,000 grant that helps undergrad students in this two-course sequence, during which they plan, execute, and control the design and development of a demonstrable prototype device/system suitable for commercialization.
• McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship events.

Mike Willey, VP also is a Sr. Lecturer at Texas A&M University in the College of Engineering. ^[13] He teaches Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS) and Capstone classes.

Mike Wilkinson, GM & VP, regularly guest lectures in the TAMU College of Engineering and the Mays Business School. He sits on various industry committees including, the ESET IAC, McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship Advisory Council, ^[14] and the Texas A&M College of Education and Human Development STEM board. ^[15]

Recognition

• Paragon has been granted the Aggie 100 award, which identifies, recognizes and celebrates the 100 fastest-growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world. Paragon received the award in 2005, ^[16] 2006, ^[17] and 2010. ^[18]
• Paragon was twice recognized by the Dallas Business Journal on its Fast Tech 50 list.
• Paragon was recognized by SMU Cox School of Business as the 86th fastest growing business on its Dallas 100 list. ^[19]

References

1. Hethcock, Bill (November 24, 2009). "Paragon Innovations plans Richardson move". Dallas Business Journal.
2. "Aggie entrepreneurs at the top". October 22, 2010.
3. "Paragon Innovations is Acquired by TTI's Exponential Technology Group". September 13, 2021.
4. "Exponential Technology Group Announces Acquisition of Paragon Innovations". August 31, 2021.
5. "3M Taps Paragon Innovations to Help Create 'First of Its Kind' Meeting Presentation System". June 13, 2001.
6. "VDOCKS Visual Docking Guidance System" (PDF).
7. "Infusion Pump Reads Bar Codes". May 1, 2002.
8. "Paragon Innovations gets Contract". June 7, 2002.
9. "Paragon in deal to develop anti-drunk-driving device". July 25, 2002.
10. "Paragon Innovations Helps Diabetics Cut the (Refrigerator) Cord, with Design of New Temperature Control Device". March 19, 2012. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012.
11. "Paragon Innovations Sponsors Winning Entrepreneurial Idea at Texas A&M Annual Ideas Challenge".
12. "Tech Transfer Challenge yields new technology that makes a difference".
13. "Lecturer, ESET".
14. "Advisory Council".
15. "Aggie STEM Board Member".
16. "Aggie 100 Awards - 2005". Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
17. "Aggie 100 Awards - 2006". Archived from the original on 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
18. "Aggie 100 Awards - 2010". Archived from the original on 2011-09-09. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
19. "SMU Cox 2021 Dallas 100 List". 23 November 2021.