Troy-based Vital Vio co-founder, CEO honored
Colleen Costello earns recognition from Goldman Sachs
TROY, N.Y. >> Goldman Sachs recently announced it is recognizing Vital Vio Co-Founder and CEOColleen Costello, a pioneer in continuous disinfection technology, as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2018 at its Builders + Innovators Summit.
Goldman Sachs said they selected Costello as one of 100 entrepreneurs from multiple industries to be honored at the three- day event in Santa Barbara, California
“A dynamic economy depends on dynamic entrepreneurs who disrupt industries and occasionally give birth to entirely new sectors,” said David M. Solomon in a news release, Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs. “The purpose of Builders + Innovators is to support emerging leaders in their quests to innovate faster in order to grow their ideas. We are pleased to recognize Colleen Costello as one of the most intriguing entrepreneurs of 2018.”
Officials said Vital Vio is the healthcare solutions company that has reinvented disinfection with its patented VioSafe® White Light Disinfection® technology powering a range of germ-killing LEDs now on the market for commercial and residential use.
According to the release, used in combination with traditional intermittent cleaning, Vital Vio’s patented LED technology is proven to safely, effectively and continuously kill bacteria and other harmful organisms including MRSA, Salmonella, E. coli, C. diff., mold and mildew growing on interior surfaces.
Costel l o, who cofounded Vital Vio in 2013, while still in college, after her grandmother contracted MRSA during a hospital stay, said she is honored to earn this distinction.
“Infection prevention is one of the most vexing and costly global health challenges,” Costello said in the release. “This honor is an affirmation of the power and potential of Vital Vio’s disinfection technology to combat the pervasive problem of germs. We are proud that companies and consumers are quickly adopting our germ-killing products. And, we continue to invest in innovation, develop new technologies, expand markets and part-
ners, and grow our team; so that we can provide our customers with new tools for continuous disinfection.”
Officials noted that Vital Vio has successfully partnered with several leading U. S. based lighting companies to develop a range of bacteria and mold-killing lighting solutions primarily for retail and commer- cial (medical, athletics, food service, hospitality, education) markets.
For nearly 150 years, Goldman Sachs has been advising and financing entrepreneurs as they launch and grow their businesses. In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars.