National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to supporting research and education in science and engineering across a wide range of disciplines. The NSF provides significant non-dilutive funding, up to $1.5 million, to startups and small businesses through its America's Seed Fund initiative, which is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program mandated by Congress. With an operating budget of approximately $7.8 billion, the NSF is committed to advancing fundamental research and education, thus fostering innovation and technological development in the United States.

James Donlon

Program Director

Debasis Majumdar

Program Director

Graciela Narcho

Staff Associate

Sethuraman Panchanathan

Director

Past deals in FSU

Spelman College

Grant in 2024
Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, later became Spelman College in 1924. Now a global leader in the education of women of African descent, Spelman College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and they are proud members of the Atlanta University Center Consortium. Today Spelman's student body comprises more than 2,100 students from 41 states and 15 foreign countries. Spelman empowers women to engage the many cultures of the world and inspires a commitment to positive social change through service. Spelman is dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and the intellectual, creative, ethical and leadership development of our students. Spelman is proud of its 76 percent graduation rate (average over six years), one of the best in the nation, but their support doesn’t stop once student step on stage to take their diploma. Spelman's global alumnae network is strong, providing connections and helping hands to graduates as they begin on their path of global engagement. Spelman College is a prestigious, highly selective, liberal arts college that prepares women to change the world. Spelman College, a historically Black college (HBCU) and a global leader in the education of women of African descent, is dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and the intellectual, creative, ethical, and leadership development of its students. Spelman empowers the whole person to engage the many cultures of the world and inspires a commitment to positive social change.

Morehouse College Endowment

Grant in 2024
Morehouse College, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a distinguished historically Black college and one of the few remaining all-male institutions of higher education in the United States. Renowned for its commitment to developing African-American leaders, the college has a rich legacy of educating influential figures in various fields, including business and the arts. Morehouse manages an endowment fund that is supported by contributions from donors, which generates income through investments. This funding is utilized to advance the college's strategic initiatives, with oversight provided by the executive team.

TQIntelligence

Grant in 2021
TQIntelligence, Inc. operates a platform that measures emotional distress severity through voice-based artificial intelligence technology. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company integrates various data sources to provide cognitive insights into risk stratification, treatment outcomes, and personalized behavioral health interventions. Its key products include TQ-Intelligence, which utilizes voice and speech analytics alongside psychometrically sound instruments, and TQ Analytics, which leverages existing electronic medical record data to deliver actionable insights. TQIntelligence's machine learning analytics and real-time prediction capabilities support therapists in diagnosing mental health issues, particularly for children and adolescents, including those from BIPOC and LGBTQ communities. By focusing on voice biomarkers, the company aims to enhance treatment planning and reduce care costs while improving outcomes in the behavioral healthcare sector.

Rotoye

Grant in 2021
Rotoye is a multirotor and avionics technology developer and researcher. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Marietta, Georgia.

TCPoly

Grant in 2021
TCPoly, Inc. specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of thermally conductive plastics and 3D printing materials aimed at enhancing the thermal management of electronic devices. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with an additional office in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company offers a range of products, including filaments, heat sinks, cold plates, LED fixtures, and battery packs. Notably, TCPoly developed Ice9TM Flex, a thermally conductive 3D printing filament that is widely used in industries such as heat exchangers, mold tooling, and electronics thermal management. The company's innovative materials are lightweight, electrically insulating, and corrosion-resistant, allowing clients to achieve efficient thermal performance while reducing heating and cooling costs in commercial applications. TCPoly's products are distributed in over 20 countries, showcasing its global reach and impact in the additive manufacturing sector.

Ethos Medical

Grant in 2021
Ethos Medical Inc is a medical device company that specializes in developing ultrasound-based systems for guiding needle placement in procedures such as spinal taps and epidurals. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, the company has created the Iris, a handheld device that works with existing ultrasound machines to provide real-time tracking and guidance for medical practitioners. This technology aims to enhance the precision of needle-based procedures, improving both accuracy and efficiency in healthcare delivery while minimizing costs.

Weav3d

Grant in 2021
Weav3D Inc. develops and commercializes advanced composite forming technology originally created at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Established in 2017 and based in Norcross, Georgia, the company specializes in automated processes that integrate weaving with composite consolidation. This innovative approach significantly reduces waste, cycle time, and material handling costs. Weav3D's manufacturing capabilities include continuous lamination, D-LFT compression molding, and injection molding, allowing for the production of lightweight structural composite parts. The technology enables businesses to fabricate optimized lattice structures and offers a cost reduction of up to 75% compared to traditional carbon fiber composites, making it particularly suitable for high-volume and cost-sensitive applications.

Ethos Medical

Grant in 2020
Ethos Medical Inc is a medical device company that specializes in developing ultrasound-based systems for guiding needle placement in procedures such as spinal taps and epidurals. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, the company has created the Iris, a handheld device that works with existing ultrasound machines to provide real-time tracking and guidance for medical practitioners. This technology aims to enhance the precision of needle-based procedures, improving both accuracy and efficiency in healthcare delivery while minimizing costs.

TCPoly

Grant in 2019
TCPoly, Inc. specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of thermally conductive plastics and 3D printing materials aimed at enhancing the thermal management of electronic devices. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with an additional office in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company offers a range of products, including filaments, heat sinks, cold plates, LED fixtures, and battery packs. Notably, TCPoly developed Ice9TM Flex, a thermally conductive 3D printing filament that is widely used in industries such as heat exchangers, mold tooling, and electronics thermal management. The company's innovative materials are lightweight, electrically insulating, and corrosion-resistant, allowing clients to achieve efficient thermal performance while reducing heating and cooling costs in commercial applications. TCPoly's products are distributed in over 20 countries, showcasing its global reach and impact in the additive manufacturing sector.

TQIntelligence

Grant in 2019
TQIntelligence, Inc. operates a platform that measures emotional distress severity through voice-based artificial intelligence technology. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company integrates various data sources to provide cognitive insights into risk stratification, treatment outcomes, and personalized behavioral health interventions. Its key products include TQ-Intelligence, which utilizes voice and speech analytics alongside psychometrically sound instruments, and TQ Analytics, which leverages existing electronic medical record data to deliver actionable insights. TQIntelligence's machine learning analytics and real-time prediction capabilities support therapists in diagnosing mental health issues, particularly for children and adolescents, including those from BIPOC and LGBTQ communities. By focusing on voice biomarkers, the company aims to enhance treatment planning and reduce care costs while improving outcomes in the behavioral healthcare sector.

Rotoye

Grant in 2019
Rotoye is a multirotor and avionics technology developer and researcher. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Marietta, Georgia.

BrainChild Technologies

Grant in 2017
BrainChild Technologies is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and focuses on developing digital applications and smart devices aimed at enhancing parent-infant communication. The company's flagship product is a low-cost smart pacifier designed to improve the early identification of hearing loss in infants. This innovative device measures changes in an infant's sucking behavior in response to various images and sounds, enabling parents to engage in interactive activities with their children. By tracking behavioral data, BrainChild Technologies helps parents recognize potential hearing issues early, allowing for timely interventions that are crucial for effective treatment.

Manus Bio

Grant in 2017
Manus Bio Inc. specializes in recreating plant processes within microorganisms to produce natural ingredients through advanced fermentation technology. Founded in 2011 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company focuses on converting sugar sources into a variety of applications, including flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, cosmetics, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural chemicals. By integrating metabolic engineering, protein engineering, and systems biology, Manus Bio develops microbes that efficiently manufacture complex and bioactive natural products. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Cambridge and Augusta, Georgia, and has established a strategic partnership with BBGI Public Company Limited. Formerly known as Manus Biosynthesis, Inc., the company adopted its current name in June 2018.

Carbice

Grant in 2017
Carbice Corporation, founded in 2012 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializes in thermal interface technology components. The company produces Carbice Carbon, an advanced thermal interface material designed to lower device temperatures and effectively dissipate heat from product packaging. By utilizing a composite of recycled aluminum and aligned carbon nanotubes, Carbice Carbon sets a standard for performance, reliability, and cost-effective assembly across various sectors, including electronics, energy, and industrial applications. The technology addresses critical heat dissipation challenges faced by electronic devices, enabling clients to enhance thermo-connectivity management. Founded by Georgia Tech Professor Baratunde Cola and a team of researchers, Carbice also maintains an office in London and is expanding with a new location in Toulouse, France.

Pointivo

Grant in 2016
Pointivo offers technology that enables users to use any camera to capture the dimensions of a structure and model the structure in 3D. The company creates cutting-edge technologies that empower a deeper understanding of the physical world. By combining machine learning, computer vision, and advanced analytics, the Pointivo Spatial IQ platform analyzes images from common capture methods from manned aerial to drones and mobile devices to automatically extract location, measurement, and understanding about physical assets and structures, with the highest-level accuracy. Pointivo was launched by Habib Fathi, Blake Patton, and Dan Ciprari in June 2014 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

MoQuality

Grant in 2016
MoQuality, Inc. provides AI driven mobile testing solutions to help app developer teams build better quality apps and improve end-user experiences. With easier, faster and smarter testing, it enables developers to deliver apps with confidence. MoQuality's Barista is a smart test-automation tool which offers a scriptless testing experience by using AI to create user-centric test scenarios, which automate testing across real devices and mobile platforms. MoQuality is based in Atlanta and backed by Amity Ventures, Cox Enterprises, and Techstars. Learn about our solutions at www.moquality.com

Zyrobotics

Grant in 2016
Zyrobotics, LLC is an assistive technology company that was conceived in the summer of 2012 and officially incorporated in 2013 as a Georgia Tech Venturelab spin-off company. They have continued expanding their product line to offer technologies targeted toward accessible Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. Their first offerings include OctoPlus and OctoMinus, switch-accessible math apps that create an interactive gaming environment to reinforce common core math skills while enhancing fine motor skills and visual perception. Their STEM apps combine education and therapy to fully help in achieving developmental milestones for children of all abilities.

Carbice

Grant in 2015
Carbice Corporation, founded in 2012 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializes in thermal interface technology components. The company produces Carbice Carbon, an advanced thermal interface material designed to lower device temperatures and effectively dissipate heat from product packaging. By utilizing a composite of recycled aluminum and aligned carbon nanotubes, Carbice Carbon sets a standard for performance, reliability, and cost-effective assembly across various sectors, including electronics, energy, and industrial applications. The technology addresses critical heat dissipation challenges faced by electronic devices, enabling clients to enhance thermo-connectivity management. Founded by Georgia Tech Professor Baratunde Cola and a team of researchers, Carbice also maintains an office in London and is expanding with a new location in Toulouse, France.

Pointivo

Grant in 2015
Pointivo offers technology that enables users to use any camera to capture the dimensions of a structure and model the structure in 3D. The company creates cutting-edge technologies that empower a deeper understanding of the physical world. By combining machine learning, computer vision, and advanced analytics, the Pointivo Spatial IQ platform analyzes images from common capture methods from manned aerial to drones and mobile devices to automatically extract location, measurement, and understanding about physical assets and structures, with the highest-level accuracy. Pointivo was launched by Habib Fathi, Blake Patton, and Dan Ciprari in June 2014 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Zyrobotics

Grant in 2014
Zyrobotics, LLC is an assistive technology company that was conceived in the summer of 2012 and officially incorporated in 2013 as a Georgia Tech Venturelab spin-off company. They have continued expanding their product line to offer technologies targeted toward accessible Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. Their first offerings include OctoPlus and OctoMinus, switch-accessible math apps that create an interactive gaming environment to reinforce common core math skills while enhancing fine motor skills and visual perception. Their STEM apps combine education and therapy to fully help in achieving developmental milestones for children of all abilities.

Ratrix Technologies

Grant in 2014
Ratrix Technologies is an early-stage company that focuses on commercializing multi-dimensional signal decoding technology initially developed at Georgia Tech. Founded by professors Xiaoli Ma and David Anderson through the GT VentureLab program, Ratrix has received multiple NSF SBIR grants to advance its technology, which is designed to enhance wireless communication systems. The company specializes in high-order multiple input, multiple output decoders that improve data throughput and spectral efficiency. This technology enables higher data rates and broader coverage, helping clients reduce data traffic congestion and enhance user experience.

NextInput

Grant in 2014
NextInput markets a set of proprietary touch technologies that solve key pains in the $20 billion market for touch technology. NextInput's ForceTouch technology is useful for a variety of electronic device interface applications, including touchscreens for next-generation smartphones and tablet PCs. NextInput was formed by a team of engineers and business professionals from Georgia Tech to commercialize a force-sensitive touch technology developed by COO Ian Campbell. Following a seed funding round in mid-2012, the company has brought successful products to market incorporating the technology and has developed market-ready touch surface demonstration kits.

LimoLink

Grant in 2014
LimoLink, Inc. specializes in providing ground chauffeured services tailored for private aviation, executive travel, meetings, events, roadshows, and travel agencies. Established in 1998 and headquartered in Marion, Iowa, the company maintains account management offices in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and London. LimoLink is committed to delivering a reliable and consistent global solution for chauffeured transportation needs, supported by services that include dedicated account management, reservation management, and technology expertise.

NextInput

Grant in 2013
NextInput markets a set of proprietary touch technologies that solve key pains in the $20 billion market for touch technology. NextInput's ForceTouch technology is useful for a variety of electronic device interface applications, including touchscreens for next-generation smartphones and tablet PCs. NextInput was formed by a team of engineers and business professionals from Georgia Tech to commercialize a force-sensitive touch technology developed by COO Ian Campbell. Following a seed funding round in mid-2012, the company has brought successful products to market incorporating the technology and has developed market-ready touch surface demonstration kits.

Manus Bio

Grant in 2013
Manus Bio Inc. specializes in recreating plant processes within microorganisms to produce natural ingredients through advanced fermentation technology. Founded in 2011 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company focuses on converting sugar sources into a variety of applications, including flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, cosmetics, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural chemicals. By integrating metabolic engineering, protein engineering, and systems biology, Manus Bio develops microbes that efficiently manufacture complex and bioactive natural products. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Cambridge and Augusta, Georgia, and has established a strategic partnership with BBGI Public Company Limited. Formerly known as Manus Biosynthesis, Inc., the company adopted its current name in June 2018.

MedShape

Grant in 2013
MedShape is a privately held medical device company founded in 2005 based on a portfolio of proprietary surgical solutions that use its patented adaptive shape memory healing technologies to address the increasing demand for improved joint fusion, sports medicine, and musculoskeletal trauma products. MedShape® has enjoyed long-term support from Hills Capital Management, the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and In-Q-Tel.

Manus Bio

Grant in 2012
Manus Bio Inc. specializes in recreating plant processes within microorganisms to produce natural ingredients through advanced fermentation technology. Founded in 2011 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company focuses on converting sugar sources into a variety of applications, including flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, cosmetics, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural chemicals. By integrating metabolic engineering, protein engineering, and systems biology, Manus Bio develops microbes that efficiently manufacture complex and bioactive natural products. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Cambridge and Augusta, Georgia, and has established a strategic partnership with BBGI Public Company Limited. Formerly known as Manus Biosynthesis, Inc., the company adopted its current name in June 2018.

NextInput

Grant in 2012
NextInput markets a set of proprietary touch technologies that solve key pains in the $20 billion market for touch technology. NextInput's ForceTouch technology is useful for a variety of electronic device interface applications, including touchscreens for next-generation smartphones and tablet PCs. NextInput was formed by a team of engineers and business professionals from Georgia Tech to commercialize a force-sensitive touch technology developed by COO Ian Campbell. Following a seed funding round in mid-2012, the company has brought successful products to market incorporating the technology and has developed market-ready touch surface demonstration kits.

Scientific Imaging and Visualization

Grant in 2012
Scientific Imaging and Visualization develops image processing, computer vision, and visualization products and services. The company was founded in 2010 by Oskar Skrinjar and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

StarMobile

Grant in 2012
StarMobile, Inc. is a provider of a cloud-based enterprise mobility platform that enables organizations to transform existing enterprise applications into mobile applications without the need for coding or extensive technical skills. Founded in 2012 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, the company utilizes a unique remote computing protocol called MORPH, which allows for real-time adaptation of applications to deliver a native mobile experience across various devices. StarMobile's solution requires minimal configuration and maintenance, ensuring scalability and end-to-end security while maintaining detailed analytics capabilities. The leadership team brings over 125 years of experience in enterprise software and mobile computing, positioning StarMobile as a cost-effective and efficient option for companies looking to enhance their mobile application offerings.

Manus Bio

Grant in 2012
Manus Bio Inc. specializes in recreating plant processes within microorganisms to produce natural ingredients through advanced fermentation technology. Founded in 2011 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company focuses on converting sugar sources into a variety of applications, including flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, cosmetics, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural chemicals. By integrating metabolic engineering, protein engineering, and systems biology, Manus Bio develops microbes that efficiently manufacture complex and bioactive natural products. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Cambridge and Augusta, Georgia, and has established a strategic partnership with BBGI Public Company Limited. Formerly known as Manus Biosynthesis, Inc., the company adopted its current name in June 2018.

Ratrix Technologies

Grant in 2012
Ratrix Technologies is an early-stage company that focuses on commercializing multi-dimensional signal decoding technology initially developed at Georgia Tech. Founded by professors Xiaoli Ma and David Anderson through the GT VentureLab program, Ratrix has received multiple NSF SBIR grants to advance its technology, which is designed to enhance wireless communication systems. The company specializes in high-order multiple input, multiple output decoders that improve data throughput and spectral efficiency. This technology enables higher data rates and broader coverage, helping clients reduce data traffic congestion and enhance user experience.

Whisper Communications

Grant in 2010
Whisper Communications is an Atlanta-based company that specializes in wireless networking services, utilizing innovative technologies derived from research at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The firm has developed a patent-pending encoding methodology that enhances data security by ensuring that signals transmitted beyond a designated area, referred to as the "cone of silence," are rendered useless to potential eavesdroppers. This approach focuses on physical layer security, where data security is directly linked to proximity to the data source. By enabling IT companies to monitor, track, and control devices at fixed locations, Whisper Communications aims to advance the field of data security in wireless communications.
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