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 Kentucky

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Grant in 2024
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment persists as a land-grant university. Agriculture, food, and environmental systems are critical components of Kentucky's economic future, and the college's programs play an important role in these areas.

University of Kentucky

Grant in 2023
The University of Kentucky is a public, land grant university dedicated to improving people's lives through excellence in education, research and creative work, service, and health care. As Kentucky's flagship institution, the University plays a critical leadership role by promoting diversity, inclusion, economic development, and human well-being.

Western Kentucky University

Grant in 2023
Western Kentucky University, off of College Heights Blvd in Bowling Green, has over 170 amazing undergraduate and 50 graduate school fields of study to choose from. Some of the many interesting offerings at WKU include advertising, dental hygiene, early childhood education, economics, graphic design, health care administration, nursing, paralegal studies, performing arts, women’s studies, zoology, and more. For the quintessential college experience, look no further than the amazing campus facilities and events of WKU. The Hilltoppers’ football team was recently promoted to Division 1-A, allowing them to compete for national bowls and titles. Western Kentucky University also has international appeal with study-abroad programs and the Chinese Flagship program, which integrates the learning of the Chinese language into a student’s education for those interested in international careers. Financial aid is available to eligible students at WKU the form of grants, student employment, loans, veterans’ benefits, tuition waivers, and scholarships. The school itself offers academic scholarships, alumni grants, departmental scholarships and Kentucky state assistance. Job fairs and employment preparation seminars aren’t the only career services you can expect from the career center. Employers often post job leads on the website board, exclusive to WKU students. Internships are also available to students looking to gain work experience in their fields of choice.

University of Louisville

Grant in 2023
The University of Louisville is a public research university that offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. It is particularly known for its contributions to health, engineering, and the humanities. The university actively engages with community partners to enhance its academic and research initiatives, thereby creating a significant impact on education, healthcare, and research industries. Additionally, the University of Louisville School of Dentistry serves as a specialized institute within the university, focusing on dental education and training.

University of Louisville

Grant in 2023
The University of Louisville is a public research university that offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. It is particularly known for its contributions to health, engineering, and the humanities. The university actively engages with community partners to enhance its academic and research initiatives, thereby creating a significant impact on education, healthcare, and research industries. Additionally, the University of Louisville School of Dentistry serves as a specialized institute within the university, focusing on dental education and training.

Bellarmine University

Grant in 2022
A rigorous, respected, personal Catholic education featuring diverse academics on a small but lively campus is what you can expect at Bellarmine University. Located in Louisville, one of the nation’s most vibrant small cities, Bellarmine’s campus is also a center of rich academic, social and cultural activity. Over 70 student organizations give students the opportunity to perform with music ensembles, work at the campus radio station, go bowling, discuss art, perform in plays and meet others with similar career interests. Academics at Bellarmine are, however, the most outstanding part of the Bellarmine experience. Small class sizes aren’t the only great feature of Bellarmine’s educational life. Bellarmine’s commitment to rigor and excellence also makes for an intense learning experience with expert faculty. Majors at Bellarmine are also highly diverse. Accounting, Arts Administration, Education, Media and Cultural Studies, Nursing, Professional Writing, Psychology, and Religion are just a sampling of the highly varied offerings. Graduate programs in such fields as Business, Physical Therapy and Spirituality are also available. As if that weren’t enough, Bellarmine even goes so far as to offer certificate programs in such professional fields as Respiratory Therapy and pre-professional degrees in Law, Medicine, Dentistry and others. To gain experience and professional contacts, many students also take advantage of Bellarmine’s vast internship opportunities. Admissions criteria differ depending on one’s degree-level and area of study. In addition federal financial aid offerings for eligible students, Bellarmine encourages students to seek out private scholarships and also offers tuition payment plans.

Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Grant in 2022
Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a college in Kentucky Community where students find confidence, collaboration, compassion, and success. and Technical College.

Pascal Tags

Grant in 2022
Pascal Tags develops chipless identification technology to improve inventory management. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Louisville, Kentucky.

Lepidext

Grant in 2021
Lepidext is engaged in managing the populations of the Lepidoptera pests by introducing bio-pesticides that are species-specific. The company is committed to improving crop security and ensuring agricultural prosperity by combining a deep understanding of insect biology with the skills and experience of farmers. In 2015, Angelika Fath-Goodin and Bruce Webb established the company in Lexington, Kentucky.

HeXalayer

Grant in 2021
HeXalayer, located in Louisville, KY, specializes in advanced lithium-ion battery technology, utilizing a proprietary carbon material known as IML Graphene. This innovative approach enhances the capacity and performance of rechargeable batteries, specifically designed for battery-powered vehicles. The company has developed graphene anode batteries that have been integrated into thirty prototype battery cells, demonstrating effective performance through rigorous testing. HeXalayer's technology focuses on providing cost-effective materials that ensure stable long-term cycling characteristics, offering customers reliable energy storage solutions.

Active Therapy Systems

Grant in 2021
Active Therapy Systems develops an interactive exercise platform to deliver in-home therapies to people living with Parkinson's disease. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Pascal Tags

Grant in 2019
Pascal Tags develops chipless identification technology to improve inventory management. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Louisville, Kentucky.

University of Louisville

Grant in 2019
The University of Louisville is a public research university that offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. It is particularly known for its contributions to health, engineering, and the humanities. The university actively engages with community partners to enhance its academic and research initiatives, thereby creating a significant impact on education, healthcare, and research industries. Additionally, the University of Louisville School of Dentistry serves as a specialized institute within the university, focusing on dental education and training.

HeXalayer

Grant in 2019
HeXalayer, located in Louisville, KY, specializes in advanced lithium-ion battery technology, utilizing a proprietary carbon material known as IML Graphene. This innovative approach enhances the capacity and performance of rechargeable batteries, specifically designed for battery-powered vehicles. The company has developed graphene anode batteries that have been integrated into thirty prototype battery cells, demonstrating effective performance through rigorous testing. HeXalayer's technology focuses on providing cost-effective materials that ensure stable long-term cycling characteristics, offering customers reliable energy storage solutions.

Active Therapy Systems

Grant in 2018
Active Therapy Systems develops an interactive exercise platform to deliver in-home therapies to people living with Parkinson's disease. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

RedLeaf Biologics

Grant in 2017
RedLeaf Biologics, Inc. is a producer of natural food colors, antioxidants, and antimicrobials for both human and livestock applications, with a focus on providing alternatives to chemical dyes and additives. Founded in 2015 and based in Lexington, Kentucky, the company collaborates with local farmers to develop high-performance bioactive substances that are natural, sustainable, and scalable. By employing sustainable agriculture practices, RedLeaf ensures supply chain security while delivering versatile, safe products that do not compromise on quality or efficacy.

Breath Diagnostics

Grant in 2016
Breath Diagnostics, Inc. is a company based in Louisville, Kentucky, that specializes in developing non-invasive diagnostic tools for lung cancer screening. Founded in 2014, the company has created a patented breath analysis technology that detects lung cancer by analyzing specific Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from a single exhaled breath sample. This process, utilizing a proprietary silicon microchip, allows for quantitative analysis using conventional mass spectrometers, achieving parts per billion accuracy. By focusing on early detection, Breath Diagnostics aims to reduce patient exposure to costly and high-risk medical procedures, thereby potentially saving lives and lowering healthcare costs. The company has conducted studies involving over 700 patients, demonstrating the effectiveness of its technology in identifying lung cancer at an early stage.

PowerTech Water

Grant in 2016
PowerTech Water, Inc. is a company that develops and markets innovative water treatment solutions, focusing on chemical-free technologies. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, the company specializes in its flagship product, CapCo, an electrochemical filter designed to effectively remove various metals from water. PowerTech Water serves a diverse range of industries, including batteries, microelectronics, electroplating, automotive, metal finishing, mining, food and beverage, and oil and gas. The CapCo filter targets contaminants such as lead, copper, manganese, iron, silver, gold, mercury, zinc, nickel, and aluminum, aiming to provide efficient and sustainable solutions for wastewater management.

Liberate Medical

Grant in 2016
Liberate Medical is a medical device company that uses non-invasive respiratory muscle stimulation to reduce the cost and improve the quality of care for patients with pulmonary disorders. It licenses a platform technology, based on electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles that is synchronized with a patient's breathing cycle. The company's proprietary technology uses electrical muscle stimulation to activate the expiratory muscles in synchrony with exhalation. Founded in 2013, Liberate Medical is headquartered in Crestwood, Kentucky.

Pyrochem Catalyst

Grant in 2016
Pyrochem Catalyst, founded in 2010 and based in Louisville, Kentucky, specializes in the development of oxidation and reduction catalysts aimed at automotive emissions abatement and chemical processing. The company's products facilitate the conversion of natural gas into synthesis gas, particularly in environments characterized by high aromatic content, high sulfur levels, and elevated temperatures. By offering reliable performance over extended periods, Pyrochem Catalyst helps businesses reduce both capital expenditures and operating costs, making their solutions valuable in high-temperature catalytic processes.

RedLeaf Biologics

Grant in 2016
RedLeaf Biologics, Inc. is a producer of natural food colors, antioxidants, and antimicrobials for both human and livestock applications, with a focus on providing alternatives to chemical dyes and additives. Founded in 2015 and based in Lexington, Kentucky, the company collaborates with local farmers to develop high-performance bioactive substances that are natural, sustainable, and scalable. By employing sustainable agriculture practices, RedLeaf ensures supply chain security while delivering versatile, safe products that do not compromise on quality or efficacy.

PowerTech Water

Grant in 2015
PowerTech Water, Inc. is a company that develops and markets innovative water treatment solutions, focusing on chemical-free technologies. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, the company specializes in its flagship product, CapCo, an electrochemical filter designed to effectively remove various metals from water. PowerTech Water serves a diverse range of industries, including batteries, microelectronics, electroplating, automotive, metal finishing, mining, food and beverage, and oil and gas. The CapCo filter targets contaminants such as lead, copper, manganese, iron, silver, gold, mercury, zinc, nickel, and aluminum, aiming to provide efficient and sustainable solutions for wastewater management.

Bert Thin Films

Grant in 2014
Bert Thin Films, LLC is a manufacturer based in Louisville, Kentucky, specializing in copper paste for solar panel production. Founded in 2014, the company has developed a patented product known as CuBert, which serves as a direct substitute for traditional silver paste used in manufacturing solar panels. CuBert can be applied using standard screen-printing equipment and belt furnaces, allowing solar panel manufacturers to adopt this more cost-effective solution without altering their existing processes. By utilizing copper conductors, Bert Thin Films aims to help its clients achieve significant cost savings in the production of solar panels.

Liberate Medical

Grant in 2014
Liberate Medical is a medical device company that uses non-invasive respiratory muscle stimulation to reduce the cost and improve the quality of care for patients with pulmonary disorders. It licenses a platform technology, based on electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles that is synchronized with a patient's breathing cycle. The company's proprietary technology uses electrical muscle stimulation to activate the expiratory muscles in synchrony with exhalation. Founded in 2013, Liberate Medical is headquartered in Crestwood, Kentucky.

Tier 1 Performance

Grant in 2013
Tier 1 Performance Solutions, LLC provides online learning and knowledge management solutions to commercial, non-profit, and government organizations. It offers Performance1, a performance content management system that accelerates content authoring and delivery; Library1 system, a collection of media assets, such as illustrations, animations, images, interactions, and activities; Method1, a process for developing learning modules; and online help and other electronic performance support systems for software deployment. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Covington, Kentucky.

CEINT

Grant in 2013
The Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT) is exploring the relationship between a vast array of nanomaterials— from natural, to manufactured, to those produced incidentally by human activities— and their potential environmental exposure, biological effects, and ecological impacts. Headquartered at Duke University, CEINT is a collaborative effort bringing together researchers from Duke, Carnegie Mellon University, Howard University, Virginia Tech, University of Kentucky, and Stanford University. CEINT academic collaborations include on-going activities coordinated with faculty at Baylor, Clemson, North Carolina State, and North Carolina Central universities, with researchers at NIST and EPA government labs, and with key international partners.
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