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 Missouri

University of Missouri

Grant in 2023
University of Missouri (also known as Mizzou) in Columbia, Missouri, is one of the oldest public universities in the region. Today Mizzou has grown to offer more than 280 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including those in medicine and other advanced professional fields. As a full-fledged university with much in the way of academics, research and college life offerings, Mizzou’s more than 30,000 students come from all over the country. Some of the more popular programs at the school include Journalism and Writing. Mizzou is also one of a small group of universities that offers Medicine, Law and Veterinary Medicine. Additional divisions include: *Agriculture *Arts and Sciences *Business *Education *Engineering *Nursing More than 600 student organizations also make their home at Mizzou, so that whatever a student’s interest is it can be found at Mizzou. In order to maintain itself as the competitive public university that it is, Mizzou has had to maintain fairly selective standards for admission. A great number of admitted students were valedictorians of their class or graduated in the top 10%. Mizzou considers grade point average, rigor of high school courses, SAT or ACT scores and other factors such as extracurricular involvement in its undergraduate admissions process. Graduate programs have individual requirements that may include course pre-requisites, undergraduate GPA and test scores. Students may be considered for academic merit scholarships awarded by the school. There are also federal aid sources such as Pell grants, loans and work-study to help those with a financial need to cover tuition costs. Veteran’s benefits are also offered.

Aesir Technologies

Grant in 2022
Aesir Technologies specializes in the development and commercialization of next-generation Nickel-Zinc (Ni-Zn) battery technologies that utilize sustainable, non-toxic materials that can be safely and easily recycled. Aesir Technologies was incorporated in 2011 and has a research and development (R&D) facility in Bozeman, Montana, and a low-rate initial production facility in Joplin, Missouri.

Makefully

Grant in 2021
Makefully is a media company committed to creating meaningful, purposeful, and influential learning environments and educational media. The company's headquarters are in Kansas City, Missouri.

Plastomics

Grant in 2020
Plastomics Inc. is a biotechnology company specializing in chloroplast genetic engineering to enhance crop performance. Founded in 2016 and based in St. Louis, Missouri, the company focuses on gene stacking and rapid breeding to improve yield production and nutritional quality. Its innovative technology platform allows for the precise insertion of beneficial traits into the chloroplasts of plant cells, facilitating the development of more effective biotech crops. This approach not only addresses current industry challenges but also eliminates cross-pollination, enabling clients to achieve trait expression in plants more reliably. Additionally, Plastomics' unique method of maternal inheritance streamlines breeding timelines and reduces costs, making it a valuable partner for seed companies in the agricultural sector.

Infecho Scientific

Grant in 2020
Infecho Scientific specializes in instrumentation research and development. The company was founded in May 2017 and is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri.

Harris-Stowe State University

Grant in 2019
Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU), established in 1857, is dedicated to meeting the higher education needs of the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area. As a historically Black college and university (HBCU), HSSU offers over a dozen bachelor's degree programs, including Biology, Education, Professional Interdisciplinary Studies, and Urban Studies, alongside a variety of business degrees through the Anheuser-Busch School of Business. The university has significantly enhanced student life with the opening of modern residence halls for non-married undergraduates in 2006. HSSU's Office of Financial Assistance plays a vital role in helping students navigate available financial aid options, including state and federal grants, scholarships, and loans. To gain admission, prospective students must provide a high school diploma or GED, complete Missouri's core high school curriculum, and submit an application along with transcripts and standardized test scores, if required.

PatientsVoices

Grant in 2018
PatientsVoices, LLC, founded in 2013 and based in Parkville, Missouri, operates a healthcare language processing platform that transforms patient feedback into actionable insights. The company utilizes advanced data analytics to process information from various sources, including surveys, social media posts, and complaints. This platform is designed to automatically categorize feedback into improvement priorities from the patient's perspective, demonstrating to hospital administrators how to enhance patient satisfaction. By summarizing patient responses into an easily digestible format, PatientsVoices equips healthcare providers with the tools needed to improve patient experiences and potentially increase Medicare reimbursements. The platform is currently being tested in hospitals to further validate its effectiveness.

Nanopore Diagnostics

Grant in 2018
Nanopore Diagnostics, LLC specializes in developing rapid and portable diagnostic products for bacterial infections. Founded in 2011 and based in St. Louis, Missouri, the company has created the iNDxer, a nanopore sensor designed to count dilute nucleic acid biomarkers in minimally processed samples. This technology enables the identification of RNA markers specific to pathogenic bacteria, allowing physicians to determine the presence of harmful microbes efficiently. By providing accurate diagnostics at the point of care, Nanopore Diagnostics aims to inform antibiotic treatment decisions, thereby reducing healthcare costs and combating antibiotic resistance.

Aware Vehicles

Grant in 2018
Aware Vehicles, founded in 2017 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, specializes in the development of autonomous drones that capture and analyze spectral aerial images. These drones leverage advanced imaging technology and artificial intelligence to serve various sectors, including precision agriculture, defense, disaster response, logistics, and infrastructure. By providing precise asset inspections and enhancing emergency response and communication capabilities, Aware Vehicles aims to meet the diverse needs of its clients through innovative aerial solutions.

InnoCit

Grant in 2017
InnoCit is a technology transfer and product development company founded in 2014 and based in Saint James, Missouri. The company specializes in the development of advanced power electronic converters and technologies, offering a comprehensive platform that includes services for solar energy, energy storage, and automotive applications. InnoCit provides a full suite of design services, encompassing electrical and mechanical hardware design, simulations, thermal analysis, controller design, embedded logic, printed circuit board design, and testing. By delivering these services, InnoCit aims to enhance energy efficiency and promote power-saving solutions for various industries.

Arch Innotek

Grant in 2017
Arch Innotek, LLC is a biotechnology company based in St. Louis, Missouri, focused on engineering microorganisms to produce natural ingredients that promote health for both humans and animals. Established in 2013, the company specializes in the fermentation of yeast to generate natural carotenoid antioxidants and other high-value molecules for the food, feed, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Arch Innotek employs sustainable and cost-effective fermentation processes to develop innovative technologies that provide healthier alternatives for consumers. Additionally, the company offers a range of scientific services, including HPLC analysis, LC-MS analysis, protein purification, and molecular cloning, to support its research and development efforts.

PatientsVoices

Grant in 2016
PatientsVoices, LLC, founded in 2013 and based in Parkville, Missouri, operates a healthcare language processing platform that transforms patient feedback into actionable insights. The company utilizes advanced data analytics to process information from various sources, including surveys, social media posts, and complaints. This platform is designed to automatically categorize feedback into improvement priorities from the patient's perspective, demonstrating to hospital administrators how to enhance patient satisfaction. By summarizing patient responses into an easily digestible format, PatientsVoices equips healthcare providers with the tools needed to improve patient experiences and potentially increase Medicare reimbursements. The platform is currently being tested in hospitals to further validate its effectiveness.

University of Missouri

Grant in 2016
University of Missouri (also known as Mizzou) in Columbia, Missouri, is one of the oldest public universities in the region. Today Mizzou has grown to offer more than 280 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including those in medicine and other advanced professional fields. As a full-fledged university with much in the way of academics, research and college life offerings, Mizzou’s more than 30,000 students come from all over the country. Some of the more popular programs at the school include Journalism and Writing. Mizzou is also one of a small group of universities that offers Medicine, Law and Veterinary Medicine. Additional divisions include: *Agriculture *Arts and Sciences *Business *Education *Engineering *Nursing More than 600 student organizations also make their home at Mizzou, so that whatever a student’s interest is it can be found at Mizzou. In order to maintain itself as the competitive public university that it is, Mizzou has had to maintain fairly selective standards for admission. A great number of admitted students were valedictorians of their class or graduated in the top 10%. Mizzou considers grade point average, rigor of high school courses, SAT or ACT scores and other factors such as extracurricular involvement in its undergraduate admissions process. Graduate programs have individual requirements that may include course pre-requisites, undergraduate GPA and test scores. Students may be considered for academic merit scholarships awarded by the school. There are also federal aid sources such as Pell grants, loans and work-study to help those with a financial need to cover tuition costs. Veteran’s benefits are also offered.

Applied Particle Technology

Grant in 2015
Applied Particle Technology, founded in 2014 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, specializes in air filtration technologies aimed at removing microscopic particles from the air. The company develops efficient air purification products that utilize a unique charge, capture, and inactivation technology, making them suitable for critical environments such as hospitals and clean rooms. In addition to air filtration, Applied Particle Technology creates environmental sensors capable of measuring key parameters, including both fixed and wearable devices that detect aerosols—liquid or solid particles suspended in the air. This innovative technology enables clients to monitor dust emissions, ensure regulatory compliance, and safeguard workers in potentially hazardous environments.

PixelEXX Systems

Grant in 2014
PixelEXX Systems Inc. is a company specializing in the development of innovative imaging devices aimed at cancer diagnosis. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri, the company focuses on creating advanced nanoarrays that capture molecular signals related to cellular activity. Their proprietary technology features novel nano resonant photodiodes that enhance sensitivity and allow the capture of both wavelength and polarization information without the need for additional components like microlenses or filters. This approach enables clients to optimize imaging and sensing capabilities while reducing size, weight, and power consumption.

PatientsVoices

Grant in 2014
PatientsVoices, LLC, founded in 2013 and based in Parkville, Missouri, operates a healthcare language processing platform that transforms patient feedback into actionable insights. The company utilizes advanced data analytics to process information from various sources, including surveys, social media posts, and complaints. This platform is designed to automatically categorize feedback into improvement priorities from the patient's perspective, demonstrating to hospital administrators how to enhance patient satisfaction. By summarizing patient responses into an easily digestible format, PatientsVoices equips healthcare providers with the tools needed to improve patient experiences and potentially increase Medicare reimbursements. The platform is currently being tested in hospitals to further validate its effectiveness.

Observable Networks

Grant in 2014
Observable offers Network Security-as-a-Service providing automated security analytics and modeling to continuously analyze the behavior of all network devices. Observable Networks, the Clayton-based network security startup.

OpenCell Technologies

Grant in 2013
OpenCell Technologies, Inc. specializes in providing innovative transfection tools tailored for the life science industry. Founded in 2008 and based in Saint Louis, Missouri, the company focuses on developing an intracellular delivery platform that enhances researchers' capabilities to work with challenging cell types, such as primary and cancer stem cell cultures. This technology supports the advancement of cell-based analysis techniques and the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment. OpenCell Technologies is committed to offering efficient, high-throughput, and scalable solutions to facilitate significant progress in cell and gene therapy research.

Observable Networks

Grant in 2012
Observable offers Network Security-as-a-Service providing automated security analytics and modeling to continuously analyze the behavior of all network devices. Observable Networks, the Clayton-based network security startup.

QM Power

Grant in 2012
QM Power, Inc. is a manufacturer of advanced magnetic circuits and electronic controllers for electric motors, generators, and actuators, serving both domestic and international markets. Established in 2006 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, the company specializes in a range of products including synchronous and electronic start motors, as well as fan motors for commercial refrigeration and HVAC applications. These applications cover various equipment such as display cases, vending machines, and agricultural ventilation systems. QM Power leverages proprietary technologies, including QSync and Parallel Path Magnetic Technology, to enhance energy efficiency in its products. The company holds all intellectual property related to electromechanical devices previously owned by Flynn Research and Magnetic Revolutions LLC, and continues to expand its technology portfolio through collaboration with academic and commercial partners. Additionally, QM Power offers financing and service programs to support its product offerings, making its innovative solutions accessible to clients across multiple industries.

Agrivida

Grant in 2006
Agrivida, Inc. is an animal health and nutrition company that specializes in developing feed additives for various livestock, including poultry, swine, dairy, beef cattle, and aquaculture. Founded in 2003 and based in Four Seasons, Missouri, Agrivida focuses on innovative enzyme solutions to enhance animal nutrition. Its flagship product, GRAINZYME, utilizes advanced technology to produce beneficial enzymes such as phytase and glucanase within corn kernels. This approach allows for a natural and efficient means of integrating these enzymes into animal diets, promoting healthier livestock while also reducing environmental impact. Agrivida's mission is to provide effective nutrition solutions that support sustainable food production across the agriculture sector.

Agrivida

Grant in 2005
Agrivida, Inc. is an animal health and nutrition company that specializes in developing feed additives for various livestock, including poultry, swine, dairy, beef cattle, and aquaculture. Founded in 2003 and based in Four Seasons, Missouri, Agrivida focuses on innovative enzyme solutions to enhance animal nutrition. Its flagship product, GRAINZYME, utilizes advanced technology to produce beneficial enzymes such as phytase and glucanase within corn kernels. This approach allows for a natural and efficient means of integrating these enzymes into animal diets, promoting healthier livestock while also reducing environmental impact. Agrivida's mission is to provide effective nutrition solutions that support sustainable food production across the agriculture sector.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.