Innovate Alabama has unveiled the second round of recipients of the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant, awarding more than $3 million to 19 small businesses across the state.
Several of those businesses are based in the Birmingham metro area.
The funds are intended to help these business owners grow roots in the state by supporting the development and marketability of modern technology as well as enhancing Alabama’s competitiveness when it comes to research and commercialization, the creation of exportable products and services and the development of higher-wage job opportunities.
Alabama entrepreneurs who are recipients of Phase I and Phase II SBIR and STTR grants were awarded up to $250,000 of supplemental funding to support the growth of their small businesses. Recipients are also located in Huntsville, Hoover and Madison and include six women- and minority-owned businesses.
Birmingham-based recipients include:
- Analytical AI, which specializes in artificial intelligence. The supplemental funding from Innovate Alabama will be used to supplement funds for hiring developers and purchasing development hardware for work based in Alabama.
- Cleaned and Green, which specializes in the conversion of poultry litter into fertilizer. The supplemental funding will construct a pilot testing plant at AU.
- MRIMath, a physician-in-the-loop AI-driven platform that allows physicians to more accurately and efficiently delineate tumor borders and map organs at risk for radiation therapy planning.
- Sync, which specializes in proactively identifying high-risk vegetation. The supplemental funding will be used to improve the product and integrate it with a resource mobilization platform.
- Tricorder Array Technologies, which is developing the PenPal, a wireless device that collects environmental and mouse squeaks in research cages to understand the behavior and environment influence on animal studies.
- Adjuvax, which is based in Hoover, specializes in vaccine adjuvant discovery and development. The supplemental funding from Innovate Alabama will be used to develop a new adjuvant formulation for various vaccines against infectious diseases.
“Innovate Alabama is helping innovators grow roots within the state by providing resources, like the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program, to assist business leaders who are looking for support in bringing their products to market,” said Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO of Innovate Alabama. “Access to capital, one of Innovate Alabama’s 2023 pillars, is essential to fueling entrepreneurial development, and we look forward to seeing the impact this investment will have on these small businesses and the broader innovation ecosystem.”
Michael Chambers, Innovate Alabama board member, noted that the recipients are spread across different sectors from aerospace and healthtech to agriculture and manufacturing.
Innovate Alabama has approximately $2.4 million in remaining funds during the 2023 fiscal year to provide future rounds of grant funding for eligible Alabama small businesses. Applicants must have a Phase I or Phase II SBIR or STTR grant that was active on or after July 1 to be eligible. The application portal is expected to reopen in early May for the next round of funding in 2023.
Recipients outside of the metro area include:
- Arcarithm is based in Huntsville and specializes in artificial intelligence and command and control applications. Supplemental funding will be used to implement machine learning algorithms, increase compatibility and develop a marketing plan.
- Avilution is based in Huntsville and specializes in the development of modular open systems avionics software microservices supporting the civilian and defense aerospace industries.
- AVNIK Defense Solutions is based in Huntsville and specializes in R&D, logistics engineering, predictive analytics and usage-based maintenance. The supplemental funding from Innovate Alabama will be used to address the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the National Airspace System.
- Botts Innovative Research is based in Madison and specializes in the design and application of Open Geospatial Consortium Sensor Web Enablement standards for sensor systems within the intelligence, defense, commercial and scientific communities.
- GasTOPS is based in Huntsville and specializes in oil debris analysis products, solutions and services. The supplemental funding will be used to progress the design and fielding of an oil debris monitoring system for the F100 engine currently installed on USAF’s F-16s. The oil debris monitoring system has the capability to increase readiness and safety while reducing operating costs.
- GeneCapture is based in Huntsville and is developing portable diagnostic instruments to identify infections and determine appropriate antibiotics. The supplemental funding will go toward adding animal pathogens to the panel.
- NeXolve is based in Huntsville and specializes in aerospace products for NASA, DoD and commercial markets. The supplemental funding will be used to develop a commercial drag sail product to minimize space debris.
- Polaris Sensor Technologies is based in Huntsville and specializes in designing, fabricating and testing optical systems and sensors. The supplemental funding will be used to deliver SkyPASS to markets.
- ReLogic Research is based in Huntsville and is an 8(a) certified small business with core competencies in advanced materials and advanced manufacturing applications, including automated and adaptive manufacturing processes.
- RippleWorx is based in Huntsville and specializes in customizable performance accelerator SaaS platform for high performing organizations and teams. The supplemental funding will be used to further develop a disaster triage solution for responders.
- SemanticGuard is based in Huntsville and specializes in defending organizations against cyber threats by guarding legacy and emerging software applications during development and operations.
- SSS Optical Technology is based in Huntsville and specializes in polymer nanocomposite coatings for solar cells imbedded in NASA solar sails. The supplemental funding will be used to maturate and patent the technology.
- Tango Tango is based in Huntsville and specializes in enhancing first responder voice communications. The supplemental funding will be used to add new interoperability capabilities between first responder agencies.
In August 2022, Innovate Alabama awarded more than $4.5 million in grant funding to 30 small businesses during the first round of the program.
