Innovate Alabama awards more than $3M to small businesses

BIRMINGHAM – Nineteen small businesses in Alabama have been awarded more than $3 million in grants from the second round of Innovate Alabama’s Supplemental Grant Program.

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.

The funds will be used to help these local business owners grow roots in Alabama by supporting the development and marketability of modern technology. The initiative will continue to enhance Alabama’s competitiveness on a regional and national scale through increased research and commercialization efforts, the creation of exportable products and services and the development of high-wage job opportunities.

“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.”

Out of the 19 grant recipients, 13 are in Huntsville and Madison:

• Arcarithm 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 specializes in the development of modular open systems avionics software microservices supporting the civilian and defense aerospace industries.
• AVNIK Defense Solutions specializes in research and development, logistics engineering, predictive analytics, and usage-based maintenance. The supplemental funding will be used to address the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System.
• GasTOPS 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 on the Air Force’s F-16s. The oil debris monitoring system has the capability to increase readiness and safety while reducing operating costs.
• GeneCapture is developing portable diagnostic instruments to rapidly identify infections and determine appropriate antibiotics. The supplemental funding will help add animal pathogens to the panel.
• NeXolve 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 specializes in designing, fabricating and testing optical systems and sensors. The supplemental funding will be used to deliver SkyPASS to markets.
• ReLogic Research has core competencies in advanced materials and advanced manufacturing applications, including automated and adaptive manufacturing processes.
• RippleWorx specializes in customizable performance accelerator Software as a Service platform for high performing organizations and teams. The supplemental funding will be used to further develop a disaster triage solution for responders.
• SemanticGuard specializes in defending organizations against cyber threats by guarding legacy and emerging software applications during development and operations.
• SSS Optical Technology 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 specializes in enhancing first responder voice communications. The supplemental funding will be used to add new interoperability capabilities between first responder agencies.
• Botts Innovative Research is located 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.

The following recipients are in Birmingham or Hoover:

• Analytical AI 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 specializes in the conversion of poultry litter into fertilizer. The supplemental funding will construct a pilot testing plant at Auburn University.
• The MRIMath physician-in-the-loop AI-driven platform empowers physicians to more accurately and efficiently delineate tumor borders and map organs at risk for radiation therapy planning.
• Sync specializes in proactively identifying high-risk vegetation. The supplemental funding will be used to improve our product and integrate it with a resource mobilization platform.
• Tricorder Array Technologies 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 specializes in vaccine adjuvant discovery and development. The supplemental funding will be used to develop a new adjuvant formulation for various vaccines against infectious diseases.

“Thanks to the collective effort of the Alabama Legislature and our state’s innovation ecosystem, we are able to invest in Alabama entrepreneurs who are developing breakthrough technology with the potential to solve global issues,” said Dr. Michael Chambers of the Innovate Alabama. “Since recipients are spread across different sectors from aerospace and health tech to agriculture and manufacturing, there is an incredible opportunity to advance Alabama’s economy through each of these core industries.”

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.

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, 2022, to be eligible. The application portal is expected to reopen in early May for the next round of funding in 2023.