Latest news with #SmallBusinessInnovationResearch
Technical.ly
5 days ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
How Philly's BioLattice is making the jump from grants to VC
For nearly two years, has hosted its monthly segment, Speaking, on WURD Radio's 'Reality Check' with Tonya Pendleton. Earlier this month, WURD cancelled the show after a round of layoffs. Winning pitch competitions and getting industry recognition don't always lead to funding. For Amelia Zellander, founder and CEO of the tissue engineering startup BioLattice, it took six years to get the 'proper funding' to pursue the biotechnology, which she finally secured at the end of 2023. Innovations like biomaterial to repair the front layer of the eye — an alternative to traditional cornea transplants — can be risky to develop, she said. In the current climate of risk-averse investors, that makes biotech money difficult to land. It was ultimately federal funding (the same programs now in limbo under the Trump administration) that made Zellander's initial research possible. Now she's seeking venture capital to maintain that momentum. 'My journey with this company in this form really started in 2017,' Zellander told reporter Sarah Huffman on Speaking, a monthly segment on WURD Radio's 'Reality Check' hosted by Tonya Pendleton. 'I applied for federal funding multiple times before I finally got the Phase One [National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research ] grant.' The funding served as a launch pad. Since starting a research partnership with Lehigh University, BioLattice has landed an $80,000 first-place prize at a pitch competition. More recently, Zellander was named Startup of the Year at BioLabs' third annual investor day. BioLattice is continuing its growth trajectory as a member of the inaugural HiveBio accelerator cohort. This is helping build the company's brand and supporting its path to securing investors, per Zellander. 'I have been getting a little bit of funding, but I'm just still in the battle to build my reputation,' she said, 'to build the trust with investors, and to present the need.' While positive recognition is useful in general, it doesn't always translate into dollars, Zellander said. As BioLattice gears up to raise its next $2 million to support the prototyping phase, she's hoping to make sure it can turn the accolades into securing VCs. BioLattice is currently in a preclinical, prototype stage. Its CorneaClear technology is compatible with rabbit eyes, and now needs more testing to conduct a formal animal study. 'Storytelling is the biggest thing,' Zellander said. 'Investors want to know: How are they going to get their investment back?'
Boston Globe
19-06-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
For Boston's budding biotechs, an uncertain future amid funding cuts
Early stage startups, operating without much financial cushion, are feeling the impact sooner than better-established companies. Advertisement Dépis, and many entrepreneurs like him, are looking for ways to get their science funded. For example, LabCentral, a biotech startup incubator, has a program that allows big pharmaceutical companies to invest in cutting-edge science without making long-term commitments. Pharma companies cover the costs of lab space for individual scientists for a year, providing an easy exit if the research doesn't prove promising. In its recent five-year strategic plan, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council pitched the idea of a seed fund to support companies that graduate from the trade group's incubator program. Discussions are underway with MassBio's partners such as LabCentral and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, a quasi-public state agency. Advertisement 'What's happened this year just validated our plans,' said MassBio CEO Kendalle Burlin O'Connell. 'We knew that we needed to support these early stage companies. We really, really feel it's imperative for Massachusetts to be an entrepreneur, founder-centric ecosystem.' Dépis — who is researching techniques to better deliver drugs to treat immune diseases — says such support is sorely needed. Earlier this year, he applied for a federal Small Business Innovation Research grant; then the government employee responsible for his application was laid off. Two weeks later, the employee was reinstated, but Dépis's application remains in limbo. 'I'm in a position where time is critical,' Dépis said. 'For me that translates into a higher chance to not have the funding in time that I need to survive.' And Dépis is not alone. Before the post-COVID biotech slump, companies accepted at LabCentral could typically secure funding and move into the space in a few weeks. Now, startups are taking six months to a year to move in — if they move in at all, said LabCentral CEO Maggie O'Toole. Startups at LabCentral are staying longer, unable to raise the money needed to grow their companies and expand into their own facilities, O'Toole said. The average length of tenancy doubled to about 36 months from 18 months, Some startups, affected by the Trump administration's grant cuts, have had to give up their LabCentral benches because they can't pay the rent. 'It was nothing to do with the promise of their science,' O'Toole said. 'They had received [approval for] funding that never came through.' Advertisement Robert Coughlin, a managing director at the commercial real estate firm JLL and former MassBio CEO, said the biotech industry is going through a downturn reminiscent of the Great Recession of 2008. Layoffs have spread across the sector. Earlier this month, Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals said it would Moderna, the Cambridge biotech that soared with the success of its COVID vaccine, has gone through recent layoffs. In 2024, employment across Massachusetts' life sciences sector stagnated for the first time in more than 10 years, according to a report from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation. Boston's commercial real estate sector has been hurt by the biotech slump. The vacancy rate for lab space has reached 32 percent, the highest among major metropolitan areas, according to JLL's most recent US Life Sciences Property Report. While conditions seem dismal, Coughlin said, he noticed a sense of optimism at the BIO conference. The annual convention not only attracted big crowds from established biotech centers, but also representatives from states and countries looking to invest in and build their own life sciences sectors. 'People want to get together,' Coughlin said. 'They want to collaborate, they want to talk about these challenges.' Marin Wolf can be reached at
Fibre2Fashion
12-06-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
CCI, Aurora collaborate on High-Performance aerospace structures
Continuous Composites (CCI), a leader in advanced composite manufacturing, has been awarded a U.S. Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project in collaboration with Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing Company, to develop next-generation fuselage structures for launched effects. The project, which originated as a Navy-funded initiative, was successfully transitioned to the Army following the completion of Phase One and is now entering Phase Two with a $2 million contract. The initiative focuses on enhancing the structural integrity of systems designed to be launched from canisters—similar to missile deployment systems—and aims to set new performance benchmarks for these air-launched platforms. Aurora is providing critical flight load data and geometric designs, which Continuous Composites will use to develop optimized fuselage structures through its patented CF3D technology. Continuous Composites (CCI), in collaboration with Aurora Flight Sciences, has secured a $2 million US Army SBIR Phase Two contract to develop next-gen fuselage structures for launched effects using its CF3D technology. The project aims to create lightweight, high-strength designs that enhance payload capacity and efficiency in aerospace defence systems. Leveraging its expertise in fiber steering and topology optimization, CCI will engineer lightweight, high-performance fuselage designs that maximize internal volume, directly increasing payload capacity without compromising overall performance. This innovative approach reimagines internal architecture, using less material while embedding greater strength into the design, reducing weight and improving efficiency for mission-critical aerospace applications. "This collaboration represents a powerful convergence of aerospace innovation and cutting-edge manufacturing technology," said Steve Starner, CEO of Continuous Composites . "By pairing Aurora's flight systems expertise with our CF3D technology, we are pushing the limits of what's possible in the development of launched effect structures, delivering more agile, functional, and cost-effective solutions for defense applications." The SBIR contract marks a pivotal step in scaling CF3D for high-performance defense applications, positioning Continuous Composites as a strategic supplier of lightweight, rapidly deployable aerospace solutions to the Department of Defense. This funding validates the potential of CF3D to revolutionize structural components for launched effects and other aerospace technologies. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Solideon Announces $1.25 Million AFWERX Contract
BERKELEY, Calif., June 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(Additive Space Technologies Inc., d.b.a. Solideon) announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25 million focused on developing a single pallet additive manufacturing cell that is capable of flexibly manufacturing critical systems across expeditionary environments. to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded, and now, on May 21st, 2025, Additive Space Technologies Inc, d.b.a Solideon will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. Quote From Company "The future of industrial power isn't centralized — it's deployable. This award is a signal that the Department of the Air Force is ready to break from the past and lead with agility. With this contract, we're building the foundation for a world where manufacturing happens not in factories but wherever the mission demands — from airbases to shipyards and, eventually, orbit." CEO Oluseun Taiwo The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. About Additive Space Technologies Inc., d.b.a. Solideon Solideon is revolutionizing manufacturing by transforming readily available robotic arms into multi-robotic-enabled factories. This innovative approach empowers end-users with the capability to robotically weld, fabricate, and assemble entire structures on-site. By doing so, Solideon is fundamentally reshaping how the industrial base approaches the manufacturing of critical assets, such as ships, submarines, and other large vehicles. About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: View source version on Contacts Company Press Contact: Kait EwoldtCreative Director and Strategic Erreur lors de la récupération des données Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Solideon Announces $1.25 Million AFWERX Contract
BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(Additive Space Technologies Inc., d.b.a. Solideon) announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25 million focused on developing a single pallet additive manufacturing cell that is capable of flexibly manufacturing critical systems across expeditionary environments. to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded, and now, on May 21st, 2025, Additive Space Technologies Inc, d.b.a Solideon will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. Quote From Company 'The future of industrial power isn't centralized — it's deployable. This award is a signal that the Department of the Air Force is ready to break from the past and lead with agility. With this contract, we're building the foundation for a world where manufacturing happens not in factories but wherever the mission demands — from airbases to shipyards and, eventually, orbit.' CEO Oluseun Taiwo The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. About Additive Space Technologies Inc., d.b.a. Solideon Solideon is revolutionizing manufacturing by transforming readily available robotic arms into multi-robotic-enabled factories. This innovative approach empowers end-users with the capability to robotically weld, fabricate, and assemble entire structures on-site. By doing so, Solideon is fundamentally reshaping how the industrial base approaches the manufacturing of critical assets, such as ships, submarines, and other large vehicles. About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit:
