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 Construction

Wavelogix

Grant in 2024
Wavelogix is a company that specializes in developing an Internet of Things (IoT) sensing and data analytics platform aimed at enhancing infrastructure testing and monitoring. With a primary focus on public infrastructure, vertical and commercial construction, and the precast concrete sectors, Wavelogix provides a system that delivers real-time, in-place concrete strength measurements. This innovative approach eliminates the reliance on pre-established maturity curves or indices, thereby facilitating access to precise data. The platform simplifies workflows for construction engineers, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding material selection, construction timelines, budgets, and the allocation of essential resources.

Virtual Apprentice

Grant in 2022
Virtual Apprentice is a company that specializes in providing virtual reality (VR) solutions for workplace training and recruitment. They create immersive and interactive VR experiences to enhance productivity and skills development in various sectors, including healthcare, construction, technology, and education. By leveraging adult learning theory, their services aim to bridge the workforce talent gap and improve employee retention.

Ecoclosure

Grant in 2022
Ecoclosure, founded in 2019 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, specializes in regenerable building enclosures designed for commercial, industrial, and residential applications. The company focuses on developing technology that aims to improve indoor air quality while reducing energy consumption in buildings. Its innovative enclosures are equipped with monitoring and automation features, allowing for customized solutions tailored to various building programs, climate zones, and orientations. By prioritizing the creation of healthy indoor environments, Ecoclosure enhances occupant well-being and revitalizes indoor air quality.

Liatris

Grant in 2022
Liatris specializes in the development and manufacturing of innovative insulation products aimed at enhancing energy efficiency for both businesses and individuals. Their offerings are made from naturally occurring materials such as asbestos, cork, cotton, and wool, ensuring that they are environmentally safe, non-flammable, and non-toxic. Liatris’ products are designed to meet the growing demand for fire-resistant insulation while providing significant energy savings compared to traditional materials. These performance improvements not only contribute to cost reductions in the construction sector but also facilitate easier installation, making them a practical choice for engineers and builders seeking to optimize thermal energy management.

Ocean

Grant in 2022
Eco-Shelter is a social enterprise founded in 2017 by Alexa Bednar, based in Seattle, Washington. The company focuses on providing safe and affordable roofing solutions for low-income households in India. It specializes in sustainable building materials, offering an eco-roof panel made from resin-coated bamboo mats. These panels are pressed and sealed to create a strong, lightweight, water-resistant, and flame-resistant roofing option. Through its innovative products, Eco-Shelter aims to improve living conditions for underprivileged communities by delivering accessible and environmentally friendly building solutions.

OpalAI

Grant in 2022
OpalAi offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that enables users to generate floor plans instantly using just their smartphones. This technology is applicable to both commercial and residential spaces, allowing users to create detailed floor plans in various formats, including AutoCAD, Revit, and BIM. The software simplifies the process by automatically decluttering fully furnished areas and can deliver highly accurate floor plans within minutes. With no need for special hardware beyond a smartphone, OpalAi empowers individuals to efficiently carry out design and reconstruction tasks, making the generation of digital floor plans accessible to a wide range of clients.

VIATechnik

Grant in 2021
VIATechnik is a prominent provider of digital transformation services for the built environment, focusing on virtual design and construction. The company specializes in engineering design services that transition traditional design and construction processes into a digital platform. Its offerings include computational building information modeling, virtual reality, augmented reality, scheduling, and digital fabrication. By leveraging these advanced technologies, VIATechnik aims to enhance efficiency in design and promote industrialized construction methods, thereby providing clients with innovative solutions in the real estate sector.

Inzio

Grant in 2021
Inzio is a technology company focused on advancing the construction industry through automation and digitization. It offers a platform that develops conversion kits and software workflows to automate concrete and material forming processes. By transforming traditional excavators into autonomous concrete forming platforms, Inzio enhances the efficiency of construction workflows. The company's technology also digitizes building information modeling, resulting in a comprehensive design and construction process. This innovation provides significant benefits to construction developers, including affordability, improved structural integrity, reduced labor costs, and greater flexibility in formwork design. Inzio's solutions aim to make automated construction more accessible by retrofitting existing standard equipment, thereby facilitating a smoother transition to automated building practices.

SusMaX

Grant in 2021
Susmax is a construction company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that focuses on producing lightweight aggregate for the construction industry. Founded in 2020, the company utilizes thermodynamics-based technology to transform waste coal combustion products into structural lightweight concrete. This innovative approach enhances the workability and extends the service life of concrete, offering a sustainable solution for construction needs.

Generate

Grant in 2021
Generate is a company focused on the sustainable development of urban environments, specializing in the design and delivery of mass timber structures. It operates a technology-driven architecture platform that offers pre-vetted building solutions and generative systems aimed at enhancing efficiency in mass timber construction. By streamlining communication and project management among architects, engineers, and builders, Generate facilitates the adoption of generative design principles. This approach enables stakeholders in the construction industry to pursue sustainable methods for designing and delivering mass wood structures, ultimately contributing to the creation of environmentally responsible urban spaces.

Sperra

Grant in 2021
Sperra is focused on advancing renewable energy through innovative energy storage and construction technologies. The company has developed a long-duration energy storage solution known as M-PHES, which utilizes large hollow concrete spheres placed on the seafloor to store mechanical energy as pressure. This system retains the advantages of conventional pumped hydro storage while expanding deployment possibilities, reducing development timelines, and enhancing modularity. Additionally, Sperra is pioneering three-dimensional concrete printing technology to create custom infrastructure for offshore wind, floating solar, and wave energy projects. By employing automated design and construction methods, the company minimizes material waste and carbon emissions while utilizing local resources, thereby contributing to more resilient and cost-effective solutions for the renewable energy sector.

Endeavos Innovations

Grant in 2021
Endeavos Innovations is a product development and engineering services firm based in Clifton Park, New York, established in 2014. The company specializes in advanced mechanical and systems engineering, focusing on research innovation and the development of structural and machine designs. Endeavos offers on-demand services, including finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, catering to clients in the mechanical, aerospace, and mechatronics engineering sectors. By providing these services, Endeavos enables clients to evaluate their designs and gain insights that foster the improvement and creation of new ideas.

Marley Environmental

Grant in 2021
Marley Environmental offers consulting, engineering, and technical services for industrial, commercial, and government projects. The company specializes in ASTM property site assessments and field investigations, catering to the needs of property owners and developers. By providing high-quality engineering consultancy, Marley Environmental supports the development of communities while ensuring compliance with international standards.

Panda Industries

Grant in 2021
Panda Industries Inc. was founded in 2020 with the goal of disrupting the construction industry with more sustainable and efficient technologies. Currently we are looking to develop two projects, a reinforced concrete 3D printer and a bamboo based OSB. Our 3D printer will make construction times much faster and much more inexpensive by automating much of the process. Bamboo Strand Board (BSB) is our patent pending alternative OSB product that is much stronger and more sustainable than current OSBs.

Sustainable Road Engineering

Grant in 2020
Sustainable Road Engineering provides services including roads, parking lots, and driveways. They are actively involved in pavement management, construction, engineering, and providing training to professionals in these fields. They offer engineering and consultation services, pavement evaluation, construction inspection, material testing.

ThruWave

Grant in 2020
ThruWave specializes in millimeter wave imaging technology, catering to various commercial and industrial sectors such as robotics, construction, and quality control. Founded in 2017 and based in Seattle, Washington, the company offers low-cost sensors that leverage patent-pending radar signal processing and GPU-accelerated image reconstruction techniques. ThruWave's technology enhances operational efficiency by allowing construction professionals to visualize the internal structures of walls, ceilings, and floors, thereby reducing risks and expediting workflows. Additionally, its solutions support inventory verification, shipment confirmations, and detection of packaging issues, enabling clients to automate processes such as counting contents and identifying damaged or missing items.

Kinetic

Grant in 2020
Kinetic, Inc. is a company that develops and manufactures wearable devices aimed at reducing workplace injuries for industrial workers. Founded in 2014 and based in New York, Kinetic offers a product known as Reflex, which attaches to a worker's belt and monitors activities that may pose a risk of injury, such as unsafe postures, jumping off vehicles, and slips and falls. The device utilizes analytics to provide reminders and notifications to workers when high-risk motions are detected, thereby promoting safety in environments like construction sites, warehouses, and factories. Additionally, Reflex can function as a sensor for detecting COVID-19 exposure, enhancing workplace health measures. Kinetic combines its wearable technology with cloud-based software to effectively address injury prevention in the industrial workforce.

Sunthru

Grant in 2020
Sunthru, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Scotia, New York, specializes in the development of aerogel-based day-lighting windows designed to serve as an alternative to traditional window glass. The company's products utilize silica aerogel, which offers exceptional insulating properties while maximizing light transmission and transparency. This innovative approach benefits a variety of large buildings, including schools, gymnasiums, and department stores, by reducing window-related expenses and enhancing energy efficiency through lower thermal conductivity. Sunthru’s focus on aerogel technology positions it as a leader in providing sustainable and cost-effective window solutions in the architectural market.

Terran Robotics

Grant in 2020
Terran Robotics is a construction company based in Bloomington, Indiana, that focuses on innovative home construction services, particularly in automated adobe wall building. The company utilizes artificial intelligence and robotics to enhance traditional earthen building techniques. By employing a custom-designed cable-driven robot for three-dimensional printing of homes, Terran Robotics aims to improve durability with features such as fire resistance and superior sound dampening. This approach enables clients to significantly reduce housing costs, lower energy expenses, and maintain an environmentally friendly footprint.

Ecoclosure

Grant in 2020
Ecoclosure, founded in 2019 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, specializes in regenerable building enclosures designed for commercial, industrial, and residential applications. The company focuses on developing technology that aims to improve indoor air quality while reducing energy consumption in buildings. Its innovative enclosures are equipped with monitoring and automation features, allowing for customized solutions tailored to various building programs, climate zones, and orientations. By prioritizing the creation of healthy indoor environments, Ecoclosure enhances occupant well-being and revitalizes indoor air quality.

EnKoat

Grant in 2020
EnKoat, founded in 2019 and based in Casa Grande, Arizona, focuses on creating sustainable solutions for the construction industry to address climate change. The company has developed an active insulation coating that aims to lower cooling costs in both residential and commercial buildings. This innovative coating employs a proprietary blend of thermal regulating additives designed to minimize heat transfer through convection, conduction, and solar radiation. By implementing EnKoat's technology, clients can achieve significant cost savings and reduce their overall energy consumption.

Liatris

Grant in 2020
Liatris specializes in the development and manufacturing of innovative insulation products aimed at enhancing energy efficiency for both businesses and individuals. Their offerings are made from naturally occurring materials such as asbestos, cork, cotton, and wool, ensuring that they are environmentally safe, non-flammable, and non-toxic. Liatris’ products are designed to meet the growing demand for fire-resistant insulation while providing significant energy savings compared to traditional materials. These performance improvements not only contribute to cost reductions in the construction sector but also facilitate easier installation, making them a practical choice for engineers and builders seeking to optimize thermal energy management.

SkyMul

Grant in 2019
SkyMul is an Atlanta-based robotics company that specializes in developing industrial manipulation drones aimed at transforming the construction industry. The company focuses on automating physically demanding tasks traditionally performed manually on concrete construction sites, significantly enhancing efficiency and productivity. Its flagship product, SkyTy, consists of a swarm of modular drones capable of autonomously flying over rebar installations to tie intersections. This innovative technology is designed to handle flat rebar configurations such as slabs, bridge decks, and continuously reinforced pavements, and is scalable to meet varying project demands. By utilizing advanced computer vision capabilities, SkyMul's drones can quickly identify rebar intersections without the need for CAD files or manual programming, allowing construction companies to operate in parallel and increase overall throughput.

Generate

Grant in 2019
Generate is a company focused on the sustainable development of urban environments, specializing in the design and delivery of mass timber structures. It operates a technology-driven architecture platform that offers pre-vetted building solutions and generative systems aimed at enhancing efficiency in mass timber construction. By streamlining communication and project management among architects, engineers, and builders, Generate facilitates the adoption of generative design principles. This approach enables stakeholders in the construction industry to pursue sustainable methods for designing and delivering mass wood structures, ultimately contributing to the creation of environmentally responsible urban spaces.

Ocean

Grant in 2019
Eco-Shelter is a social enterprise founded in 2017 by Alexa Bednar, based in Seattle, Washington. The company focuses on providing safe and affordable roofing solutions for low-income households in India. It specializes in sustainable building materials, offering an eco-roof panel made from resin-coated bamboo mats. These panels are pressed and sealed to create a strong, lightweight, water-resistant, and flame-resistant roofing option. Through its innovative products, Eco-Shelter aims to improve living conditions for underprivileged communities by delivering accessible and environmentally friendly building solutions.

FideliumTech

Grant in 2019
FideliumTech develops an educational gaming platform that integrates gameplay with real-world utility and learning. Its flagship platform, Slackrz, employs blockchain technology and smart contracts to create a unique gaming experience that connects players with the construction and manufacturing industries. By engaging in gameplay, users can assist clients in designing construction plans while simultaneously earning money. The platform fosters creative virtual learning environments that promote collaboration among users, educational institutions, and industry professionals. Through this innovative approach, FideliumTech aims to prepare individuals for future work opportunities, blending entertainment with practical skills development.

Atheraxon

Grant in 2019
Atheraxon focuses on improving safety, efficiency, and automation across industrial, logistics, and construction sites by providing enhanced spatial visibility for managers and operators. The company leverages its advanced Theia mm-wave radar technology to achieve real-time, precise, and cost-effective localization of personnel, assets, and equipment. Additionally, Atheraxon employs fifth-generation radio-frequency identification technology, which eliminates the need for cumbersome battery changes and enhances accuracy to within five centimeters. The company’s innovative tracking platform features sticker-like tags that can be easily applied to various items, allowing clients to maintain smaller infrastructure, reduce downtime, and lower liability risks. Through these solutions, Atheraxon aims to streamline workflows, facilitate prompt exception notifications, and deliver comprehensive analytics for improved operational management.

Flora Coatings

Grant in 2018
A significantly high volume of non-recyclable waste is being generated every day, either during the cleaning process, or due to ever damaging infrastructure. For example, the amounts of chlorinated pesticides being used for cleaning surfaces is causing serious corrosion damages or the amount deicing fluid being used to keep the airplanes flying during freezing conditions. Now imagine having a bottle filled with transparent liquid that we can spray on surfaces and that transforms into a smart, solid, glass. This invisible coated surface won’t corrode, restores, can’t be scratched, won’t get dirty, remains germs free and can be seen with black light. Remember, 80% germs spreads through touching the infected surface and we can provide 99.9% protection. We are global experts in advanced coatings development and manufacturing. We offer a globally patented, non-toxic, ready to use coating that is registered as medical device with FDA. Coating is offered as easy to use product, tested and validated by independent agencies. Single application of this thin coating could protect surfaces for more than six months. We are targeting $25 billion protective coatings market. Products have been sold to more than 100 major companies operating in aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and public sectors.

Reconstruct

Grant in 2018
Reconstruct, Inc. specializes in predictive computer vision data analytics software tailored for construction projects. Its visual production management platform facilitates data collection through drones, fixed cameras, or mobile devices, enabling effective progress analysis and documentation. By visualizing images and 3D points aligned with Building Information Modeling (BIM), the platform enhances coordination and transparency among project stakeholders. It identifies locations at risk of delays, allowing for proactive weekly work planning, and integrates schedules with BIM animations to illustrate any changes in plans. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with an additional office in Champaign, Illinois, Reconstruct aims to improve construction management by fostering better communication and visibility, thereby mitigating risks and ensuring project returns on investment.

Louisiana Multi-Functional-Materials Group

Grant in 2018
Louisiana Multi-Functional-Materials Group, established in 2016 and located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, specializes in the manufacture of innovative sealants designed for transportation infrastructure. The company produces a two-way shape memory polymer-based smart material that effectively seals joints and cracks. This advanced material exhibits unique thermal properties, expanding when cooled and contracting when heated, which contrasts with the behavior of traditional construction materials such as cement and asphalt. This capability allows clients to address thermal damage by sealing cracks and filling joints, thereby enhancing the durability and longevity of transportation infrastructure.

Smart Walls

Grant in 2018
Smart Walls produces deployable walls for flood protection of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, utilities, and airports. They fit within the existing landscape and do not obstruct the existing views or significantly impede the use of the surrounding area. They provide structural walls with telescopic technology to reduce excavation needs.

ThruWave

Grant in 2017
ThruWave specializes in millimeter wave imaging technology, catering to various commercial and industrial sectors such as robotics, construction, and quality control. Founded in 2017 and based in Seattle, Washington, the company offers low-cost sensors that leverage patent-pending radar signal processing and GPU-accelerated image reconstruction techniques. ThruWave's technology enhances operational efficiency by allowing construction professionals to visualize the internal structures of walls, ceilings, and floors, thereby reducing risks and expediting workflows. Additionally, its solutions support inventory verification, shipment confirmations, and detection of packaging issues, enabling clients to automate processes such as counting contents and identifying damaged or missing items.

SAS Nanotechnologies

Grant in 2017
SAS Nanotechnologies, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Wilmington, DE, specializes in the development of smart and self-healing anticorrosive coatings designed to address various chemical challenges. The company utilizes innovative micro-capsule technology to create polymer-based microcapsules that encapsulate functional additives, such as biocides and corrosion inhibitors. These microcapsules gradually release their contents over time or in response to specific external triggers, enhancing the performance and efficiency of products across multiple industries, including oil and gas, construction, marine, and architecture.

Innotronics

Grant in 2017
Innotronics provides a novel non-contact, non-intrusive sensor for linear and angular position measurement applications. The company focuses on selling to OEMs in the agricultural and construction vehicle, material handling, and industrial systems markets.

Flora Coatings

Grant in 2017
A significantly high volume of non-recyclable waste is being generated every day, either during the cleaning process, or due to ever damaging infrastructure. For example, the amounts of chlorinated pesticides being used for cleaning surfaces is causing serious corrosion damages or the amount deicing fluid being used to keep the airplanes flying during freezing conditions. Now imagine having a bottle filled with transparent liquid that we can spray on surfaces and that transforms into a smart, solid, glass. This invisible coated surface won’t corrode, restores, can’t be scratched, won’t get dirty, remains germs free and can be seen with black light. Remember, 80% germs spreads through touching the infected surface and we can provide 99.9% protection. We are global experts in advanced coatings development and manufacturing. We offer a globally patented, non-toxic, ready to use coating that is registered as medical device with FDA. Coating is offered as easy to use product, tested and validated by independent agencies. Single application of this thin coating could protect surfaces for more than six months. We are targeting $25 billion protective coatings market. Products have been sold to more than 100 major companies operating in aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and public sectors.

Kinetic

Grant in 2017
Kinetic, Inc. is a company that develops and manufactures wearable devices aimed at reducing workplace injuries for industrial workers. Founded in 2014 and based in New York, Kinetic offers a product known as Reflex, which attaches to a worker's belt and monitors activities that may pose a risk of injury, such as unsafe postures, jumping off vehicles, and slips and falls. The device utilizes analytics to provide reminders and notifications to workers when high-risk motions are detected, thereby promoting safety in environments like construction sites, warehouses, and factories. Additionally, Reflex can function as a sensor for detecting COVID-19 exposure, enhancing workplace health measures. Kinetic combines its wearable technology with cloud-based software to effectively address injury prevention in the industrial workforce.

Spherical Block

Grant in 2017
Spherical Block, LLC draws on the ancient idea of a masonry arch to create a new way of building, using the latest advanced technology of concrete block manufacturing. The company has developed an innovative masonry system which can be used to build an entire building, including roofs. This system can assemble round arches, pointed arches, Gothic arches and windows, domes, spheres, flying buttresses and more. This masonry technology is very strong, inexpensive and easily assembled. Using just a few unit shapes, it is able to create a large number of different designs. The company’s designs incorporate reinforcement bar (rebar) which helps create a stronger, tougher building which can be assembled without extensive support scaffolding or centering. This masonry system is largely self-supporting as it is assembled.

Wise Case Technologies

Grant in 2016
Wise Case Technologies specializes in knowledge harvesting and case-based reasoning solutions tailored for homeowners and home improvement contractors. The company has developed a platform that utilizes a cost estimation methodology based on case-based reasoning, allowing users to access a repository of knowledge that is continually refined through social contributions. This platform facilitates the organization, augmentation, and calibration of information, enabling clients to benefit from a robust collection of insights and best practices in the home improvement sector. By leveraging socially cultivated knowledge, Wise Case Technologies aims to enhance decision-making and project planning for its users.

Integrated Construction Enterprises

Grant in 2016
Integrated Construction Enterprises provides construction services in the public and private sectors. They offer a complete range of construction-related services including such as design-build with in-house design services construction management, historic preservation and renovation, general construction in all aspects of new and renovation work, and energy conservation and retro-commissioning.

PACE Advanced Water Engineering

Grant in 2016
Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering operates as a civil engineering company that provides advanced water resource services. They offer a range of engineering services related to water, wastewater, stormwater management, water resource permitting, and regulatory compliance to ensure projects are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

Louisiana Multi-Functional-Materials Group

Grant in 2016
Louisiana Multi-Functional-Materials Group, established in 2016 and located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, specializes in the manufacture of innovative sealants designed for transportation infrastructure. The company produces a two-way shape memory polymer-based smart material that effectively seals joints and cracks. This advanced material exhibits unique thermal properties, expanding when cooled and contracting when heated, which contrasts with the behavior of traditional construction materials such as cement and asphalt. This capability allows clients to address thermal damage by sealing cracks and filling joints, thereby enhancing the durability and longevity of transportation infrastructure.

Branch Technology

Grant in 2016
Branch Technology, Inc. is a Chattanooga-based company that specializes in advanced 3D printing and cellular fabrication technologies. Founded in 2014 by Christopher W. Weller and Platt Boyd, the company creates innovative structures using its proprietary algorithms to design complex geometries in open space without relying on support materials or controlled environments. Branch Technology focuses on producing a variety of products, including decorative walls, non-loadbearing interior partitions, and exhibition structures. Its unique approach allows for the construction of designs that traditional methods cannot achieve, offering clients benefits such as cost-effectiveness, enhanced material strength, and improved energy efficiency.

Pointivo

Grant in 2016
Pointivo Inc. is a technology company based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in spatial intelligence solutions that leverage computer vision and machine learning. Founded in June 2014, Pointivo's software allows users to capture dimensions and create three-dimensional models of structures using any type of camera, including mobile devices and drones. The platform processes video to reconstruct scenes, extracting lines, edges, and measurements with high accuracy. This capability helps clients simplify tasks that require precise measurements and detailed documentation of physical assets. By integrating advanced analytics, Pointivo empowers users to gain a deeper understanding of their environments, enhancing their ability to manage and analyze physical structures effectively.

SP3

Grant in 2016
SP3 enables engineers to quickly put advanced design and evaluation methods into practice. Engineers will be able to design more resilient projects and communities if they are given the tools to comprehensively assess building performance. They are compatible with both new designs and advanced building-specific risk assessments.

C-Crete Technologies

Grant in 2016
C-Crete Technologies is a pioneering company specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative materials and technologies. They focus on driving advancements in energy, environment, materials, construction, and infrastructure sectors. By integrating expertise in materials science, nanotechnology, multiscale computations, and predictive analytics, C-Crete is creating next-generation solutions for a low-carbon, energy-efficient world. Their flagship innovation is a nanoengineered cement that significantly reduces CO2 emissions and transforms abundant, non-carbonate rocks into cementitious binders, offering substantial energy savings, affordability, and flexibility, while maintaining high performance and user comfort.

Smart Walls

Grant in 2016
Smart Walls produces deployable walls for flood protection of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, utilities, and airports. They fit within the existing landscape and do not obstruct the existing views or significantly impede the use of the surrounding area. They provide structural walls with telescopic technology to reduce excavation needs.

Bio-Adhesive Alliance

Grant in 2016
Bio Adhesive Alliance is a research and development organization focused on converting biomass and livestock waste management challenges in the agricultural sector into viable solutions for the construction industry. The team comprises scientists and industry experts who collaborate closely with academic institutions to address various aspects of the supply chain, including the collection, conversion, modification, characterization, and performance evaluation of biomass. The company specializes in producing bio-adhesives and bio-asphalt from sources such as swine manure, utilizing a liquefaction process that involves applying pressure and temperature, followed by filtration and post-processing. This innovative approach not only addresses waste management issues but also contributes to sustainable construction practices.

Kinetic

Grant in 2015
Kinetic, Inc. is a company that develops and manufactures wearable devices aimed at reducing workplace injuries for industrial workers. Founded in 2014 and based in New York, Kinetic offers a product known as Reflex, which attaches to a worker's belt and monitors activities that may pose a risk of injury, such as unsafe postures, jumping off vehicles, and slips and falls. The device utilizes analytics to provide reminders and notifications to workers when high-risk motions are detected, thereby promoting safety in environments like construction sites, warehouses, and factories. Additionally, Reflex can function as a sensor for detecting COVID-19 exposure, enhancing workplace health measures. Kinetic combines its wearable technology with cloud-based software to effectively address injury prevention in the industrial workforce.

CleanFiber

Grant in 2015
CleanFiber, LLC specializes in producing high-performance cellulose insulation materials made from recycled corrugated cardboard for residential and commercial construction. Founded in 2013 and based in Blasdell, New York, with an additional office in Buffalo, CleanFiber transitioned from its previous name, UltraCell Insulation, in September 2018. The company focuses on providing sustainable, carbon-negative insulation solutions that can be applied in attics, walls, and floors, catering to both new construction and retrofit projects. CleanFiber's products not only enhance fire resistance in buildings but also offer a cost-competitive alternative for construction companies, supporting environmentally friendly building practices. The company is currently expanding its production capabilities to meet growing demand.

Spherical Block

Grant in 2015
Spherical Block, LLC draws on the ancient idea of a masonry arch to create a new way of building, using the latest advanced technology of concrete block manufacturing. The company has developed an innovative masonry system which can be used to build an entire building, including roofs. This system can assemble round arches, pointed arches, Gothic arches and windows, domes, spheres, flying buttresses and more. This masonry technology is very strong, inexpensive and easily assembled. Using just a few unit shapes, it is able to create a large number of different designs. The company’s designs incorporate reinforcement bar (rebar) which helps create a stronger, tougher building which can be assembled without extensive support scaffolding or centering. This masonry system is largely self-supporting as it is assembled.

Biomason

Grant in 2015
Biomason is a company focused on developing biological cement-based building materials that offer a sustainable alternative to traditional clay and concrete. By utilizing natural microorganisms and innovative chemical processes, Biomason produces biocement at ambient temperatures, significantly reducing the energy consumption typically associated with conventional manufacturing methods. This technology not only provides builders with carbon-free building materials but also aims to eliminate 25% of the concrete industry's global carbon emissions by 2030. Since its inception in 2012, Biomason has successfully implemented its biocement in various projects across the United States and Europe, with its bioLITH precast tile products currently available for commercial use.

Pointivo

Grant in 2015
Pointivo Inc. is a technology company based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in spatial intelligence solutions that leverage computer vision and machine learning. Founded in June 2014, Pointivo's software allows users to capture dimensions and create three-dimensional models of structures using any type of camera, including mobile devices and drones. The platform processes video to reconstruct scenes, extracting lines, edges, and measurements with high accuracy. This capability helps clients simplify tasks that require precise measurements and detailed documentation of physical assets. By integrating advanced analytics, Pointivo empowers users to gain a deeper understanding of their environments, enhancing their ability to manage and analyze physical structures effectively.

Branch Technology

Grant in 2015
Branch Technology, Inc. is a Chattanooga-based company that specializes in advanced 3D printing and cellular fabrication technologies. Founded in 2014 by Christopher W. Weller and Platt Boyd, the company creates innovative structures using its proprietary algorithms to design complex geometries in open space without relying on support materials or controlled environments. Branch Technology focuses on producing a variety of products, including decorative walls, non-loadbearing interior partitions, and exhibition structures. Its unique approach allows for the construction of designs that traditional methods cannot achieve, offering clients benefits such as cost-effectiveness, enhanced material strength, and improved energy efficiency.

SP3

Grant in 2015
SP3 enables engineers to quickly put advanced design and evaluation methods into practice. Engineers will be able to design more resilient projects and communities if they are given the tools to comprehensively assess building performance. They are compatible with both new designs and advanced building-specific risk assessments.

Watershed Materials

Grant in 2014
Watershed Materials develops technology to produce masonry with less cement using recycled materials.

V-Glass

Grant in 2014
V-Glass specializes in the production of vacuum insulated glass (VIG) designed for both residential and commercial window markets. Their innovative technology significantly enhances thermal performance, offering three times the efficiency of traditional dual-pane windows while extending the lifespan of the product without increasing manufacturing costs. By addressing energy loss in building envelopes, V-Glass contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promotes sustainability through energy conservation. The company has successfully produced high-efficiency V-Glass panels in their laboratory, which have passed rigorous internal and third-party testing. Recently, they shipped panels to potential strategic partners for evaluation and are preparing to transition from lab production to a pilot plant, where they will implement automation and robotic technology to scale up production. V-Glass holds broad patents in the United States and internationally, securing a competitive advantage through 2041.

Sunthru

Grant in 2014
Sunthru, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Scotia, New York, specializes in the development of aerogel-based day-lighting windows designed to serve as an alternative to traditional window glass. The company's products utilize silica aerogel, which offers exceptional insulating properties while maximizing light transmission and transparency. This innovative approach benefits a variety of large buildings, including schools, gymnasiums, and department stores, by reducing window-related expenses and enhancing energy efficiency through lower thermal conductivity. Sunthru’s focus on aerogel technology positions it as a leader in providing sustainable and cost-effective window solutions in the architectural market.

Purdue Research Foundation

Grant in 2013
Purdue Research Foundation, established in 1930, is an integral part of Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Foundation focuses on advancing the university's mission in discovery, learning, and engagement, facilitating technology transfer, and managing intellectual property. It oversees the Purdue Research Park, which serves as a hub for business incubation and economic development, providing low-cost or complimentary services to its tenants, including networking opportunities and seminars. Additionally, the Foundation is involved in real estate management to support the university's expansion initiatives. Its e-newsletter, Innovation Express, highlights the development and milestones of companies within the park, promoting engagement with a broader audience. Through these efforts, Purdue Research Foundation plays a vital role in enhancing Purdue University's strategic objectives and fostering innovation in the region.

Green SulfCrete

Grant in 2013
SulfCrete™ is an innovative, New York-based company that utilizes recycled materials from the oil and coal industries to produce its keystone product: a high-strength, ultra-impermeable, corrosion-resistant, low-CO2 emission, waterless, sulfur-polymer concrete. We have transformed a previously unworkable product developed in the 1980s by the U.S. Bureau of Mines into one with both commercial viability and enormous market potential. For the past 30 years, years, sulfur-polymer concrete has required the use of a high-cost additive that has made it commercially infeasible. SulfCrete's patented innovations, emerging out of the Environmental and Climate Sciences Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory, have changed this-- making use of alternative, organic additives, over 100x less expensive, to manufacture an all-around superior product.

Biomason

Grant in 2013
Biomason is a company focused on developing biological cement-based building materials that offer a sustainable alternative to traditional clay and concrete. By utilizing natural microorganisms and innovative chemical processes, Biomason produces biocement at ambient temperatures, significantly reducing the energy consumption typically associated with conventional manufacturing methods. This technology not only provides builders with carbon-free building materials but also aims to eliminate 25% of the concrete industry's global carbon emissions by 2030. Since its inception in 2012, Biomason has successfully implemented its biocement in various projects across the United States and Europe, with its bioLITH precast tile products currently available for commercial use.

Bio-Adhesive Alliance

Grant in 2013
Bio Adhesive Alliance is a research and development organization focused on converting biomass and livestock waste management challenges in the agricultural sector into viable solutions for the construction industry. The team comprises scientists and industry experts who collaborate closely with academic institutions to address various aspects of the supply chain, including the collection, conversion, modification, characterization, and performance evaluation of biomass. The company specializes in producing bio-adhesives and bio-asphalt from sources such as swine manure, utilizing a liquefaction process that involves applying pressure and temperature, followed by filtration and post-processing. This innovative approach not only addresses waste management issues but also contributes to sustainable construction practices.

C-Crete Technologies

Grant in 2013
C-Crete Technologies is a pioneering company specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative materials and technologies. They focus on driving advancements in energy, environment, materials, construction, and infrastructure sectors. By integrating expertise in materials science, nanotechnology, multiscale computations, and predictive analytics, C-Crete is creating next-generation solutions for a low-carbon, energy-efficient world. Their flagship innovation is a nanoengineered cement that significantly reduces CO2 emissions and transforms abundant, non-carbonate rocks into cementitious binders, offering substantial energy savings, affordability, and flexibility, while maintaining high performance and user comfort.

Construction Robotics

Grant in 2013
Construction Robotics, LLC, founded in 2007 and based in Victor, New York, specializes in the design, development, and manufacturing of semi-automated masonry systems aimed at enhancing the construction industry. The company focuses on applying advanced technology alongside traditional manufacturing principles to improve construction processes. Its robotic products are specifically designed to assist masons with repetitive and physically demanding tasks, such as lifting and placing bricks. This innovation enables construction companies to boost productivity and efficiency while also enhancing the working conditions for laborers in the field. By integrating robotics into masonry work, Construction Robotics aims to transform the industry's operational dynamics.

Watershed Materials

Grant in 2013
Watershed Materials develops technology to produce masonry with less cement using recycled materials.

QuakeWrap

Grant in 2013
QuakeWrap provides fiber-reinforced polymer products for construction technologies utilizing FRP. Their patented FRP products include the innovative PileMedic and PipeMedic repair systems. These innovative, proven products can be used in both new structure designs and as economical retrofit solutions

ClearEdge3D

Grant in 2012
ClearEdge3D, Inc. specializes in 3D modeling software designed for the construction and engineering industries. Founded in 2006 and based in Marshall, Virginia, the company has developed advanced algorithms that facilitate the identification and extraction of complex features such as pipes, walls, and structures from point clouds. Its primary products include EdgeWise Plant, which serves the process manufacturing sector by automatically determining pipe centerlines and diameters, and EdgeWise Building, which assists engineers and architects in extracting key interior and exterior building elements like walls, doors, and windows. These innovative solutions significantly streamline the modeling process, potentially reducing modeling time by up to ninety percent. As of February 2018, ClearEdge3D operates as a subsidiary of Topcon Corporation.

Construction Robotics

Grant in 2012
Construction Robotics, LLC, founded in 2007 and based in Victor, New York, specializes in the design, development, and manufacturing of semi-automated masonry systems aimed at enhancing the construction industry. The company focuses on applying advanced technology alongside traditional manufacturing principles to improve construction processes. Its robotic products are specifically designed to assist masons with repetitive and physically demanding tasks, such as lifting and placing bricks. This innovation enables construction companies to boost productivity and efficiency while also enhancing the working conditions for laborers in the field. By integrating robotics into masonry work, Construction Robotics aims to transform the industry's operational dynamics.
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