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 Hospitality

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Grant in 2024
The University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA) is a comprehensive four-year university that serves the San Antonio metropolitan area. At UTSA you’ll be able to discover new ideas, diversity, and culture as you learn, grow, and explore your potential both in and out of the classroom. Whether your interests are recreational, cultural, educational, or social, student life at UTSA has opportunities for you. You can stop by the University Center and meet with other students or visit Gallery 23, the upscale art gallery. Wellness and recreation facilities are available to every student, where you can partake in fitness programs, outdoor sports, and the aquatics center. More than 250 student clubs and organizations are available to join. In no time you’ll be helping to host events like Fiesta UTSA, Best Fest, Party on the Paseo, and Rowdy Wing Fling. The school also hosts many Greek life opportunities. Academics offered include more than 60 bachelor’s degrees, 45 master’s degrees, and 20 doctoral programs. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees are offered in fields like Architecture, Business, Education and Human Development and Liberal and Fine Arts. Study abroad, ROTC, and learning community programs are also offered. Pre-professional programs are available in Law and Medicine. Admissions require students to submit an official high school transcript, ACT/SAT scores and a letter of recommendation. UTSA offers academic and need-based scholarships to accepted applicants demonstrating need. Other forms of financial aid include federal grants, loans, work-study programs, and other scholarships.

Cornell University

Grant in 2023
Cornell University is a prestigious federal land-grant research institution located in New York, recognized for its commitment to advancing knowledge across diverse academic disciplines. As New York State's land-grant university, Cornell has a unique responsibility to foster public engagement and improve quality of life locally, nationally, and globally. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including challenging dual-degree options, to equip students with the skills necessary for various fields. Additionally, the Cornell School of Hotel Administration specializes in hospitality education and research, contributing to the university's reputation as a leader in this sector. The institution also hosts the Cornell Sports Marketing Group, a society dedicated to sports business, further illustrating its diverse academic offerings and community engagement initiatives.

Shower Stream

Grant in 2022
Shower Stream, based in Austin, Texas, specializes in designing and manufacturing motion-activated shower head adapters aimed at reducing water waste in hotels. The company addresses significant financial losses faced by the hospitality industry, which amounts to $3 billion annually due to wasted water and related costs. Shower Stream offers an innovative, IoT-enabled shower head as-a-service, allowing economy hotels to enhance the guest shower experience without upfront installation costs. For a monthly fee, hotels benefit from substantial utility savings, with a reported return of $2 for every dollar spent. The company’s advanced sensor technology and web-connected platform also provide AI and machine learning-powered analytics, enabling large hotel operators to significantly reduce operational expenses across multiple properties. Currently, Shower Stream is conducting paid demonstrations with the U.S. Department of Defense's Navy Lodge and has launched its first commercial version with Extended Stay America. The company has a promising pipeline that includes five hotel brands representing 1.2 million rooms, making it a key player in the enterprise-scale shower automation market.

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.

Unknot.id

Grant in 2019
Unknot.id is a developer of a pioneering contextual behavioral intelligence platform that leverages advanced AI algorithms to analyze diverse signals from mobile sensors and other data sources. The platform is designed to create a comprehensive and secure view of human contexts, addressing real-time situational awareness challenges across various sectors, including hospitality, property management, law enforcement, military and defense, and healthcare. By utilizing privacy-preserving machine learning and smartphone technology, Unknot.id offers solutions for fraud detection and effective tracking in environments with limited GPS capabilities, all without the need for infrastructure deployment. This technology ensures secure authorization and privacy preservation for its clients, enabling new capabilities in both digital and physical contexts.

Shower Stream

Grant in 2019
Shower Stream, based in Austin, Texas, specializes in designing and manufacturing motion-activated shower head adapters aimed at reducing water waste in hotels. The company addresses significant financial losses faced by the hospitality industry, which amounts to $3 billion annually due to wasted water and related costs. Shower Stream offers an innovative, IoT-enabled shower head as-a-service, allowing economy hotels to enhance the guest shower experience without upfront installation costs. For a monthly fee, hotels benefit from substantial utility savings, with a reported return of $2 for every dollar spent. The company’s advanced sensor technology and web-connected platform also provide AI and machine learning-powered analytics, enabling large hotel operators to significantly reduce operational expenses across multiple properties. Currently, Shower Stream is conducting paid demonstrations with the U.S. Department of Defense's Navy Lodge and has launched its first commercial version with Extended Stay America. The company has a promising pipeline that includes five hotel brands representing 1.2 million rooms, making it a key player in the enterprise-scale shower automation market.

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Grant in 2018
The University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA) is a comprehensive four-year university that serves the San Antonio metropolitan area. At UTSA you’ll be able to discover new ideas, diversity, and culture as you learn, grow, and explore your potential both in and out of the classroom. Whether your interests are recreational, cultural, educational, or social, student life at UTSA has opportunities for you. You can stop by the University Center and meet with other students or visit Gallery 23, the upscale art gallery. Wellness and recreation facilities are available to every student, where you can partake in fitness programs, outdoor sports, and the aquatics center. More than 250 student clubs and organizations are available to join. In no time you’ll be helping to host events like Fiesta UTSA, Best Fest, Party on the Paseo, and Rowdy Wing Fling. The school also hosts many Greek life opportunities. Academics offered include more than 60 bachelor’s degrees, 45 master’s degrees, and 20 doctoral programs. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees are offered in fields like Architecture, Business, Education and Human Development and Liberal and Fine Arts. Study abroad, ROTC, and learning community programs are also offered. Pre-professional programs are available in Law and Medicine. Admissions require students to submit an official high school transcript, ACT/SAT scores and a letter of recommendation. UTSA offers academic and need-based scholarships to accepted applicants demonstrating need. Other forms of financial aid include federal grants, loans, work-study programs, and other scholarships.

Carroll University Endowment

Grant in 2018
Carroll University, located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, is dedicated to fostering student potential through integrated learning and skill training, while promoting enduring values and community engagement. The institution honors a Christian tradition but remains inclusive, welcoming students from all backgrounds. With a diverse range of undergraduate programs, including fields such as Accounting, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Theatre Arts, as well as graduate offerings in areas like Physical Therapy and Business Administration, Carroll provides comprehensive academic opportunities. The university encourages student involvement through over 50 clubs, including Greek life and service organizations, allowing for a vibrant campus life. The admissions process evaluates applicants based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, and community service, while financial aid is available to those demonstrating need. Additionally, Carroll University manages an endowment fund, with earnings supporting scholarships, research, and various academic programs, all overseen by its board of trustees.

Shower Stream

Grant in 2017
Shower Stream, based in Austin, Texas, specializes in designing and manufacturing motion-activated shower head adapters aimed at reducing water waste in hotels. The company addresses significant financial losses faced by the hospitality industry, which amounts to $3 billion annually due to wasted water and related costs. Shower Stream offers an innovative, IoT-enabled shower head as-a-service, allowing economy hotels to enhance the guest shower experience without upfront installation costs. For a monthly fee, hotels benefit from substantial utility savings, with a reported return of $2 for every dollar spent. The company’s advanced sensor technology and web-connected platform also provide AI and machine learning-powered analytics, enabling large hotel operators to significantly reduce operational expenses across multiple properties. Currently, Shower Stream is conducting paid demonstrations with the U.S. Department of Defense's Navy Lodge and has launched its first commercial version with Extended Stay America. The company has a promising pipeline that includes five hotel brands representing 1.2 million rooms, making it a key player in the enterprise-scale shower automation market.

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Grant in 2017
The University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA) is a comprehensive four-year university that serves the San Antonio metropolitan area. At UTSA you’ll be able to discover new ideas, diversity, and culture as you learn, grow, and explore your potential both in and out of the classroom. Whether your interests are recreational, cultural, educational, or social, student life at UTSA has opportunities for you. You can stop by the University Center and meet with other students or visit Gallery 23, the upscale art gallery. Wellness and recreation facilities are available to every student, where you can partake in fitness programs, outdoor sports, and the aquatics center. More than 250 student clubs and organizations are available to join. In no time you’ll be helping to host events like Fiesta UTSA, Best Fest, Party on the Paseo, and Rowdy Wing Fling. The school also hosts many Greek life opportunities. Academics offered include more than 60 bachelor’s degrees, 45 master’s degrees, and 20 doctoral programs. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees are offered in fields like Architecture, Business, Education and Human Development and Liberal and Fine Arts. Study abroad, ROTC, and learning community programs are also offered. Pre-professional programs are available in Law and Medicine. Admissions require students to submit an official high school transcript, ACT/SAT scores and a letter of recommendation. UTSA offers academic and need-based scholarships to accepted applicants demonstrating need. Other forms of financial aid include federal grants, loans, work-study programs, and other scholarships.
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