Advanced Industries Grants Accelerate 43 Colorado Startups and Researchers Across the State

Today, the Global Business Development division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that 37 Colorado companies and six researchers have been awarded Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention grants through OEDIT's Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. These grants help promote the growth and sustainability of advanced industries in Colorado by driving innovation, commercialization, and public-private partnerships that move this vital aspect of Colorado's economy forward in communities across the state, including businesses in Hesperus, Buena Vista and Crested Butte.

"The advanced industries are known to be a key driver of Colorado's economy. Today's announcement also demonstrates their role in creating new technologies. From women's health to wildfire mitigation and concussion prevention, these grant recipients will create new good-paying jobs for Coloradans while also improving and sustaining the strong quality of life our state is known for," said Rama Haris, OEDIT's Advanced Industries Senior Manager.

The Proof of Concept grant is intended to help Colorado research institutions speed up applied research in the advanced industries as well as commercialize products and services in partnership with the private sector. The Early-Stage Capital and Retention grant supports businesses commercializing innovative and disruptive technologies in the advanced industries that will be created or manufactured in Colorado.

These awards represent a total of $9,978,669 in funding. The Advanced Industries Accelerator Program received 99 applications this grant cycle, which were reviewed in a multi-stage process by committees of business, technical and financial experts in the seven advanced industries. Final recommendations were approved by the Economic Development Commission on May 18, 2023.

The next application cycle for Proof-of-Concept and Early Stage Capital and Retention Grants will open on July 3, 2023 and applications will be due September 1, 2023.

Proof-of-Concept Grants:

Colorado School of Mines, PI Mike Mooney - Golden, CO $150,000: Developing a software suite of algorithms to optimize underground infrastructure construction.

Colorado School of Mines, PI Andrew Petruska - Golden, CO $150,000: Developing Steadiplay, a balance screening and interactive training system for balance therapy.

Colorado State University, PI Vivian Li - Fort Collins, CO $121,007: Developing cellulose nanocrystals to convert hemp agrowaste to high-value bioproducts.

Colorado State University, PI John Mizia - Fort Collins, CO $60,000: Developing a wavelength specific, narrowband LED photochemical vaccine manufacturing testbed.

Colorado State University, PI Reza Nazemi - Fort Collins, CO $150,000: Developing modular electrochemical systems powered by renewable electricity to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers from agricultural waste streams.

University of Colorado Boulder, PI Linda Watkins - Boulder, CO $150,000: Developing individualized treatment for multiple sclerosis through site-specific drug therapy.

Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grants:

AEMS Corp. - Boulder, CO $250,000: AEMS has developed a collection of sanitizers that destroy harmful bacteria on sprout seeds prior to sprouts germination.

aiGENE, Inc. - Aurora, CO $250,000: aiGene has developed a rapid, inexpensive, easy-to-use blood test that evaluates cancer treatment effectiveness.

Aqueous Resources LLC - Denver, CO $250,000: Aqueous Resources has developed a sustainable direct lithium extraction technology that will greatly reduce chemical reagent consumption and waste generation associated with impurity removal.

Beryl Therapeutics, Inc. - Longmont, CO $250,000: Beryl Therapeutics has developed a patented small molecule that increases bone formation and reduces bone resorption to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Bighorn Renewables, LLC - Denver, CO $500,000: Bighorn Renewables is developing, implementing, and producing renewable natural gas through partnerships with Colorado cattle feedlot operators.

BLDX Inc. - Denver, CO $200,000: BLDX has developed a universal building intelligence platform to permanently archive building information and meet greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements for building performance standards.

Brightspot Automation LLC - Boulder, CO $250,000: Brightspot Automation has developed solar panel testing equipment to identify defects in solar cells and solar panels on land and in space.

Burst Diagnostics, Inc. - Fort Collins, CO $250,000: Burst Diagnostics has developed a first-in-class point-of-care diagnostics platform for infections for use in doctor's offices, clinics, and urgent care facilities.

Colorado Biofactory, Inc. - Monument, CO $200,000: Colorado Biofactory has developed a non-disruptive sprayable enzyme soil amendment to increase soil organic carbon by accelerating the decomposition of surface organic matter.

cQuant.io, Inc. - Louisville, CO $500,000: cQuantio.io is a B2B SaaS provider of advanced analytic solutions for energy companies through a fast, flexible, and easy-to-use cloud-based platform.

Dark Sky Technology - Fort Collins, CO $250,000: Dark Sky Technology has developed a code translation platform that can create human readable, compliable, and performant code that does not have memory or type safe issues.

Eclipse DOT Inc. - Hesperus, CO $250,000: Eclipse DOT has developed a custom platform for transportation companies to oversee and manage their compliance with standards set forth by the Department of Transportation.

E-Flux LLC - Fort Collins, CO $97,662: E-Flux has developed a passive soil gas trap to evaluate the greenhouse gas footprint of agriculture operations.

Enrichment Systems LLC - Boulder, CO $250,000: Enrichment Systems has developed the only effective mechanism creating and distributing oxygen nanobubbles in sufficient volume to service commercial controlled environment agriculture irrigation systems.

Flourish Medical, LLC - Boulder, CO $250,000: Flourish Medical has developed a single-use, disposable device for the management of stress urinary incontinence in women.

GeekPack, Inc. - Hesperus, CO $250,000: GeekPack has developed an e-learning platform that combines industry-leading skills training with an in-house, supportive learning environment to help women achieve economic independence.

Gordon Plastics LLC - Englewood, CO $250,000: Gordon Plastics has developed a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite production line using a melt impregnation system.

Guardian Biosciences LLC - Denver, CO $250,000: Guardian Biosciences has developed a nasal spray intervention to treat acute concussions in athletes and military personnel.

Howl Campfires - Denver, CO $250,000: Howl Campfires has developed a burn-ban certified and portable propane campfire that is not a compromise to a wood fire.

Impact Cooling, Inc. - Fort Collins, CO $250,000: Impact Cooling has developed a novel data center cooling technology which achieves top-tier peak-load efficiency in high ambient temperature environments using only air.

Impressio Inc. - Denver, CO $250,000: Impressio has developed a military helmet liner to reduce concussions using a patented energy absorbing material and state-of-the-art additive manufacturing.

Kanso Software - Denver, CO $250,000: Kanso Software has developed the first modern SaaS application to manage the complexities of US subsidized housing and homelessness.

Latimer Controls, Inc. - Boulder, CO $100,000: Latimer Controls has developed a utility-scale solar plant generation control software that integrates with existing hardware to control solar plant generation in real time.

Modendo Inc. - Boulder, CO $250,000: Modendo has developed an ultra-thin multi-probe endomicroscope that provides high-resolution imaging capabilities for currently inaccessible regions of the brain.

New West Genetics - Fort Collins, CO $250,000: New West Genetics has developed sustainable, high yielding hybrid hemp seed using a combination of traditional breeding, modern genomics, and agronomic expertise.

OMC Hydrogen, Inc. - Fort Collins, CO $250,000: OMC Hydrogen has developed an isothermal pressure swing redox technology for thermochemical production of green hydrogen or syngas.

PACT Outdoors Inc. - Crested Butte, CO $250,000: PACT Outdoors has developed an all-in-one bathroom kit for outdoor adventures that prioritizes both ease-of-use and sustainability.

PteroDynamics Inc. - Colorado Springs, CO $250,000: PteroDynamics has developed an advanced air mobility aircraft that can deliver high-value, time-sensitive cargo to destinations that are hard to reach.

Recycle Global Exchange - Castle Rock, CO $250,000: Recycle Global Exchange has developed a cloud-based marketplace that enables businesses to move end-of-life IT assets with a vast pool of recyclers and resellers.

RoGO Communications - Lakewood, CO $250,000: RoGO Communications has developed a lightweight device that connects firefighters over cellular-denied and radio-denied areas.

SiVEC Biotechnologies - Fort Collins, CO $250,000: SiVEC Biotechnologies has developed a live biotherapeutic delivery platform to enable the next generation of nucleic acid and gene editing therapies.

The Mindful Mamas Club, Inc. - Englewood, CO $250,000: The Mindful Mamas Club has developed a mindfulness app that offers original content specifically for mothers using predictive models that deliver effective programing for users.

ThinkOrbital Inc. - Lafayette, CO $250,000: ThinkOrbital has developed a single-launch configured multi-mission space platform that supports a range of private and public sector needs.

TissueForm, Inc. - Boulder, CO $250,000: TissueForm has developed a biostimulatory and reversible dermal filler to improve life for people affected by volumetric tissue loss.

TopoGEN, Inc. - Buena Vista, CO $100,000: TopoGEN is advancing Palm Ivory crystalline nanocellulose, a moisturizing and anti-microbial product for the skincare industry.

Urban Farms Inc. - Boulder, CO $250,000: Urban Farms has developed a low-cost, fully automated vertical farm for sustainable food production.

Vieletech - Florissant, CO $250,000: Vieletech has developed a distributed engine and compressor control system.