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    • Innovators Found. Meet Our Alumni.

      Meet our amazing alumni who are truly changing the world, across many different verticals.

      View 2021 Cycle I Finalists
    • 2018 Cycle II Energy

      Watch the archived livestream

      Santanu Bag from AsterTech LLC

      Santanu Bag

      Founder and CEO

      AsterTech LLC

      Dayton, OH
       
      ...
       
      AsterTech LLC proposes a highly-efficient, low-cost, and light-weight photovoltaic (PV) technology that is based on the 3D additive manufacturing of hybrid perovskite materials.
      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Carlos Munoz from Ateios Inc.

      Carlos Munoz

      Chief Operating Officer

      Ateios Inc.

      La Jolla, CA

       

      ...

       

      Ateios Inc., has developed a platform technology based on a nano-composite ink to develop the first printable, stretchable battery that can be printed at a low cost enabling ubiquitous and conformal electronics.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Vanessa Clark from Atomos Nuclear and Space

      Vanessa Clark

      Co-Founder and CEO

      Atomos Nuclear and Space

      Denver, CO

       

      ...

       

      Atomos Nuclear and Space is developing a fission power system for high-power space applications, pioneering the commercialization of nuclear technologies for space exploration and development through a robust business model.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      James Smoot from Environment and Energy Benefit Co.

      James Smoot

      Founder

      Environment and Energy Benefit Co.

      West Sacramento, CA

       

      ...

       

      Environment and Energy Benefit Co., is a developing a novel class of fuels generally described as alkyl alkoxyalkanoates.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Ivan Smalyukh from iFeather

      Ivan Smalyukh

      Professor of Physics at University of Colorado Boulder

      iFeather

      Boulder, CO

       

      ...

       

      iFeather invented a transparent insulating film to significantly improve energy efficiency. The film can be manufactured in-situ, allowing NASA or others to bring a miniature "factory" aboard a space flight and make as much area of the aerogel as needed.

      Watch Video
      Winner
    •  

      Christian Ruud from Pennsylvania State University

      Christian Ruud

      Graduate Research Assistant

      Pennsylvania State University

      Department of Materials Science and Engineering​

      State College, PA

       

      ...

       

      The Pennsylvania State University is focusing on lightweight monolithic microcell concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) that can increase efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power systems in space.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Grayson Zulauf from Stanford University

      Grayson Zulauf

      President and CEO

      Stanford University

      Department of Electrical Engineering​

      Stanford, CA
       
      ...
       
      This Stanford University team is developing technology for wireless charging of electric vehicles on Earth, and eventually, Mars.
      Watch Video
      Winner
      Al-Thaddeus Avestruz from the University of Michigan

      Al-Thaddeus Avestruz

      Assistant Professor of

      Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

      University of Michigan / Unified Solar Corporation

      Ann Arbor, MI

       

      ...

       

      The University of Michigan Unified Solar Corporation Collaboration is developing photovoltaic cell-level power balancing using intrinsic energy storage for high-efficiency, high-reliability solar power.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Peter Petit from V-Glass

      Peter Petit

      Founder

      V-Glass

      Milwaukee, WI

       

      ...

       

      V-Glass is developing affordable vacuum insulating glass, a flat and transparent thermos bottle for windows. It uses a flexible aluminum seal cold-welded directly to glass for an elegant, minimalist design, just ¼ inch thick.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Bo Varga from WBGlobalSemi Inc.

      Bo Varga

      CEO and

      Vice President of Marketing

      WBGlobalSemi Inc.

      Silicon Valley, CA

       

      ...

       

      WBGlobalSemi Inc., is developing a new class of high power, wide band gap silicon carbide bi‐polar junction transistors (BJTs) and power modules for use in high power industrial applications such as aerospace, main grid, micro-grid, traction and the military.

      Watch Video
      Winner
    • 2018 Cycle I

      Watch the archived livestream

      Hants Williams from BioVirtua

      Hants Williams

      Co-Founder

      BioVirtua

      San Francisco, CA
       
      ...
       
      BioVirtua sequences human movement, both in-person and remotely, without using wearable sensors in order to unlock quantifiable insights for rehabilitation, human performance and telehealth encounters. Human movement can be non-invasively collected and assessed on earth, or elsewhere.
      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Arthur Kreitenberg from Dimer UVC Innovations

      Timothy Morrissey

      Co-Founder and

      Chief Technology Officer

      Dimer UVC Innovations

      Los Angeles, CA

       

      ...

       

      Dimer UVC Innovations has created a germicidal UVC-emitting robot, offering a turnkey solution for infection prevention and emergency preparedness in air travel and for other industries.

      Watch Video
      Winner
      Felipe Gomez del Campo from FGC Plasma Solutions

      Felipe Gomez del Campo

      Founder and CEO

      FGC Plasma Solutions

      Boston, MA

       

      ...

       

      FGC Plasma Solutions is developing a plasma-based control system which enables a clean, compact, low emissions combustor for future jet engines. The technical progress made on this work through a Phase I SBIR contract has led to collaboration with a major engine manufacturer for their Phase II SBIR proposal.

      Watch Video
      Winner
      Sonya Davidson from H2 Energy Now

      Sonya Davidson

      Founder and CEO

      H2 Energy Now

      Boalsburg, PA

       

      ...

       

      H2 Energy Now is developing technology that utilizes electromagnetism to separate the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen gas. Hydrogen is a perfect energy storage medium and when recombined in a fuel cell, electricity and water are the outputs. Water is a perfect solution for energy storage in space using solar energy.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Dirk Ahlborn from Hyperloop Transportation Technologies​

      Dirk Ahlborn

      Co-Founder and CEO

      Hyperloop Transportation Technologies​

      Los Angeles, CA

       

      ...

       

      Hyperloop Transportation Technologies has developed an augmented window technology to mimic traditional travel experiences, while mitigating psychological issues that passengers may have with enclosed transportation systems, and layering their visual experience with information and entertainment.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
    •  

      Luke Joseph from iFirst Medical Technologies

      Luke Joseph

      Founder and CEO

      iFirst Medical Technologies

      Honolulu, HI

       

      ...

       

      The iFirst in vitro diagnostics platform helps save lives by pushing critical patient information from the field to the treating facility, reducing treatment times, and facilitating precision medicine

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Chase Million from Million Concepts

      Chase Million

      Founder and CEO

      Million Concepts

      Lemont, PA
       
      ...
       
      Million Concepts is continuing development of the Arisian Lens, a hardware technology that can quickly turn many existing digital cameras into very high magnification microscopes with significantly less bulk, complexity, and expense than existing compound microscope solutions.
      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Bill Bruner from New Frontier Aerospace

      Bill Bruner

      CEO

      New Frontier Aerospace

      Livermore, CA

       

      ...

       

      New Frontier Space is developing affordable, powered recovery for small launch vehicles, and more speed for drone customers. By enabling rockets to land like drones, they can reduce launch costs.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      David Rice from Rice Technology LLC

      David Rice

      President

      Rice Technology LLC

      Milwaukee, WI

       

      ...

       

      Rice Technology LLC is creating a smart, real-time, multipurpose sensor with the capability to detect phosphorus, bacteria, viruses, and total dissolved and suspended solids in real-time. It can behave as a “canary in the coal mine,” enabling rapid response to process failure in water treatment systems.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Shantanu Bala from Somatic Labs

      Shantanu Bala

      Co-Founder and CEO

      Somatic Labs

      Denver, CO

       

      ...

       

      Somatic Labs is creating tactile interfaces for augmented reality to enhance communication — a haptic platform that delivers information to you through rich tactile patterns to make information more accessible and intuitive.

      Watch Video
      Winner
    • 2017 Cycle I

      Watch the archived livestream

      Nisha Witt from Aesop Technologies

      Nisha Witt

      Co-Founder and CEO

      Aesop Technologies

      Hampton, VA
       
      ...
       
      Aesop Technologies is creating a compelling and uniquely scalable solar-powered product, reducing not only energy consumption but the need for excessive space per square foot.
      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Samuel Avery from Audacy

      Samuel Avery

      Co-Founder

      Audacy

      Mountain View, CA

       

      ...

       

      Audacy is creating a seamless and on-demand satellite communications architecture, dramatically improving satellite communications infrastructure by deploying a highly multi-user commercial space relay network to efficiently allocate spectrum.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Herbert Ryan from Bitome Inc.

      Herbert Ryan

      Co-Founder and CEO

      Bitome Inc.

      Boston, MA

       

      ...

       

      Bitome Inc., makes a non-invasive monitor for body hydration based on clinical MRI, in order to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare expenditures.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Jeff Stevens from Context AI

      Jeff Stevens

      Co-Founder

      Context AI

      Santa Clara, CA

       

      ...

       

      Context AI is creating diagnostic digital biomarkers for assisted medical decision making, including a wearable biosensor array that turns the body’s vibrations, sounds and bioelectric impulses into actionable intelligence to identify heart problems at very early stages.

      Watch Video
      Winner
      Giovanni Minelli from the Naval Postgraduate School

      Giovanni Minelli

      Faculty Research Associate

      Naval Postgraduate School

      Monterey, CA

       

      ...

       

      The Naval Postgraduate School is automating and optimizing the mission operations component for small satellite constellations that number in the hundreds or thousands.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
    •  

      Peter Kim from Omniboros

      Peter Kim

      Founder

      Omniboros​

      Washington, DC

       

      ...

       

      Omniboros​ (now ACTIV Surgical) is creating an advanced platform for surgeon-supervised intelligent autonomous robotic surgery, which reduces human error and eliminates complications during minimally invasive procedures.

      Watch Video
      Winner
      Steven Nelson from Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company

      Steven Nelson

      Vice President of
      Business Development
      Retired

      Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company

      Chandler, AZ
       
      ...
       
      In order to overcome the disadvantages and problems of currently available systems, PacSci EMC is creating a new and novel solid state propulsion and ACS system.
      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Frank Byrum from QuantumStack

      Frank Byrum

      Co-Founder

      QuantumStack

      Suffolk, VA

       

      ...

       

      QuantumStack is building and operating a decentralized global computer exchange on the scale of the Bitcoin network, suitable to provide efficient petaflop or greater resources.

      Watch Video
      Finalist
      Hadi Ghasemi from the University of Houston

      Hadi Ghasemi

      Assistant Professor of

      Mechanical Engineering

      University of Houston

      Houston, TX

       

      ...

       

      The University of Houston is working to build biologically-inspired adaptive anti-icing surfaces. These adaptive surfaces perform normally at ambient temperatures but become an anti-icing surface when exposed to extreme cold.

      Watch Video
      Winner
    • 2016 Cycle I

      Cynthia Burzell from Aequor Inc.

      Cynthia Burzell

      Founder and

      Chief Scientific Officer

      Aequor Inc.

      San Diego, CA
       
      ...
       
      Aequor Inc., is leveraging non-toxic molecules added to the water system to prevent and remove existing biofilm that develops on the water filtration system on the International Space Station, reducing contamination in life support systems and improving crew health. NASA scientists at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center have been working with Aequor to test their molecules and the results have been successful.
      Winner
      Hans Zachraum from Airbus DS Space Systems

      Hans Zachraum

      Senior Project Manager

      Airbus DS Space Systems

      MAPT Team​

      Webster, TX

       

      ...

       

      Airbus DS Space Systems MAPT Team​'s new radiation monitoring technology combines the advantages of currently available dosimeter and spectrometer technologies into one compact device.

      Finalist
      Edwin Kan from Cornell University

      Edwin Kan

      Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

      Cornell University

      Ithaca, NY

       

      ...

       

      Cornell University is building a broadband harmonic MIMO radar with opportunistic channel fading, angle-of-arrival (AoA) estimation and naïve beamforming [6, 7] on a free-moving vest to perform RF body imaging with below millimeter and 0.1s resolution.

      Finalist
      Richard Yen from Fiplate Inc.

      Richard Yen

      Founder and CEO

      Fiplate Inc.

      Las Vegas, NV

       

      ...

       

      Fiplate Inc., is developing a technology to drive tissue regeneration after radiological and acute trauma in space, a countermeasure for radiation damage in space.

      Finalist
      Ronald AngSiy from InnaMed Inc.

      Ronald AngSiy

      Co-Founder and Senior Advisor

      InnaMed Inc.

      Anaheim, CA

       

      ...

       

      InnaMed Inc.'s "Sensing Blood" testing device can run a complete blood count, is fully portable and is capable of performing diagnostic functions with six droplets of blood and 93 percent accuracy, transmitting data in approximately five minutes.

      Winner
    •  

      Gregory Keeley from Liberty Biosecurity LLC

      Gregory Keeley

      Co-Founder and

      Chief Operating Officer

      Liberty Biosecurity LLC

      Arlington, VA

       

      ...

       

      Liberty Biosecurity LLC is developing TMSMs — molecules to safely protect against DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation in space.

      Winner
      Venkat Kamavaram from Oceanit Laboratories Inc.

      Venkat Kamavaram

      Senior Materials Engineer

      Oceanit Laboratories Inc.

      Honolulu, HI
       
      ...
       
      Oceanit Laboratories Inc., is developing a novel Al-Teflon-GAP nanoenergetic propellant chemical propulsion system.
      Finalist
      Jeffrey Watumull from Oceanit Laboratories Inc.

      Jeffrey Watumull

      Director of Artificial Intelligence

      Oceanit Laboratories Inc.

      Honolulu, HI

       

      ...

       

      Oceanit Laboratories Inc., is working to construct and codify the Noetic Mathematical Engine (NoME) to function as a virtual medical staff (Autonomous System).

      Finalist
      Pak Kin Wong from Pennsylvania State University

      Pak Kin Wong

      Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Surgery

      Pennsylvania State University

      SLIPS Lab Team

      State College, PA

       

      ...

       

      A zero-power, biochemical analysis platform for health monitoring, this Pennsylvania State University project will develop a versatile biochemical analysis platform, SLIPS-LAB, which is reusable, reconfigurable and ultra-sensitive, using zero-power consumption.

      Finalist
    • Previous Page

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    The material contained in this document is based upon work supported by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant or cooperative agreement. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA.

     

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