Department of Education
Grant agencyInvestment thesis
FIPSE, part of the U.S. Department of Education, funds grant programs aimed at improving postsecondary education outcomes and access. Its programs support initiatives such as addressing students' basic needs, veteran and single-parent student success, teacher education at HBCUs, digital learning infrastructure and IT modernization at HBCUs and MSIs, spatial computing and cybersecurity workforce development, open textbooks, modeling and simulation programs, research infrastructure at minority-serving institutions, rural postsecondary economic development, and pathways for gang-involved youth. Funding is delivered as non-dilutive competitive grants and Congressionally-directed awards to institutions of higher education, with awards tracked in a public FIPSE database.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 16, 2026.
SBIR/STTR awards · non-dilutive funding
Federal grants and contracts to small businesses — no equity taken. Awards on record 1983–2023.
1,043 Phase I · 364 Phase II · most-funded states: CA, NY, CO, VA, MD
| Recent awardees | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKO LABS, INC.New York, NY | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| 2SIGMA SCHOOL INCSanta Clara, CA | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| QUERIUM CORPORATIONAustin, TX | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| MNDTRST Inc.New Haven, CT | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| GAIAXUS LLCGermantown, MD | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| INDELIBLE LEARNING INCPalos Verdes Estates, CA | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| CHARMTECH LABS LLCBuffalo, NY | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| SMART GIRLS HQ LLCCharlotte, NC | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| SCRIBLE, INC.San Mateo, CA | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| SIRIUS THINKING, LTDNew York, NY | Phase II | 2023 | $1M |
| LIMINAL ESPORTS LLCGates Mills, OH | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| LITERABLY, INCBerkeley, CA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| Inletech LLCSan Diego, CA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| VIZMOO LLCWynnewood, PA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| APPRENDIS LLCBerlin, MA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| DFUSION INC.Scouts Valley, CA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| PLAYSPACES INC.Bloomfield, NJ | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| CHIBITRONICS INCNew Port Richey, FL | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| Innocent Technologies, LLC.Minneapolis, MN | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| CHROMOSPHEREGlendale, CA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| ALTEREA, INC.Palo Alto, CA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| KINOO, INC.Oakland, CA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| SCIQUIRY, INC.McLean, VA | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| INFINID LEARNING INCProvo, UT | Phase I | 2023 | $250K |
| EDIFY TECHNOLOGIES, INCDenver, CO | Phase II | 2022 | $1M |
| SOWN TO GROW, INC.Oakland, CA | Phase II | 2022 | $1M |
| XSEL LABS INCEvanston, IL | Phase II | 2022 | $1M |
| SOTERIX MEDICAL, INC.New York, NY | Phase II | 2022 | $1M |
| ALCHEMIE SOLUTIONS, INC.Troy, MI | Phase II | 2022 | $1M |
| MYRIAD SENSORS, INC.San Jose, CA | Phase II | 2022 | $1M |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are non-dilutive — the agency takes no equity.
What they invest in
from 97 of 145 portfolio companiesEdTech ×56AI & Machine Learning ×21Hardware ×17Deep Tech ×15SaaS ×15Healthtech ×14Gaming ×13Digital Health ×11
HQs:United States×32
Investments · 145 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2023 · 112022 · 72021 · 132020 · 72019 · 102018 · 82017 · 82016 · 72015 · 52014 · 112013 · 42012 · 11106 dated
1st Playable is a game studio that designs and develops video games intended to educate and change minds, including licensed titles such as Disney Frozen: Olaf's Quest.
Gaming
2Sigma School is an accredited online course provider offering NCAA-approved and A-G credit courses, including AP courses, for K-12 students.
EdTech
3C Institute builds custom technology and digital health software for researchers, educators, program developers, and clinicians, supporting the development and delivery of research-based programs.
Digital HealthEdTechHealthtech
AbleLink Smart Living Technologies develops research-based assistive and cognitive technologies, including GPS-guided travel apps, step-by-step daily living supports, simplified desktop software, and accessible cloud-based survey systems.
Digital HealthHealthtechImpact & Social Good
Dan Davies(Founder & President)
Analytic Measures builds AI-powered literacy tools under the Caimber brand, offering automated, self-administered assessments and adaptive, personalized learning across listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
AI & Machine LearningEdTech
Anasphere, Inc. manufactures aerospace systems, including atmospheric sensors and inflation gas generators used in aviation testing, atmospheric research, and gas inflation applications.
Advanced ManufacturingHardwareLogan, US
Anautics builds augmented intelligence systems that combine human judgment with AI to help teams gather evidence and make decisions, keeping operators, analysts, and leaders in the loop.
AI & Machine LearningDefense TechEnterprise Software
Antares Group (operating as Stark Tech) provides clean energy consulting and owner's engineering services for solar projects, covering site development, land acquisition, interconnection, design, and feasibility analysis.
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
AnthroTronix is an engineering research and development company that builds human-centered software and hardware, including human-computer interface technology, mobile computing platforms, and robotic systems.
Deep TechDefense TechRobotics
RAMAS by Applied Biomathematics develops ecological risk software and offers consulting in risk analysis, predictive analytics, and specialized analytical methods for environmental and ecological problems.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate Tech
InqITS (Inquiry Intelligent Tutoring System) is an online science education platform offering NGSS-aligned virtual labs in English and Spanish that guide K-12 students through hands-on inquiry activities.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaS
ArchieMD develops visually-based health science education and medical simulation products, including web-based nursing (Nurse-Skills) and EMS (Medrills) training platforms plus augmented, virtual, and mixed reality tools and haptic trainers.
Digital HealthEdTechHealthtechAtlanta, US
Robert Levine(Dr.)
Cognitopia offers web-based self-management and executive functioning software used to set goals, track assignments and progress, and maintain communication for individuals in special education, independent living, and employment settings.
Digital HealthEdTechSaaS
Tom Keating(CEO & Founder)
Aventusoft develops AI-based cardiac and health platforms, including Hemotag for non-invasive cardiac signal analysis, CarePear for connecting patients and physicians with sub-specialists, and Trialogy for AI-driven decentralized clinical trials.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthMedical DevicesBoca Raton, US
Element 84 (formerly Azavea) develops cloud-native geospatial data processing pipelines, distributed systems, and Earth Observation software for public, private, and non-profit sector clients.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingData & Infrastructure
Barron Associates develops intelligent and adaptive technologies to measure, model, predict, and control complex systems, with the aim of improving performance, safety, and efficiency.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechRobotics
Beach Day Studios develops educational and entertainment games and applications across mobile, virtual reality, augmented reality, and other platforms.
EdTechGaming
Behavioral Technologies Consulting Organization (BTCO) provides organizational and behavior management consultation, supervision, and training in applied behavior analysis (ABA) for ABA therapy providers, school districts, and supervisees pursuing Board Certified Behavior Analyst credentials.
Digital HealthHealthtechMental HealthBasehor, US
Dr. Linda Heitzman-Powell(Founder)Kimberly Becker(COO (Chief Operating Officer))Christopher Powell(Financial Officer)
BrainQuake provides supplemental math puzzle tools for 4th-8th grade elementary and middle school students, aimed at improving problem-solving skills and math confidence.
EdTech
CapRock Creative is a branding and marketing agency focused on the hospitality industry, offering services such as brand strategy and marketing for hospitality businesses.
Marketing TechMedia & Entertainment
Capti ReadBasix is a diagnostic reading assessment for secondary students (grades 3-12) that identifies the root causes of reading difficulties through six individual subtests, benchmark reporting, Lexile measures, and dyslexia risk screening.
EdTechSaaS
Chibitronics makes circuit stickers and related tools that let users build electronics on paper.
ConsumerEdTechHardware
CleveMed develops portable devices and fulfillment services for home sleep disorder testing, including monitors for home sleep apnea testing.
Digital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
Core-LX provides curriculum solutions for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs serving grades 6-14, aggregating over 450 modular courses from multiple content providers aligned to state standards and industry certifications.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaS
Creare is an engineering research and development firm that solves complex technical problems and develops new technologies for industry and government customers.
Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech
Dr. Jay Rozzi(Senior Staff)Jeff Breedlove(Senior Staff)Dr. Odile Clavier(Senior Staff)Dr. Patrick Magari(Senior Staff)
myIGDIs (Individual Growth and Development Indicators) is a suite of early childhood assessment tools measuring preschoolers' early literacy (English and Spanish), early numeracy, and social-emotional development through brief 1:1 assessments.
EdTech
Edify develops learning software programs focused on music education and AI-personalized reading.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechBoulder, US
Jacob Zax(Director, President and Chief Executive Officer)Rhys Lindmark(Director and Treasurer)Zachary Sulsky(Director and Secretary)
EdMod is a collaboration platform that centralizes IEP, RTI, 504, ELL, and Gifted & Talented data so general education teachers, special educators, and administrators can share student plan information, track accommodations, services, behaviors, and progress, and access professional development resources.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaS
Electric Funstuff designs educational video games that combine engaging gameplay with learning objectives and measurable improvements in student outcomes.
EdTechGamingNew York, US
EM Photonics builds high performance computing and embedded systems solutions for image processing, scientific computing, and linear algebra applications, optimizing across CPU, GPU, FPGA, and supercomputer platforms.
Deep TechDefense TechHardware
Emberex builds custom software—including web apps, dashboards, and educational tools—for researchers and educators, with a particular focus on the special education field.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaS
Engineering Acoustics, Inc.
Deep TechDefense TechHardware
Filament Games is a full-service digital studio that designs and builds educational games, digital learning tools, and interactive simulations on a for-hire basis for educational organizations and brands.
EdTechGaming
Flint Rehab makes FDA-listed neurorehabilitation devices and apps — including the FitMi full-body rehab tool, MusicGlove hand therapy, the Flex AFO foot-drop brace, and a speech and cognitive therapy app — for people recovering at home from stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy, and other neurological conditions.
Digital HealthHardwareMedical Devices
Coralville, US
Jerry Zimmerman(Executive Officer, Director)Chuck Peters(Director)Allison Zimmerman(Executive Officer)Carolyn Brown(Executive Officer, Director)Hass Machlab(Director)
Future Engineers administers educational STEM competitions, including the NASA TechRise Student Challenge, which lets sixth to 12th-grade student teams design, build, and launch experiments on commercial suborbital flights.
EdTechSpace Tech
Gigantic Mechanic is a game and experience design studio that creates interactive experiences using social and physical play for museums, cities, and brands.
EdTechGamingMedia & Entertainment
Mattia Romeo(Game Designer & Technology Lead)Greg Trefry(Game Designer & Business Development)
Guild Associates develops engineered systems and adsorptive, reactive, and catalytic materials for applications including decontamination, chemical defense, and demilitarization.
Deep TechDefense TechNew Materials
Hats & Ladders offers a gamified career-readiness curriculum and platform for middle school, high school, and young adult workforce program participants, guiding them through career exploration, skill-building, and workplace-based learning.
EdTechFuture of Work
Gainesville, US
Lindsey Tropf(Executive Officer, Director)
Indelible Learning offers a year-round online platform (ILI) with games, simulations, and courses that immerse students in real-world career scenarios across fields like medicine, science, civics, and leadership.
EdTechGaming
Mission.io turns classroom lessons into interactive team-based scenarios in which students collaborate to solve a problem using what they were just taught, with 100+ ready-made "Missions" aligned to K-8 curriculum standards.
EdTechSaaS
ISL is a technology development company that designs, engineers, and produces products and provides research and analysis for the national security and energy sectors.
Deep TechDefense TechEnergy
ArtMath is an education technology product for math instruction, designed with teachers for classroom use.
EdTech
Innovative Design Labs (IDL) is a research and development company that develops technology from concept to manufacturing, including medical training simulators, manikins, and non-contact health monitoring systems.
EdTechHardwareMedical DevicesMinneapolis, US
Killer Snails develops immersive digital and card-based science games for students in grades 3-10, covering topics such as marine biology, drug discovery, plastic pollution, and ecosystems.
EdTechGaming
Kibeam makes a screen-free, AI-powered handheld wand that works with real paper books to teach early literacy skills such as phonological awareness, vocabulary, and decoding.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechHardware
Kooapps is a mobile gaming studio and publisher with over 1 billion downloads across titles such as Snake.io, Stacky Bird and Pictoword.
ConsumerGamingMedia & EntertainmentSeattle, US
Releasing Writers (formerly think SRSD) provides evidence-based writing instruction strategies, professional development, and eLearning modules to help schools, districts, and states teach writing using self-regulated strategy development.
EdTech
Learning Ovations provides A2i, a professional support system combining technology, data, and coaching to help teachers deliver differentiated K-3 reading instruction.
EdTech
Carol Connor(Principal Researcher and Creator of A2i)
LearnPlatform is a for-benefit research organization that provides an integrated platform and evidence evaluation engine for K-12 school districts, states, and education technology providers to assess, implement, and optimize education solutions.
CybersecurityEdTechGovTechSaaSRaleigh, US
Liberating Technologies, Inc.
Deep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesHolliston, US
Lighthaus builds game-powered virtual reality science experiences paired with multi-week biology curricula, class activities, projects, and teacher materials for education.
EdTechGamingHardware
Snowbright Studio is a game developer that creates a collection of narrative and cozy games, including titles such as Cozy Companion, Harvest Hoppers, Insectarium, and Teatime Adventures.
ConsumerGaming
LiveSchool is a school culture platform that helps K-12 schools track student behavior, award points, run reward stores, and engage families to promote positive reinforcement over punishment.
EdTechSaaSNashville, US
Matthew Rubinstein(Executive Officer, Director)Perry Chase(Director)Richard Theobald(Director)Stephen Butler(Director)Eric Rubinstein(Executive Officer, Director)
Lynntech is a research and development company whose scientists and engineers create technologies across areas including artificial intelligence, medical diagnostic devices, hybrid energy systems, biomedical therapies, defense safety and training, and additive manufacturing.
Deep TechDefense TechMedical Devices
Lyrics2Learn offers K-5 reading lessons that combine music with the Science of Reading to improve fluency, word recognition, and comprehension.
EdTech
Microcosm, Inc. designs and develops low-cost space systems, including launch vehicles (the Scorpius architecture), all-composite pressurized spacecraft structures, and mission engineering services aimed at reducing the cost of space missions.
Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech
MindTrust operates a "Teams as a Service" (TaaS) platform that matches businesses with vetted industry experts and builds and manages teams for needs such as custom software development, design, product management, and demand generation.
Future of WorkMarketplacesSaaS
Muzology offers a subscription platform of music videos designed to teach math concepts to students in grades 3-8, covering 70 math topics.
ConsumerEdTech
NanoSonic develops advanced nanomaterials, polymers, and elastomers, including its Metal Rubber conductive-elastic electrodes and sensors, plus quantum electronics and additive-manufacturing prototyping.
Deep TechHardwareNew Materials
Nimble is a platform that connects teachers with K-12 schools and districts to improve hiring and workforce management.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechFuture of WorkHR TechSaaSMiami, US
Lauren Dachille(Founder/CEO)in
OKO is an AI-powered small-group learning assistant for K-12 math instruction (grades 3-9), using voice and gesture recognition to facilitate collaborative problem-solving among students while teachers manage multiple groups.
AI & Machine LearningEdTech
Orthocare Innovations develops and commercializes prosthetic, orthotic, and rehabilitation technologies for people with physical disabilities and their care providers.
HealthtechMedical DevicesRobotics
Peerceptiv offers a corporate peer learning platform that uses peer collaboration and assessment to validate skill growth and measure training impact.
EdTechHR TechSaaS
Parametric Studio makes STEM building kits for children that teach engineering, math, basic programming, and circuitry through project-based construction toys such as guitar, launcher, and spirograph kits.
ConsumerEdTechHardware
Photozig develops mobile apps and workbooks that help caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia learn coping strategies, manage stress, and respond to difficult behaviors.
Digital HealthHealthtechMental Health
Planet3 offers an educational platform combining exploration, play, and learning, with content aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
EdTechGamingWashington, US
Tim Kelly(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardSean Gerrity(Director)Rob Roy(Director)
Rock by Rock offers a project-based learning system for K-12 education, including a complete microschool model and curriculum plus a standalone project library.
EdTech
Schell Games is a game design and development studio that creates transformative games and experiences across platforms including virtual reality, mobile, console, and location-based venues such as theme parks and museums.
EdTechGaming
SEACORP provides systems engineering, manufacturing, and cybersecurity services for maritime combat systems, training and simulation, electronic warfare, and platform/payload integration.
Advanced ManufacturingCybersecurityDefense Tech
Sendero Group developed accessible GPS software and navigation products for blind and visually impaired users, powering devices like BrailleNote and Braille Sense and turn-by-turn apps including Seeing Eye GPS and RNIB Navigator.
ConsumerHealthtechMobility & Transportation
Boulder, US
Krista Marks(President and Chief Executive Officer)Sean Kelly(Secretary and Vice President of Engineering)Tom Fischaber(Treasurer and Vice President of Operations)Brent Milne(Vice President of Research)Jeff Ward(Vice President of Product)
BoardJason Mendelson(Director)
Sirius Thinking is a company that develops and produces educational entertainment for children, combining core educational content with animated and puppet characters across television, interactive software, video, music, audio, and print.
EdTechMedia & EntertainmentNew York City, US
Ingenia Learning (formerly Smart Girls HQ) designs career-connected STEM learning experiences—digital tools, curriculum kits, experiential spaces, and custom workforce programs—for K–12 students, educators, and families.
EdTech
Soterix Medical develops non-invasive neuromodulation and brain stimulation systems, including High-Definition tDCS, TMS, and tFUS platforms along with neurotargeting planning software and monitoring technologies.
Deep TechHealthtechMedical Devices
Oakland, US
Rupa Chandra Gupta(Executive Officer, Director)Dennis Li(Executive Officer, Director)
Speak Agent offers a supplemental digital program with interactive "Content + Language" lessons designed to make existing math and science curriculum more engaging and effective.
EdTech
Spry Fox is a video game studio that develops games focused on social connection and self-expression, such as Cozy Grove, a life-sim game about camping on a haunted island.
Gaming
STAR Autism Support provides ABA-based curricula and assessment tools, including the STAR Program and the Links Curriculum, for teaching children with autism and developmental disabilities.
EdTech
StoryWorld is a multilingual K-2 literacy program that combines interactive stories, phonics, and printable worksheets with a teacher dashboard to track reading, listening, speaking, and writing progress.
EdTechSaaS
Stottler Henke builds artificial intelligence software systems and provides consulting for applications including education and training, planning and scheduling, decision support, knowledge management, and autonomous systems.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareGovTech
Teachley develops math learning and intervention programs for students in grades K-5, using interactive lessons and games to build fact fluency, math strategies, problem-solving, and fraction skills.
EdTech
Tech-X Corporation develops multiphysics simulation software (including the VSim product line and the upcoming XSim) for modeling plasma physics, electromagnetics, photonics, and vacuum electronics.
Deep TechEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Provides secure processing technologies for mission-critical aerospace and defense systems, including FPGA-based cryptography, secure boot, and physical protection (BuiltSECURE) hardware and IP solutions.
CybersecurityDefense TechHardware
Touch Graphics Inc designs products and exhibits that convey spatial information through the sense of touch, aimed at accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired.
HardwareHealthtech
Triad Interactive Media provides federal R&D and immersive learning engineering, and offers H-OS, a framework for helping organizations adopt novel technologies like AI, automation, and robotics by addressing workforce friction and driving operational adoption.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechFuture of Work
TutorGen builds adaptive learning technology grounded in learning-science research, including its SCALE (Student Centered Adaptive Learning Engine) product.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaS
Vantage Point Consulting is a veteran-owned small business (VOSB/WOSB) that delivers technology programs for U.S. federal agencies and higher education institutions, including data tools like Indiana's Return on College calculator.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareGovTechWashington, US
Cristine Carpenter(President, Vantage Point Consulting; Founder, Solari Technologies)
Vcom3D develops mixed reality medical simulation and training systems that integrate physical manikins and part-task trainers with virtual patients, anatomical overlays, and virtual medical equipment.
EdTechHealthtechMedical Devices
An online coding platform offering self-paced lessons and project-based courses for middle and high school students to learn web development and programming through hands-on creative applications like video filters and augmented reality.
EdTechSan Francisco, US
Alexandra Diracles(Founder/CEO)Melissa Halfon(Founder/CTO)in
ViewPlus manufactures braille embossers and tactile graphics technology, including color-enabled embossing on standard paper, for blind and low-vision students, educators, and professionals.
EdTechHardwareHealthtechCorvallis, US
Vizmoo builds Groove Catcher, a virtual reality-based platform for adjunctive therapy interventions serving neurodiverse individuals such as those with Autism, ADHD, and sensory integration disorders.
Digital HealthEdTechMental HealthPhiladelphia, US
Michael Stauffer(Founder & CEO)John Weathers(Research & Development)Karen Dehaven(Co-Creator & Clinical Advisor)Allison Tuso(Occupational Therapist (OTD OTR/L))
Vortant Technologies is a design, technology, and software development firm that develops products and solutions through research and collaboration.
HardwareHealthtech
WesTest provides test and diagnostic solutions for complex electronics used in extreme environments, along with design, development, and test engineering services.
Deep TechDefense TechHardware
XSB provides AI and software products (including SWISS, Price Point Buyer, Warwick, and Pin Point) that convert unstructured engineering documents into structured, machine-readable data and digital twins to support supply chain management, procurement, and compliance.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise Software
xSEL Labs provides a suite of assessments that directly measure students' social-emotional skills through questions and tasks, which students complete independently.
EdTech
ZUNI Learning Tree is an online learning platform that curates and organizes vetted free and open educational resources (OERs) in one place, letting educators, students, and families find, save, assign, and evaluate content across subjects.
EdTechConway, US
Tina McCord(President & CEO)
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesNimble · techcrunch.com · Jul 5, 2026
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- What sectors does Department of Education focus on?
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