National Science Foundation — 2015 Investments

Akoustis designs and manufactures high-performance RF filters using its XP3F technology for high-frequency, ultra-wideband applications servicing frequencies from 8 to 20 GHz and beyond.

Deep TechHardwareSemiconductorsCornelius, US

Jeffrey Shealy(President & CEO)Lora Shealy(Secretary)

Branch Technology develops a patented construction-scale 3D-printing method called cellular fabrication (C-Fab), combining additive manufacturing, prefabrication, and digital fabrication for architects, designers, and builders.

Advanced ManufacturingConstruction TechHardware

Co-investorsBrick Mortar VenturesChattanooga Renaissance FundMetaProp VenturesMetaProp

BrightSpec builds scientific instruments based on molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectroscopy to characterize the three-dimensional structure of small molecules and their isomers.

BiotechDeep TechHardwareMedical DevicesWaltham, US

Rick Gordon(CEO)inWalter Colsman(Executive Officer, Director)JAFFRAY WOODRIFF(Director)ROBERT LLOYD(Executive Officer, Director)THOMAS JONES(Director)DAVID MCDANIEL(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsArboretum VenturesGenoa VenturesMedvest Capital

Briteseed develops hyperspectral imaging technology integrated into laparoscopic and robotic surgical instruments to provide real-time visualization of critical anatomical structures during surgery.

Deep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesChicago, US

Paul Albert Fehrenbacher(Executive Officer, Director)Jonathan Whitney Gunn(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsTMC Venture Fund

BTI Targetry develops and deploys high-performance targets and target systems for radionuclide production, selling standard commercial products worldwide as well as custom design services for OEMs and end users.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardware

Cairn Biosciences is a drug discovery company that uses its COMPASS platform to map multiscale cell dynamics and simulate living biology in order to identify novel drug targets and therapeutics.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtech

Mary Ludlam(Founder & CEO)Payman Amiri(CSO)

Calyx builds AI vision cameras and bio-based ammonia gas sensors with predictive analytics for poultry and livestock farming, giving barn operators real-time visibility into bird weight, weight distribution, and environmental conditions.

AgTechAI & Machine LearningHardware

Cambrian Development Services is a consultancy that helps enterprises build internal innovation capabilities using methods like Jobs To Be Done, Design Thinking, and Lean Startup, delivered through gap analyses, bootcamps, and immersive programs.

Enterprise SoftwareFuture of Work

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

Cell Technology sells laboratory assay kits and reagents for life-science research, including caspase/apoptosis detection kits, flow cytometry cytotoxicity assays, ELISA buffers and diluents, and fluorescent enzyme and metabolite detection kits.

BiotechDeep Tech

Continuum Dynamics Inc is a research and development firm serving government and industry, providing analysis, software R&D, and testing across fields such as rotorcraft, flight simulation, nuclear engineering, and numerical methods.

Deep TechDefense TechEnergy

BiotechWoburn, US

Salvatore Mascia(Executive Officer, Director)Bayan Takizawa(Director)Bernhardt Trout(Director)Jonathan Fleming(Director)Andrea Semprini(Director)Mark Bamforth(Director)

Covaris develops sample preparation technology based on Adaptive Focused Acoustics (AFA) for life science research, offering mechanical DNA/RNA shearing for NGS, chromatin shearing, protein extraction, cell lysis, and biomolecule extraction from FFPE tissue.

BiotechHardwareHealthtech

Cycladex provides a non-cyanide chemical extraction process to recover gold, silver, rare earth elements, and lithium from mine tailings, refractory ores, and copper-gold systems without new excavation.

Circular EconomyCleantechNew Materials

This is an affiliate-style content article reviewing CBD oil products marketed as potential aids for autism symptoms, listing and ranking various consumer CBD brands.

Media & Entertainment

Co-investorsNXT VenturesWalnut Venture Associates

Ann Arbor, US

Jeremy Minty(Executive Officer, Director)Andrew C Hertig(Executive Officer)Geoff Horst(Director)Xiaoxia Lin(Director)Caroline Drouart(Director)

BoardJames Agley(Director)

Co-investorsID VenturesKeiretsu Forum

Edison Agro develops bio-based rubber derived from sunflower crop residue (leaves), converting agricultural waste into liquid rubber as an alternative to synthetic and traditional natural rubber.

AgTechClimate TechNew Materials

Elidah develops an FDA-cleared external neuromuscular therapy platform for treating urinary incontinence in women and men, offered through direct-to-consumer and clinical care channels including telehealth and Medicare coverage.

Digital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices

Co-investorsConnecticut Innovations

EPVSensors is developing sensing technology for non-invasive measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), a marker associated with glaucoma.

Deep TechHardwareMedical Devices

Chicago, US

Jennifer Fried(Executive Officer, Director)Eugene Fine(Executive Officer)

BoardNed Scheetz(Director)Immanuel Thangaraj(Director)Kris Johnson(Director)Denis Harrington(Director)

Co-investorsSymphony Alpha Ventures

Global Bio Inc. focuses on the discovery, optimization, and development of therapeutic antibodies, drawing on academic and industry experience.

Biotech

Glyscend Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing oral, first-in-class therapies for type 2 diabetes and obesity.

BiotechDeep TechDigital HealthHealthtechLongevityBaltimore, US

Ashish Nimgaonkar(Executive Officer, Director)Dennis McWilliams(Director)Casey Cunningham(Director)Leighton Read(Director)Bob Soh(Director)

Co-investorsBrandon BioCatalyst

Guiding Technologies makes GAINS, a tablet-based virtual assistant for providers of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) instruction that guides and tracks instruction in real time, replacing paper program binders.

Digital HealthHealthtechSaaS

SP3 is a seismic performance prediction platform providing building-specific seismic risk analysis based on the FEMA P-58 methodology for resilient structural design.

Construction TechDeep TechSaaS

IERION develops AI-enabled cybersecurity technologies and products focused on responsible AI, addressing AI governance, bias mitigation, and explainability.

AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityEnterprise Software

Immunant is a systems software consultancy that performs applied research and development to improve the security and reliability of low-level software, including hardening user, kernel, and hypervisor code, migrating critical C/C++ to Rust, exposing C/C++ to Rust via APIs, and applying fuzzing and exploit mitigations.

CybersecurityDeep TechDeveloper Tools

iMicrobes uses synthetic biology to develop cost-effective sustainable materials and replace conventional manufacturing processes.

BiotechCircular EconomyCleantechClimate TechHealthtechNew MaterialsSan Francisco, US

Derek Greenfield(Founder/CEO)Liz Clarke(Founder/CTO)inNoah Helman(Founder/CSO)in

Co-investorsFirst Bight VenturesJuniperY CombinatorUniversal Materials Incubator

Intelinair provides aerial imagery and agronomic analytics through its AGMRI platform, delivering in-season alerts and postseason reporting on crop health, weeds, nitrogen deficiency, stand assessment, and yield loss.

AgTechAI & Machine LearningSaaSSan Jose, US

Naira Hovakimyan(Chief Scientific Officer and Secretary)inAlfred Eisaian(President and Chief Executive Officer)

Co-investorsGranatus VenturesHyde Park Venture PartnersScientia Ventures

OESH Shoes designs and manufactures women's footwear engineered to support natural foot movement, featuring a wide forefoot, narrow heel, and a bouncy sole developed from research on human motion.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerWellness & Fitness

Casey Kerrigan(Founder)

Kalion is an industrial biotechnology company that uses metabolic engineering of microbes to produce chemical compounds such as glucaric acid and glucuronic acid for industrial applications.

BiotechDeep TechNew Materials

Co-investorsBoston Harbor Angels

Keen Home develops smart home products and automation systems that enhance comfort and efficiency in residential spaces.

ConsumerEnergyHardwareIoTNew York City, US

Will McLeod(Cofounder)

Co-investorsAmerican Family VenturesFundersClubMetaPropMetaProp VenturesR/GA VenturesTechstars

KnipBio produces JUV, a fermented all-natural feed ingredient added to existing aquaculture feed to improve juvenile survival, stress resilience, and yields for farmed fish and shrimp.

AgTechBiotechFoodTechLowell, US

Christopher Marx(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Larry Feinberg(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Jessica McLear(Executive Officer, Director)

BoardJeremy Weinstein(Director)

Co-investorsBoston Harbor AngelsLaunchpad Venture GroupWalnut Venture Associates

LambdaVision develops a protein-based artificial retina using the light-activated protein bacteriorhodopsin to restore vision for patients blinded by retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

BiotechDeep TechMedical DevicesSpace Tech

Robert R. Birge(Founder)Nicole L. Wagner(President and Chief Executive Officer)Jordan A. Greco(Chief Scientific Officer)

Co-investorsAurelia FoundryConnecticut InnovationsSeraphim SpaceSeven Seven SixBand of AngelsE2MC Ventures

LayerBio develops ophthalmology therapies, including OcuRing, a bioerodible sustained-release drug delivery technology designed to work with standard intraocular lenses (IOLs) used in cataract surgery.

BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices

Life Magnetics develops carbon-coated magnetic bead kits for total RNA extraction and isolation, offering RNA purification with no DNase cleanup, room-temperature shipping, and compatibility with automated liquid and bead handling systems.

BiotechDeep TechHardware

Co-investorsID Ventures

Lightform built design tools and hardware for projection mapping, using structured light scanning and computer-vision-powered generative effects to align projected content with physical objects and spaces.

AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyHardware

Lightup develops Halo AR, an AI-powered augmented reality creator studio that lets users build and share 3D and holographic experiences from a phone or tablet without coding.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEdTechSan Mateo, US

Tarun Pondicherry(Founder)

Co-investorsDorm Room

Liquid X manufactures particle-free functional metallic inks and provides printing capabilities for functional electronics fabrication via additive manufacturing.

Advanced ManufacturingHardwareNew MaterialsPittsburgh, US

Co-investorsNewlin Investment Company LLC

LoCI Controls builds hardware and software for landfill gas collection, using field sensors and automation algorithms to monitor gas composition, flow, pressure, and liquid levels and to automatically tune wellfield performance.

CleantechHardwareIoTSomerville, US

Peter Quigley(Director)Andrew Campanella(Executive Officer, Director)Melinda Hale(Executive Officer)

BoardSvenErik Karlsson(Director)

Co-investorsConvergeHouston Angel NetworkLaunchCapital

Lucira Health manufactures portable diagnostic devices that connect to smartphones to test bodily fluids for infectious diseases, enabling rapid results outside of clinical settings.

BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesEmeryville, US

Debkishore Mitra(Founder)inJohn R. Waldeisen(Director)

BoardErik T. Engelson(Executive Officer, Director)Justin Butler(Director)Tuff Yen(Director)Steve Tablak(Director)

Co-investors11.2 CapitalForesite CapitalShangBay Capital LLCY CombinatorOS Fund

LUMEOVA develops WiRays, a wireless connectivity technology using patented optical spectrum methods to deliver Gigabit-to-Terabit-per-second speeds for mobile multimedia and future communications.

Deep TechHardwareSemiconductors

Macromoltek provides computational modeling and AI-driven antibody design services to biotech and pharmaceutical companies, accelerating the discovery and optimization of therapeutic antibodies.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtechAustin, US

Monica Berrondo(Founder/CEO)inSusana Kaufmann(Founder/CTO)in

Co-investorsY CombinatorDCVC (Data Collective)

MadeSolid formulates chemical compounds designed for use in 3D printing to produce functional end products.

Advanced ManufacturingRoboticsEmeryville, US

Brian Martinez(Founder)inLance R. Pickens(Founder)David Rorex(Founder/CTO)in

Co-investorsY Combinator

Mallinda develops VITRIMAX, a recyclable and reprocessable thermoset polymer (vitrimer) chemistry and prepregs that allow carbon, glass, and natural fiber composites to be remolded, repaired, and recycled with full recovery of resin and fiber.

Advanced ManufacturingCircular EconomyNew Materials

Seattle, US

Brian J. Marquardt(Executive Officer, Director)Tom Pierson(Executive Officer)J. Scott Van Vuren(Executive Officer, Director)

Micro Precision Technologies (MPT) manufactures thick film hybrid circuits on ceramic substrates as a more thermally robust alternative to standard PCBs for use in harsh environments such as extreme heat, high vibration, downhole mining, deep sea, and space.

Advanced ManufacturingHardwareSemiconductors

HealthtechLos Angleles, US

Leo Petrossian(Executive Officer, Director)Mark Hattendorf(Executive Officer)

BoardYuri Pikover(Director)Roy Doumani(Director)Kenneth Baker(Director)Stan Rowe(Director)

Co-investorsAlpha EdisonARHW Holdings

Co-investorsSerra Ventures

OnTo Technology develops direct battery recycling methods, including its patented Inertization and Cathode Healing processes, to recover and restore lithium-ion battery cathode materials at low cost and low carbon footprint.

Circular EconomyCleantechNew Materials

Dr. Steve Sloop(Owner & Founder)

Opcondys is developing the Opticondistor (OTV), a light-controlled power switching device based on wide-bandgap materials that offers faster, higher-temperature operation and greater power handling.

Deep TechEnergyHardware

Optomec builds additive manufacturing systems, including 3D metal printers and 3D printed electronics equipment, for industrial production, repair, and prototyping.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardwareAlbuquerque, US

David Ramahi(Executive Officer, Director)Michael Barry(Executive Officer, Director)

BoardJohn Crowe(Director)

Indian Trail, US

Majid Babaie(Chief Executive Officer)Mehrdad Abolbashari(Chief Technology Officer)

Picoyune makes the MA-1, a portable mercury vapor analyzer that uses proprietary plasmonic sensors to give continuous, live readings and log worker exposure across a shift.

Deep TechHardwareIoT

Pioneer Valley Books develops literacy programs and high-interest decodable books for classroom and small-group reading instruction, including products such as Stepping Together, Phonics Launch, and Flameworks.

EdTech

Pivot Bio develops agricultural innovations focused on transforming farming practices through microbiology and genetics.

AgTechBiotechEmeryville, US

Alvin Tamsir(Executive Officer, Director)Karsten Temme(Executive Officer, Director)

BoardRoger Wyse(Director)John Hamer(Director)inMatt Ocko(Director)in

Co-investorsCongruent VenturesDCVC (Data Collective)G2 Venture PartnersK3 VenturesManta Ray VenturesPrelude Ventures+6 more

Pointivo offers an AI and computer vision analytics platform that turns drone-captured 3D imagery into insights on physical assets, supporting use cases such as damage detection, equipment inventory, budgeting and risk mitigation.

AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechEnterprise SoftwareHardwareSaaSAtlanta, US

Dan Ciprari(Executive Officer, Director)in

BoardWilliam Wilkins, Jr.(Director)Blake Patton(Director)in

Co-investorsBIP VenturesBLH Venture Partners, LLCTech Square VenturesBIP Capital

AgTechSanta Monica, US

Frances Arnold(Director)Peter Meinhold(Executive Officer)Pedro Coelho(Executive Officer)Corey Huck(Executive Officer, Director)

BoardGANESH KISHORE(Director)ALAN BOYCE(Director)

Co-investorsAliment CapitalKairos Venture Investments, LlcPontifax AgTechSpruce Capital PartnersVivo CapitalKairos Venture Partners+1 more

Pure Biomass develops closed-system algae cultivation technology, including its patented 55,000-L Triangular Prism Algae Reactor (TriPAR) photo-bioreactor and auxiliary components designed for operation on marginal lands.

AgTechBiotechCleantech

Radom develops high-power microwave plasma sources (1kW–100kW) based on its patented Cerawave torch technology for industrial and research applications.

CleantechDeep TechHardware

A research, innovation, and technology transfer company focused on transportation facilities, developing processes and products to improve performance and extend the service life of highway infrastructure.

Construction TechDeep TechGovTech

REEcycle is an American company that recovers rare earth elements from end-of-life NdFeB magnets in electronic waste using a patented low-temperature extraction process, producing mixed rare earth oxide for domestic magnet production.

Circular EconomyCleantechNew Materials

Resensys develops SenSpot, an ultra low power wireless sensor network for remote structural health monitoring of bridges, tunnels, buildings, dams, and cranes.

Construction TechHardwareIoT

RightHand Robotics develops an AI-powered robotic piece-picking platform for order fulfillment in e-commerce and supply chain operations.

AI & Machine LearningLogistics & Supply ChainRoboticsSomerville, US

Leif Jentoft(Founder)Yaro Tenzer(Founder)inBrian D. Owen(CEO)

Co-investorsMenlo VenturesF-Prime CapitalMatrixPlayground GlobalF-Prime Capital PartnersGlobal Brain+4 more

Larkspur, US

H. Tate Holt(Executive Officer, Director)Thomas Bohrmann(Director)Kenneth Lopiano(Director)

Runtime Verification provides high-assurance cybersecurity consulting based on formal methods for teams building software that cannot fail.

Crypto & Web3CybersecurityDeveloper ToolsUrbana, US

Patrick MacKay(Director)

BoardGrigore Rosu(Founder)

Co-investorsBorderless VentureFenbushi CapitalIOSG VenturesMaven 11

Sense Neuro Diagnostics is developing non-invasive technology to rapidly detect stroke subtype and traumatic brain injury and to continuously monitor brain injury, producing a scan in 2.5 seconds that analyzes the entire cranial vault.

Deep TechHealthtechMedical Devices

George "Chip" Shaw(Co-founder)

Co-investorsAngel Physicians Fund

ShineFusion develops fusion energy technology, pursuing a step-by-step commercialization approach that generates revenue from intermediate applications to fund progress toward clean fusion power.

CleantechDeep TechEnergy

Co-investorsKoch Disruptive TechnologiesNucleation CapitalNV NOM

Sigray builds laboratory x-ray instruments — including x-ray microscopy, micro x-ray fluorescence, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy systems — that deliver synchrotron-like performance for analyzing microstructure, chemistry, and composition.

Deep TechHardwareNew Materials

SiMPore develops and manufactures freely suspended silicon nanomembrane products, including porous membrane chips, electron microscopy grids, x-ray windows, and filters.

BiotechDeep TechNew Materials

Houston, US

Ryan Guerra(Executive Officer, Director)Clayton Shepard(Executive Officer, Director)

Skyven builds the Arcturus line of high-temperature industrial heat pumps that recover waste heat and convert it into boiler-quality steam for manufacturing facilities.

Advanced ManufacturingCleantechEnergyFarmers Branch, US

Smart Material Solutions develops large-area nanomanufacturing technology, including seamless cylindrical molds for roll-to-roll nanopatterning (nanoimprint lithography).

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechNew Materials

My Degree Guide is an online resource that publishes guides and comparison tools to help students find accredited, online, and accelerated degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate levels.

EdTechMedia & Entertainment

Joy Miller(Editorial 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

Spheryx develops Total Holographic Characterization technology for analyzing suspensions at the sub-visible particle level, including detecting protein aggregates and particles in biopharmaceuticals.

BiotechDeep TechHardwareNew York, US

Laura Philips(Executive Officer, Director)inDavid Grier(Director)

BiotechWatertown, US

Robert S. Langer, Sc.D.(Director)Armon Sharei, Ph.D.(Executive Officer, Director)Amy W. Schulman(Executive Officer, Director)Kris Elverum(Executive Officer)Howard Bernstein(Executive Officer)Klavs F. Jensen, Ph.D.(Director)

Co-investorsVeltro Argento

Sudhin Biopharma develops the BioSettler, a single-use inclined settling device used as a selective cell retention system for perfusion bioreactors and for clarifying cell culture broth to recover secreted products such as antibodies and AAV vectors.

BiotechHardwareHealthtech

Supercool Metals makes lightweight, high-strength, geometrically complex hardware components and subsystems using a patented manufacturing process, offering end-to-end capabilities from material science to finished assemblies.

Advanced ManufacturingHardwareNew Materials

TAO Connect provides an online library of over 150 interactive mental health sessions, courses, and practice tools spanning self-guided development, skill building, and clinician-delivered treatment using evidence-based approaches like CBT and ACT.

Digital HealthMental HealthWellness & Fitness

Co-investorsFlorida Funders

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

Co-investorsDorm Room

Symbyon Systems develops and licenses LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) error correction decoder technology, based on architectures from Texas A&M University, for use in nonvolatile memory such as flash and RRAM, hard drives, object storage, and high-speed WiFi wireless systems.

Deep TechHardwareSemiconductorsBryan, US

ALLVAR develops and manufactures alloys with negative and tailored thermal expansion, including Alloy 30 and Alloy M in round bar and tube form, constant-preload washers, spacers, and negative-CTE lens tubes for optics.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechNew Materials

James A. Monroe(Founder & CEO)

BiotechSan Diego, US

Stephen Mayfield(Director)Jason Pyle(Executive Officer, Director)Daniel Sachs(Executive Officer)Xun Wang(Executive Officer)Nicholas Hofmeister(Executive Officer)

BoardDavid Wellis(Director)

Terrestrial develops the Tacterra microarray patch platform, a dissolvable skin-patch technology for delivering therapies including GLP-1 without injection.

BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices

Rachel Sha(CEO)

Co-investorsMission BiocapitalNorwich VenturesUlu VenturesThe Engine Ventures

VascuLogic develops VenousPro, a medical device that automates blood draws and intravenous catheter placement with high first-attempt accuracy.

HealthtechMedical DevicesRobotics

Virta Labs builds an API-first, open-core security platform for healthcare IT infrastructure, including BlueFlow asset management, Tapirx passive medical device discovery, and VulnFWRD AI risk orchestration.

CybersecurityDigital HealthHealthtech

Co-investorsTappan Hill Ventures

WattGlass (Pellucere Technologies) develops advanced glass coatings including anti-reflective, anti-fog, hydrophobic, and anti-soiling/self-cleaning technologies.

CleantechEnergyNew Materials

XACTIV applies 2D and 3D digital printing technology—including electrophotography and liquid/ink jetting—along with custom active liquids, powders, and application-specific manufacturing equipment to enhance client products.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardware

Xallent develops fine pitch probing technologies for semiconductor testing, used to characterize chiplets, advanced packages, and thin films during new materials development and chip manufacturing.

Deep TechHardwareSemiconductors

Zenflow develops medical devices for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men, founded from the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign with a team experienced in medical device development and FDA regulation.

HealthtechMedical DevicesSan Francisco, US

Shreya Mehta(Founder/CTO)inNick Damiano(Executive Officer, Director)John Beck(Executive Officer)

BoardBryan Kim(Director)Robert Weisskoff(Director)inBlayne Roeder(Director)

Co-investorsAstiaShangBay Capital LLCY CombinatorDorm RoomF-Prime CapitalF-Prime Capital Partners+2 more

Co-investorsBackstage Capital