Innovate Alabama Awards $1.4 million in SBIR/STTR Supplemental Grants to Four Alabama Startups Fueling Breakthrough Technologies

Birmingham, Ala. [SEPT. 16, 2024] – Innovate Alabama awarded more than $1.4 million in SBIR/STTR Supplemental Grants to four Alabama-based small businesses leading breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, renewable energy and biotechnology.  

The Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program provides non-dilutive funding to small businesses and university inventors that have previously secured competitive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants from federal research institutions. The program enhances Alabama’s innovation pipeline by supporting the research, commercialization and export potential of local startups. 

“Access to capital, one of Innovate Alabama’s core pillars, can make the difference in these small businesses bringing their research to market.” said Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO of Innovate Alabama. “We look forward to seeing the cascading effect these investments will have on these small businesses and the broader innovation ecosystem.” 

The four recipients include: 

• Accelerate Wind (Birmingham): A renewable energy startup developing affordable, edge-of-roof wind turbines designed to complement solar energy and help commercial buildings move toward net-zero. 

• KODA Technologies (Huntsville): A defense contractor using advanced simulations to develop high-temperature nozzle technology for next-generation missile systems. 

• VivoSphere™ (Auburn): A biotechnology company innovating in 3D cell culture systems to enhance drug screening and reduce dependence on animal testing. 

• Zaden Technologies (Huntsville): An AI-powered defense software company advancing its Icarus platform, which automates complex systems modeling using Architecture-as-Code and SysML diagrams. 

Since launching the program, Innovate Alabama has invested more than $14 million across 68 small businesses statewide, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and catalyzing innovation-driven growth across Alabama. 

To learn more about the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program, visit https://innovatealabama.org/programs/supplemental-grant-program/.