Out of 160 submissions, SynMatter was selected as one of the finalists for Akzo Nobel’s “Paint the Future” Challenge and has been invited to Amsterdam, Netherlands, to participate in an accelerator program, wow judges and work towards a joint development partnership. SynMatter is very excited and grateful for the opportunity and looks forward to meeting with Akzo Nobel experts to present and learn.

https://www.akzonobel.com/en/for-media/media-releases-and-features/startups-joining-akzonobel-accelerator-program-prepare-wow

https://coatings.specialchem.com/news/industry-news/akzonobel-21-startups-paint-the-future-challenge-000217937

Orlando, FL, February 25, 2019

SynMatter LLC has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $224,993 to conduct research and development (R&D) work on next-generation durable, superhydrophobic anticorrosive coatings.

Corrosion of these metal structures is estimated to cost the world economy around $2.3 trillion in maintenance and replacement capital every year. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will enable the development of a cost-effective, high-performance, durable, superhydrophobic, anticorrosive coating for protecting metal structures, including high-value assets that are essential parts of the US energy infrastructure, such as offshore oil and gas platforms, marine ships and wind turbines. This has the potential to significantly reduce both cost and waste by improving structural safety, reducing maintenance frequency and lengthening the operating lifetime of such vital assets, while at the same time reducing the environmental impact of corrosion protection systems by using less harmful materials, negating coating repainting needs and extending metal lifetime.

“The National Science Foundation supports startups and small businesses with the most innovative, cutting-edge ideas that have the potential to become great commercial successes and make huge societal impacts,” said Graciela Narcho, Acting Director of Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. “We hope that seed funding will spark solutions to some of the most important challenges of our time across all areas of science and technology.”

“We are very excited and grateful to be receiving this grant from NSF. The funding will enable SynMatter, a Florida high-tech development company, to develop and commercialize a durable, superhydrophobic, anticorrosive coating that will protect metal structures in many environments and thereby extend their lifetime, reducing the environmental impact of repair, maintenance and replacement.” Xuejun Zhang, CEO & Chief Scientist, SynMatter LLC

Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $225,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II grant (up to $750,000). Small businesses with Phase II grants are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales.

NSF accepts Phase I proposals from small businesses twice annually in June and December. Small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program undergo a rigorous merit-based review process.

To learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, visit: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/

About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs: America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.5 million in non-dilutive funds to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $7.8 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.

 

After presenting to over 15 larger corporations, including several Fortune 500 companies, SynMatter has been accepted into the competitive Plug and Play New Materials & Packaging Startup Accelerator Program in Sunnyvale, CA. Plug and Play is a global innovation platform that provides workspace, workshops, mentoring and connects startups to corporations, as well as invest in over 100 companies every year.

SynMatter would like to thank Plug and Play and its corporate partners for accepting the company into the program.

SynMatter was selected to present and exhibit at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference 2017. SynMatter will present their technology to a host of entrepreneurs, Fortune 1000/Global 1000 corporations, VCs, angel investors, policy leaders, and federal government agencies on May 15 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. From May 15-16, SynMatter will also be exhibiting their technology and capabilities at booth 29M.

For more information on the TechConnect World Innovation Conference 2017, please visit https://techconnectworld.com/World2017/.

SynMatter was selected by the National Council Of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer as a Top 40 Startup in the United States. SynMatter will present their technology at the upcoming University Startups Conference and Demo Day to university Startup Officers, university startups, entrepreneurs, Fortune 1000/Global 1000 corporations, VCs, angel investors, policy leaders, and federal government agencies on April 18 in Washington, DC.

For more information on the University Startups Conference and Demo Day, please visit httpss://www.ncet2.org/.

SynMatter was awarded a competitive national I-Corps Team Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The $50,000 grant provided financial support to attend intensive training at the Washington, D.C. I-Corps Node and perform extensive customer research and discover. During the course of the 7 week program, the team interviewed over 100 personnel in corrosion protection industry, including attending multiple trade shows and exhibitions and speaking to persons in the automotive, aerospace, construction, marine and oil & gas industries.

SynMatter would like to extend a big Thank You to Tony Guan for his team mentorship.

In March 2016, SynMatter was awarded an I-Corps Site Award at the University of Central Florida (UCF). This involved classroom training on the Lean Startup business model based on work by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf. The $2,550 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) provided financial support for SynMatter to interview nearly 40 persons within the corrosion industry, which included attendance at a major industry trade show.