MIT.nano has unveiled seven innovative companies selected to participate in the START.nano program, designed to accelerate the commercialization of hard-tech innovations. This dynamic initiative aids new ventures by providing them with discounted access to MIT.nano’s state-of-the-art facilities, alongside valuable resources from the broader MIT innovation ecosystem.
These emerging startups are tackling a diverse array of advancements, including healthcare wearables, sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, cutting-edge battery technologies, data system enhancements, and the creation of interconnected networks for nanofabrication knowledge.
“Transforming a groundbreaking idea from the laboratory into a product that millions can hold in their hands is a challenging journey,” noted Vladimir Bulović, Director of MIT.nano, at the recent 2024 Nano Summit, where nine START.nano companies showcased their projects. The program’s objective is to support startups through the initial hurdles of identifying stakeholders and developing prototypes.
Participants in the START.nano initiative not only gain access to essential laboratory tools to propel their technologies forward, but they also receive guidance from expert MIT.nano staff. They connect with MIT.nano Consortium companies and gain increased visibility at MIT conferences and community events, while being eligible to join the MIT Startup Exchange.
“Through MIT.nano, we’ve accelerated our project into the realm of advanced sensing by utilizing their cutting-edge fabrication equipment,” expressed Uroš Kuzmanović, CEO and founder of Biosens8. “The START.nano program has immersed us in an exciting community and provided a robust support system, allowing BioSens8 to advance at an unprecedented pace.”
Here are the seven new startups joining START.nano:
Analog Photonics is at the forefront of developing lidar and optical communications technology through innovative silicon photonics.
Biosens8 focuses on creating groundbreaking devices for health empowerment. Their research emphasizes multiplexed wearables designed to monitor hormones, neurotransmitters, organ health indicators, and drug usage, paving the way for personalized medicine and proactive health management.
Casimir, Inc. is pioneering power-generating nanotechnology that harnesses quantum fields, achieving a constant power supply akin to solar panels that function even in the absence of light or batteries that never require recharging.
Central Spiral is dedicated to lossless data compression, creating technologies that can compress any type of data, including already compressed formats. This reduces storage and transmission costs while lowering carbon emissions and enhancing operational efficiency.
FabuBlox seeks to unify the nanofabrication ecosystem by addressing the challenges posed by fragmented and unstructured fab knowledge. Their cloud-based platform merges generative design processes and simulation with GitHub-like repository functionalities.
Metal Fuels specializes in transforming industrial waste aluminum into onsite energy and high-value aluminum/aluminum-oxide powders. By integrating established technologies of molten metal purification and water atomization, they’ve developed a self-sustaining reactor that produces high-quality alumina, along with capturing hydrogen off-gas.
PolyJoule, Inc. is an energy storage innovator focusing on conductive polymer battery technology. Their ambition is to create a future grid battery that is ultra-safe, sustainable, long-lasting, and cost-effective.
In addition to the seven startups actively participating in MIT.nano, nine other companies have recently been invited to join the latest cohort of START.nano:
- Acorn Genetics
- American Boronite Corp.
- Copernic Catalysts
- Envoya Bio
- Helix Carbon
- Minerali
- Plaid Semiconductors
- Quantum Network Technologies
- Wober Tech
Since its inception in 2021, START.nano has grown to encompass more than 20 companies and eight graduates, which includes businesses that have successfully navigated early-stage development and progressed toward commercialization.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
