The Maine Technology Institute awarded $52,476 in grants to seven Maine companies in January.
MTI awarded five TechStart grants totaling $24,350 and two Business Accelerator grants totaling $28,126. In total, the grants leveraged $73,591 of matching funds from the award recipients.
The five companies that received TechStart grants, which are designed to help defray startup costs such as developing a business plan and IP filing fees, were:
Rockport Imaging LLC in Rockport received a $5,000 TechStart grant, which it matched with $17,315 from other sources. Rockport Imaging has developed a micro electro-mechanical anesthesia delivery and safety monitoring system. Tech Start funding will be used to prepare and submit a patent application to secure the technology.
Codeweaving Inc. in Dresden received a $5,000 grant, which it matched with $5,000. The company has developed a software-as-a-service (SAAS) application, Hover8, to provide interactive imaging capabilities to business customers. The TechStart grant will provide the company to pursue intellectual property protection, improve its business plan, and extend its market research and analysis.
VisionMaster Inc. in Portland received a $5,000 grant, which it matched with $10,000. This funding will allow VisionMaster to secure intellectual property rights on its barcode-scanning technology.
Gotham Biotechnology LLC, a startup in New Gloucester, received a $4,350 grant, which it matched with $5,850. Gotham Biotechnology plans to design and implement a non-invasive, direct antigen Lyme disease immunodiagnostic assay. The grant will be used to collect market research data to help the company modify its business plan.
Delta Dewatering LLC in South Portland received a $5,000 grant, which it matched with $7,300. The grant will help the company secure intellectual property rights on its new technology for separating high volume liquid and solid slurries.
The next application deadline for MTI’s TechStart grant program is March 7.
MTI provided Business Accelerator grants, which are provided on a monthly basis to companies seeking up to $50,000 to commercialize new technology or help a business increase its scope and sustainability, to two companies:
Abierto Networks LLC in Eliot received a $21,626 Business Accelerator grant, which it matched with $21,626 from other sources. Abierto Networks provides digital signage and marketing solutions to the convenience store and fast food industry. The grant will allow the company to perform market and customer usability research related to a new product.
Sustainability Metrics LLC, which does business as Rapport, received a $6,500 Business Accelerator grant, which it matched with $6,500 from other sources. Rapport helps organizations accurately measure their environmental footprint; identify opportunities to save money by reducing impact; and share data with stakeholders. This grant will help Rapport target two new major markets: municipalities and larger corporations.
The next application deadline for MTI’s Business Accelerator Grant is March 7, 2017 by 5pm.
MTI, created by the Maine Legislature in 2000, provides funding to Maine entrepreneurs operating in one of seven target industries: aquaculture and marine technology, biotechnology, composite materials, environmental technologies, forestry and agriculture, precision manufacturing, and information technology.
