America’s Seed Fund Powered by NSF Provides Funding for R&D; 
Helps small businesses move innovations out of the lab and into the market

GREENSBORO, NC, May 15, 2018 – Triad Growth Partners // Axnano has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant for $728,849.00 to commercialize the innovative technology by conducting research and development (R&D) work on the remediation of contaminated groundwater.

RemRX™ Controlled Release Polymers (CRP) based treatments will decrease exposure to groundwater contaminants known to cause many human health disorders. 

RemRx™ CRP addresses a broad range of commonly found contaminants, typically by-products of industrial manufacturing, cleaning solvents, and agricultural run-off. 

RemRx™ CRP patented technology treats contaminated water over more extended periods eliminating the occurrence of contaminant rebounding resulting in an overall shorter clean up time and lower total project costs. 

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

"The NSF funding allows us to move forward with both field testing and manufacturing pilots and deploying a site-specific, customer driven, prescriptive product sales platform within months." and Charlie Gause, CEO, Triad Growth Partners/Axnano continues: " ... our business model and innovation process were validated right alongside our new invention, and this award is a big milestone."

Small businesses can receive up to $1.5 million in funding from NSF. Companies must first have received a Phase I award (up to $225,000) to become eligible to apply for a Phase II grant (up to $750,000) to further develop and commercialize the technology. 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.

Small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions and commercial potential across almost all areas of technology are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. NSF’s deadlines for Phase I small business proposals occur twice annually, in June and December.

To learn more about the NSF SBIR/STTR program, visit: seedfund.nsf.gov.

About the National Science Foundation's Small Business Programs: America’s Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) awards nearly $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 $7.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.


CONTACT:

Charlie Gause
CEO
Triad Growth Partners/Axnano
(540) 230-3881

Triad Growth Partners
2901 Gate City Boulevard ​Suite 2200
Greensboro, NC ​27401
(336) 217-5171

527 Bridge Street,
​Suite 301
Danville, VA
​24051 ​

​Welcome, Danilo Meyer (Dani), to Triad Growth Partners' AxNano technology development team.

Dani “pronounced Donnie" is responsible for field testing and lab work in the degradation of toxic contaminants and early technology development of groundwater remediation solutions.  

Donnie works with researchers, scientists, field experts and end users of environmental technologies that address specific market opportunities.

Dani's undergraduate studies in environmental science and geology led him from Juanita College to TGP.  

I took a few minutes to talk to Donnie one afternoon at TGP. When I asked him what he found most interesting and challenging in his work, Dani said: "A lot of what we do has never been done before..., we have to invent new methods to address our discovery and validation challenges. An example of that would be working with contaminated groundwater and RemRx™ CRP." 

"The release of oxidants and the oxidization of contaminants... TGP is pioneering innovations in a world typically left overlooked and unexplored by geologists and hydrologists."

I thought about the added level of complexity of doing innovative work within the framework of a scientific method.  Dani told me that he relied on his studies in chemistry, physics and most of all, good lab skills. 

Under the watchful eyes of Alexis Wells-Carpenter, TGPs Senior Scientist, those lab skills, such as methods of quantitation, accuracy, and precision, repeatability and reproducibility are core to the success of his laboratory work.

Dani likes the opportunities for innovation, trial and error, the definition of new experimental standards, and of course, the testing, testing, and more testing. 

He said: "...there was a chance here (at TGP) to have an impact on the world, to change the world, and make it a better place.

Born and raised in Durham, NC, Dani is a soccer fanatic and has adopted the practice of his favorite sport as an integral part of this life. He said that he was in many ways dedicated to soccer. He finds it to be a meditative experience, as well as a team building activity. 

I asked him what he was reading these days? 

"Love in the Time of Cholera" a novel by Colombian Nobel prize-winning author Gabriel García, and he continued: “you have to read between the lines.”

CRPS amendments are in the pilot testing phase.
​We are currently seeking pilot testing partners for in field application.
Contact: 
Alexis Wells Carpenter, PhD – PI
Charles Gause – Founder, CEO
(540) 230-3881​
​Learn more about TGP partnerships here.

​

RemTec – Denver CO March 7-9, 2017
AxNano attended the RemTEC Summit on Denver CO March 7-9, 2017. RemTEC delivers a truly unique platform focused on advancing the environmental science and remediation industry. It is the place where you can hear essential sources of information on technology, application and policy impacting the restoration of contaminated sites from the world's leading experts within the academic, regulatory and environmental-consulting communities. AxNano’s Principal Investigator, Alexis Carpenter, presented a poster presentation entitled “Next Generation Controlled Release Technology for In Situ Chemical Oxidation Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater”. During their time at RemTEC, Dr. Carpenter and AxNano CEO Charlie Gause met remediation material suppliers including Carus Corporation, Regenesis, Peroxychem, EOS; consulting firms including Haley-Aldrich, GeoSyntec, CDM Smith; state and federal regulatory agencies and many leading experts in the field. Dr. Carpenter was able to reconnect with a colleague from her Duke University days, Anh Pham who is now Assistant Professor in Environmental Engineering at Carleton University.
 http://www.remtecsummit.com/

Battelle Bioremediation Conference, Miami FL, May 22-25,2017
AxNano CEO Charlie Gause and Principal Investigator Alexis Wells Carpenter attended the Fourth International Symposium on Bioremediation and Sustainable Environmental Technologies in Miami FL May 22-25th.  As part of their I-Corps @ NIH Customer Discovery process, Charlie and Alexis were able to again meet with remediation material supplies, environmental consultants, drillers and applicators, and state and federal regulatory representatives. In addition to learning from key players in the remediation ecosystem and hearing the stories of how other remediation technologies gained market uptake, Charlie and Alexis used the opportunity to investigate partnerships for pilot testing the AxNano technologies in the field, which are the key milestones for Phase 2 contracts.
 
ACS 254th National Meeting, Washington DC August 20-24th, 2017
AxNano was invited to present at the 254th National ACS Meeting in the Special Session titled: “Economic Impact of Environmental Health Research: A Case Study of the NIEHS Superfund Research Program” Dr. Carpenter will give an oral presentation titled “RemRxTM CRP: Controlled release polymeric systems for in situ chemical oxidation of contaminated waters” where she will present data indicating anticipated economic impact of AxNano’s Superfund Research Program-supported technology in terms of: decreased cost of environmental clean-up, decreased liability to responsible parties, reclamation and regeneration of site for reuse, job creation and the global economic benefits of providing clean water.

AxNano was selected to participate in the prestigious I-Corps™ program through their NIEHS STTR Phase I contract. Based on the highly successful NSF I-Corps™ program, the I-Corps™ at NIH curriculum is designed to provide scientists from NIH SBIR funded companies with real-world, hands-on entrepreneurship training, facilitated by domain experts from the biotech sector. 

This program seeks to accelerate the development and commercialization of new products and services arising from projects supported by currently funded NIH/CDC Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards. In particular, the I-Corps™ program is designed to support training that will help project teams at NIH and CDC funded small businesses overcome key obstacles along the path of innovation and commercialization.

The course began with a three-day intensive “Entrepreneurial Immersion” course, followed by an 8-week I-Corps™ training curriculum with online instruction, and ending with a two-day report-out session. During the I-Corp™s program, the AxNano Team conducted 112 interviews (67 in person, 45 on the phone) with environmental consultants, remediation material suppliers and sales reps, site owners, regulators, and drillers/applicators.

Stellar team delivered brilliant results!
AxNano 's three member team included Alexis Wells Carpenter (PI), Charlie Gause (CEO) and Phil Rahn (Industry Expert) representing a first selection of Superfund Research Program supported teams into an I-Corps™ cohort.

Dr. James Canton, global futurist, social scientist, entrepreneur, author, and business advisor, has joined Triad Growth Partners as a Special Advisor. A former Apple executive and technology entrepreneur, Dr. Canton is Chairman and CEO of the Institute for Global Futures and has been recognized by “The Economist” as one of the leading global futurists in the world.

For 25 years, Dr. Canton has forecasted the key trends and technologies that have shaped our world, including  innovations in business, technology, globalization, health care, population, science, climate, workforce and security.  Canton advises his clients -- major corporations and governments -- on how to better predict and prepare for a disruptive future that could either be very risky or filled with opportunity

Dr. Canton’s  most recent book, Future Smart: Managing the Game-Changing Trends That Will Transform Your World, grew out of a five-year global forecasting study on the most urgent trends that will impact business, society, and individuals over the next two decades: the future of talent, climate, energy, technology, and business.  

Technology-driven disruption has kept us on our toes for the past decade. But, based on Dr. Canton’s study, the impact and complexity of changes he predicts over the next 10 to 20 years call for an unprecedented shift in thinking. Organizations can’t just be agile - and adapting is no longer good enough. They need to predict faster, predict with agility and, importantly, they need to act to position for game-changing opportunities.

“Today you need shape your future before someone else does. Those that lack the courage to predict and shape their future may become victims of an unwelcome destiny,” Dr. Canton said in an interview with Forbes contributor Greg Satell.  (You can read the full Forbes article here.)

I was part of Dr. Canton’s thought-provoking session at Triad Growth Partners’ 2016 Idea Institute Unconference in Greensboro, North Carolina a few months ago.  My brain nearly exploded trying to grapple with the pace of change, the scale of its impact, and the intertwined ecosystems - technology, science, health, natural resources, economies, politics, education and beyond.   Yet, Dr. Canton reminded us “this is (only) the early stage of the Global Innovation Economy.”   

By session end, Dr. Canton had deftly challenged us to shift our focus beyond what’s around the corner to understanding the longer term trends and become predictively aware and future ready.  In 20 years, what will be our greatest challenges?  Acting from that vantage point, we can leverage all of the knowledge, technology and innovation we have - or are developing.

Shifting the question from what the trends predict, which can feel fatalistic, to how to manage the changes these trends will bring, is both ambitious and empowering.  What types of solutions, products, technologies and innovations will we need?  What business models will get us there?  How do we find/create a new kind of talent -that can manage complexity, transform organizations and predict customers needs and desires?

Dr. Canton shares four high level strategies for enterprises to become future-ready: manage uncertainty and complexity, attract and retain talent faster, navigate geopolitical and climate risks, and leverage disruptive innovation.  

For those of us who aren’t steering major corporations, nations or institutions, being predictively aware helps us understand the world and our place in it, But Dr. Canton’s expectations for each of us as individuals is much higher.  In a recent interview with BizTechReports Editorial Director, Lane Cooper, Dr. Canton issued a challenge to each of us to flex our own capacity to define the future:

“While I write books like Future Smart to help my clients be ready for what’s coming and to become game changers, it’s not just about the organization. Individuals are really the game changers that change organizations; people change markets and industries.” 

“We all have the ability to be a game changer and that’s a big point of what my book is about – to challenge people. There are challenges facing the planet and I believe individuals do make the difference. The technologies that are emerging – whether they’re bio, nano, neuro, quantum technologies -- they are just the tool sets to help us make a better world.”

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More about Dr. James Canton
To learn more about Dr. Canton, his books and to sample his presentations, visit his website http://www.globalfuturist.com
You can get a taste  of Dr. Canton’s fascinating list of influential roles, “firsts” and achievements from his early role at Apple to today and his wide ranging interests and activities on LinkedIn and on Wikipedia.  
 
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About the author:
Monica Doss (Linkedin)
Works with companies, research/higher education institutions, communities and economic development groups to develop and implement entrepreneurship and innovation strategies that are both transformative and organic. She is inspired by cities and communities like Durham, Winston-Salem and Greensboro NC that tap into their intellectual, creative and entrepreneurial mojo to re-shape themselves for a new generation. ​