The FuzeHub program recently announced their 2023 Manufacturing Grants awardees as a part of the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund and, in an unprecedented decision, FuzeHub awarded grants to three manufacturing companies working with Binghamton University – two of which are Koffman member companies.
Winners included LiBAMA Power Corporation, Dynami Battery Corp. and the pairing of Opal Wearables and Binghamton University’s Integrated Electronics Engineering Center (IEEC).
“Huge congratulations go out to Koffman member companies LiBAMA Power Corporation and Dynami Battery Corp on their big wins. I can’t think of anyone more deserving than these two teams that have been working tirelessly to improve battery life and performance,” said Koffman Client Relationship Manager Nick Zwierlein. “We can’t thank FuzeHub enough for their support of the entrepreneurial ecosystem that we are building right here in the Southern Tier. What an awesome achievement for Binghamton to have been awarded three grants in a single cycle!”
A grand total of $150,000 was awarded to the three projects working with Binghamton University, each receiving $50,000. The funds will be used individually to help each company advance their technology to make an impact in their industry.
Koffman member company LiBAMA Power is working toward an optimized prototype of their patented manufacturing technology to make the batteries we all depend on daily safer, smaller, more efficient and less expensive.
“This award comes at a critical juncture for LiBAMA Power and will allow us to advance our patented Advanced Metal Anode battery technology beyond the lab into pilot production,” said LiBAMA Founder and CEO Wentao Li. “We appreciate the support from FuzeHub and the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator.”
Another Koffman member company that was awarded FuzeHub grant funds is Dynami. They have developed a patented anode and cathode electrode fabrication technology to increase power density, which helps lithium-ion batteries like those in electric vehicles charge faster and last longer. Their batteries also feature a high enough output to power a plane.
“Dynami is super excited about this win, which inaugurates a new phase of closer cooperation between the company and NECCES,” said Dynami’s CEO Sergio Baron. “This funding will be used to get our Electrode Production Platform closer to giga-scale manufacturing level. Dynami’s groundbreaking electrode production platform crafts lithium-ion superhighways, offering batteries that don’t compromise, delivering both high power and high capacity.”
The third company to receive funding, Opal Wearables in partnership with Binghamton University’s IEEC, is developing technology around a safe smart ring that can silently send requests for help to 911 or emergency contacts with the user’s location and necessary information. This partnership began when Opal Wearables reached out to FuzeHub seeking help, when they were connected to the IEEC.
“We [at IEEC] can help them with the development of the package as well as testing,” said IEEC Associate Director Benson Chan. “So it’s exciting, it’s a really nice product. I met with the inventor, just to go through the proposal and everything, it’s fantastic. For the company itself, $50,000 that [the FuzeHub grant] gives them, allows them to get more of an advanced prototype. They have some early prototypes, but they can get the prototype in the form factor they want and start the development of a more manufacturable process. So it should get closer to the course target as well as the delivery dates.”
Previous Binghamton-based FuzeHub Commercialization Competition and Manufacturing Grants awardees include DomCat Technologies, KLAW Industries and SunThru, LLC.
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