{"692925":{"#nid":"692925","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Quadrant-i Awards $150,000 to Help Georgia Tech Researchers Build Startups ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA promising discovery may begin in a Georgia Tech lab, but moving it into the world requires more than research. Faculty members and graduate students must identify who needs the technology, test its market potential, and determine whether it can become a viable product or company.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQuadrant-i, a commercialization unit within Georgia Tech\u2019s Office of Commercialization, helps researchers navigate that transition. The unit supports faculty, researchers, and graduate students with business coaching, funding opportunities, industry expertise, and other resources that help move research from the lab to real-world application.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis summer, 52 research-based teams applied to participate in Startup Launch through Quadrant-i, with approximately 44 beginning the 12-week accelerator. The cohort included graduate students, researchers, and four tenured faculty members. The experience helps Georgia Tech founders identify customer needs, refine their business models, present to venture investors, and begin building viable startups around their ideas and technologies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, 15 teams have been selected to receive an additional $10,000 each to support their next stage of development, representing a total investment of $150,000. Their innovations span biotech, medtech, energy, robotics, aerospace, fusion, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cTurning research into a startup requires founders to look beyond the technology and understand the customer and the market, and find a business model,\u201d said Harold Solomon, a Quadrant-i principal who led the research-focused teams through Startup Launch this summer. \u201cThese teams demonstrated a willingness to step outside the lab, listen, and adapt to their respective marketplace. This funding gives them additional resources to validate their ideas and move closer to bringing their innovations to market.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESelected Teams\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnnularBio\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EM.G. Finn\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnnularBio is developing monoclonal antibodies and related research tools to improve the detection and study of glycans and glycan-associated biomarkers in areas including cancer and translational biology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/annularbio.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EVisit the AnnularBio website.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECNS Gene Delivery Device\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERobert Nikolai, Nicholas Boulis, Stanislav Emelianov, Anthony Donsante, Yue Chen, and Charles Hong\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech and Emory University\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrent methods for delivering adeno-associated virus gene therapies to the central nervous system can cause severe side effects in other parts of the body. The team is developing a drug delivery device that targets these therapies to the central nervous system while minimizing unintended exposure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECardioTwin Ablate VR\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFlavio Fenton, Elizabeth Cherry, Bethany Barnwell, and Casey Lee-Trimble\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Physics, College of Sciences\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECardioTwin Ablate VR creates patient-specific 3D digital twins of the heart using detailed ionic-cell simulations to reproduce each patient\u2019s cardiac electrical activity. Its interactive virtual reality platform allows physicians to explore arrhythmias and virtually test ablation strategies before treating a patient.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFructus Robotics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYixuan Xia, Yilin Cai, Samuel Wilcox, and Yue Chen\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFructus Robotics is developing an autonomous blueberry harvesting system designed to harvest fruit selectively and efficiently. The technology aims to help growers address seasonal labor shortages while reducing costs and protecting fruit quality.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/stophere1.github.io\/blueberry_harvesting_page\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELearn more about Fructus Robotics.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHieron\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDanish Baig and Jiho Kim\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHieron is developing a full-system design exploration platform to reduce costly redesigns of next-generation AI data center processors. The platform helps fabless chip designers evaluate silicon and advanced packaging options earlier and develop architectures that maximize performance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeucina Therapeutics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYusef Haikal and John Blazeck\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeucina Therapeutics is developing a more precise cancer treatment that enhances a patient\u2019s immune cells while keeping them inactive until they encounter specific enzymes within a tumor. This approach could help immune cells attack cancer without damaging healthy tissue.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMachFusion\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJames Wateska and Carolyn Seepersad\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMachFusion predicts and corrects distortion in hybrid metal 3D printing in hours instead of days. The technology helps manufacturers build complex, low-volume parts correctly the first time, reducing scrap and rework.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMotionID\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBruce Walker, Prithiv Premkumar, and Ryan Clark\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Psychology, College of Sciences; School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing; and Neuroscience Program\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMotionID is developing gesture-based biometric technology that uses an individual\u2019s movements to support fast, accurate, and low-friction identification, authentication, and confirmation of user intent. Potential applications include virtual and augmented reality, payments, secure environments, and communication with robots.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENeuroBot: Microrobots for Neurosurgery Applications\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEmmett Freeman and Azadeh Ansari, Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKimberly Hoang, Emory University\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENeuroBot is developing a minimally invasive, untethered, miniaturized microrobotic platform designed to help surgeons reach and perform procedures within deep-brain tumors. The technology aims to expand access to life-saving neurosurgical procedures beyond major medical centers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHolosonIQ\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECostas Arvanitis\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team is developing an AI-assisted holographic ultrasound platform that safely and noninvasively opens the blood-brain barrier, enabling precise delivery of therapies to the brain. The approach could expand treatment options for brain tumors and neurodegenerative diseases while supporting next-generation gene and cell therapies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arvanitis.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EVisit the Ultrasound Biophysics and Bioengineering Laboratory website.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPlantIQ\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEli Mehlferber, Sam P.\u0026nbsp; Brown\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlantIQ helps vineyards respond to the growing threat of grapevine red blotch virus. The platform turns vineyard spatial data and diagnostic histories into customized testing and vine-removal plans based on each vineyard\u2019s budget.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/brownlab.biology.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELearn more about the Brown Lab.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERevalor Energy Inc.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAhmed Yunus and Yongsheng Chen\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERevalor Energy uses AI-powered process control to help water resource recovery facilities create new revenue streams. Its RNGenius\u2122 platform integrates with existing infrastructure to improve the recovery of biogas, nutrients, and other valuable products.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/revalorenergy.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EVisit the Revalor Energy website.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESCHORTY Technologies\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJoseph L. Greene, Nathan Meraz, and Megan Birch\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESCHORTY turns an ordinary camera into an optical ruler, using tilted optics to convert focus into distance. Designed for autonomy, defense, and other applications, the 3D sensor becomes more precise as it moves closer to an object to enable 3D detection in form factors and in scenarios otherwise prohibitive with other methods.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETyr Aerospace\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeon Wallace and Kai James\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETyr Aerospace is building an AI-powered digital twin for laser powder bed fusion metal 3D printing. Using real-time sensor data, the platform detects defects as they form and recommends process adjustments to reduce failed builds and improve part quality.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVoltaPure\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXing Xie\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;VoltaPure is developing LEEFT (Locally Enhanced Electric Field Treatment), a next-generation, chemical-free technology for rapid and energy-efficient water disinfection. The compact, scalable platform enables safe, decentralized drinking water treatment without relying on conventional chemical disinfectants.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/xie.ce.gatech.edu\/voltapure\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EVisit the VoltaPure website.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe teams will use the funding to support technical development, prototyping, customer discovery, market validation, and other milestones that can help move their innovations closer to commercialization.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech faculty members, researchers, and graduate students interested in exploring the commercial potential of their work can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/quadrant-i.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Elearn more about Quadrant-i and its resources\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFifteen Georgia Tech research teams will receive $10,000 each from Quadrant-i to advance startups developed through this summer\u2019s Startup Launch accelerator. Their work spans health care, energy, robotics, aerospace, and other fields, with the funding supporting the next steps toward bringing their ideas to market.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Quadrant-i is awarding $150,000 to 15 Georgia Tech research teams to help turn their discoveries into startups."}],"uid":"36434","created_gmt":"2026-09-29 18:31:28","changed_gmt":"2026-09-29 18:48:44","author":"lcameron30","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-09-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-09-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681293":{"id":"681293","type":"image","title":"Qi-awardes.jpg","body":null,"created":"1790707389","gmt_created":"2026-09-29 18:43:09","changed":"1790707389","gmt_changed":"2026-09-29 18:43:09","alt":" Harold Solomon, a Quadrant-i principal ","file":{"fid":"265664","name":"Qi-awardes.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/29\/Qi-awardes.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/29\/Qi-awardes.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7871306,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/09\/29\/Qi-awardes.jpg?itok=BXhxnabE"}}},"media_ids":["681293"],"groups":[{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"},{"id":"195134","name":"go-quadranti"},{"id":"194436","name":"Quadrant-I"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELacey Cameron\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}