VIPC Awards Commonwealth Commercialization Fund Grant to Sentek Instrument, LLC

CCF grants support startups, critical early technology testing and market validation efforts

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES, January 25, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporations (VIPC), Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) today announced that Sentek Instrument, LLC has been awarded a CFF grant of $75,000. VIPCs CCF program has distributed more than $43 million to Virginia-based startups, entrepreneurs and university-based inventors since 2012.

Sentek Instrument, based in Blacksburg, Va., manufactures special optical fibers and sensor systems for single point or distributed sensing in various harsh environments. This CCF grant will be used to develop a fiber sensing system to address the increasing concern about electric vehicle battery safety.

We are thrilled to receive a CCF grant from VIPC, said Anbo Wang, CEO, Sentek Instrument, LLC. This funding will enable us to further develop our fiber optic EV battery sensors. We are eager to drive down the distributed temperature sensing cost to a level where fiber sensor adoption for on-vehicle installation becomes economically viable for the first time. In the meantime, this most affordable distributed sensing technology may find applications in the electric power, aerospace, oil/gas, machinery and even residential markets.

We are pleased to award a CCF grant to Sentek Instrument, said Sean Mallon, VIPCs VP for Commercialization. VIPCs CCF grant program plays an important role in getting funding to Virginia-based pre-seed and seed-stage startups when they need it most. Our goal is to help Virginia companies grow and lead the nation in innovation, opportunity, and job creation. Sentek Instruments innovative research and commercialization efforts promise to meet emerging needs as vehicles around the world continue to transition to sustainable electricity.

CCF accepts applications and awards funding on a rolling basis to Virginias small business and academic community. This competitive program seeks to fund high-potential, Virginia-based, for-profit technology companies at the pre-seed stage of commercialization and provides grants up to $75,000. The grants support early technology and market validation efforts such as customer discovery, market research, business model validation, development of prototypes or a minimum viable product (MVP), customer pilots, intellectual property protection, team development, and more. For more information on funding opportunities and eligibility requirements, or to apply please visit the VirginiaIPC.org website.

About the Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF)
The Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) was launched on July 1, 2020 to foster innovative and collaborative efforts in Virginia. Combining two legacy state programs, the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund (CRCF) and the Virginia Research Innovation Fund (VRIF), CCF seeks technologies with a high potential for economic development and job creation and that position the Commonwealth as a national leader in science- and technology-based research, development, and commercialization.

About Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
Connecting innovators with opportunities. As the nonprofit operations arm of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA), VIPC is the commercialization and seed stage economic development driver in the Commonwealth that leads funding, infrastructure, and policy initiatives to support Virginia's innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and market development strategies. VIPC collaborates with local, regional, state, and federal partners to support the expansion and diversification of Virginias economy.

Programs include: Virginia Venture Partners (VVP) | VVP Fund of Funds (SSBCI) | Virginia Founders Fund (VFF) |Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) | Petersburg Founders Fund (PFF) | Smart Communities | Unmanned Systems | Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) | Public Safety Innovation |Entrepreneurial Ecosystems | Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) | Federal Funding Assistance Program (FFAP) for SBIR & STTR | University Partnerships | Startup Company Mentoring & Engagement. For more information, please visit www.VirginiaIPC.org. Follow VIPC on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Angela Costello, Vice President of Communications
Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
angela.costello@VirginiaIPC.org
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