Empire State Development has awarded more than $3 million in grants to 25 businesses across New York through the third round of the NYSTAR Innovation Matching Grants program. This initiative, which began in May 2024, is part of ongoing efforts to help small businesses and encourage technology development within the state.
Since its launch, NYSTAR’s Innovation Matching Grants program has received over 130 applications and distributed nearly $7.8 million to 60 businesses so far. The latest group of recipients includes startups from regions such as the Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Long Island, New York City, North Country, Southern Tier, and Western New York.
“Innovation is happening in every corner of New York State. By providing additional funds to these homegrown projects in high-growth industries, we’re accelerating the kind of technological and economic progress that will benefit all New Yorkers,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight.
The selected companies are working in areas like additive manufacturing technologies, artificial intelligence, energy storage and battery technologies, and life sciences/biotechnology. Businesses eligible for this funding had already received support from federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The state grants provide up to $200,000 per company and cover commercialization services not funded by federal awards—such as marketing or legal support. Disbursement depends on successful SBIR/STTR award status and finalizing a grant agreement.
NYSTAR Executive Director Ben Verschueren explained the goals behind the program: “We started the Innovation Matching Grants program to bridge the gap between R&D and commercialization. Awardees are using New York’s support to market their innovations, gain investor awareness, and safeguard their intellectual property, among other crucial steps that are outside the scope of their federal grants. NYSTAR is proud to offer this program as part of our larger effort to spur innovation in the Empire State.”
NYSTAR continues its commitment to supporting early-stage technology work and speeding up commercial success for new products—a strategy aimed at fostering business growth and job creation throughout New York.
Among those receiving grants in Round Three are companies based in diverse sectors across multiple regions:
– Albacore Ocean Systems, LLC (New York City)
– ANDRO Computational Solutions, LLC (Mohawk Valley)
– Anova Biomedical, Inc. (Southern Tier)
– ARMA BIO, INC. (New York City)
– Astrabeam, LLC (New York City)
– BeamFeed, LLC (New York City)
– BiRed Imaging, Inc. (Finger Lakes)
– Brooklyn InnoSeq, Inc. (New York City)
– Calyx Systems (New York City)
– Care4QoL, LLC (Capital Region)
– ecoLong, LLC (Capital Region)
– Ergami Endoscopy, Inc. (New York City)
– Hebbian Bio, Inc. (New York City)
– iHealthScreen, Inc. (New York City)
– KLAW Industries (Southern Tier)
– Mission Power (North Country)
– Natrion, Inc. (Southern Tier)
– Nearabl, Inc. (New York City)
– Neuralenz (New York City)
– NoMIS Power Corp. (Capital Region)
– PlasmaChem Solutions, Inc. (Western New York)
– QAS.AI, Inc. (Western New York)
– Sunrise Technology, Inc. (Long Island)
– SynchroPET (Long Island)
– VoiceLove, LLC (New York City)
Empire State Development serves as New York’s main economic development agency with regional offices statewide and supports initiatives like broadband expansion through ConnectALL and workforce development programs via its Office of Strategic Workforce Development (https://esd.ny.gov). The agency also promotes tourism under I LOVE NY.
NYSTAR manages about $70 million annually for over 80 centers dedicated to helping local companies grow through direct assistance programs (https://esd.ny.gov/nystar).
