Two College of Engineering startups receive Discovery to Product funding

Two startup companies based in the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering have received funding through the Discovery to Product (D2P) State Economic Engagement and Development program.

The annual program awarded $600,000, half of which is a matching grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, to seven companies founded by UW–Madison researchers.

College of Engineering recipients include Sixline Semiconductor, founded by Michael Arnold, Beckwith-Bascom Professor in materials science and engineering, and Katy Jenkins (PhDMS&E ’20). The company is using technological advancements made at UW-Madison to purify and assemble carbon nanotubes and develop semiconductor devices that could vastly outperform those conventionally fabricated with silicon.

Pyran Inc., co-founded by George Huber, Richard L. Antoine Professor in chemical and biological engineering and Kevin Barnett (PhDCBE ’18) is working to advance chemical reaction technology to produce several bio-based monomers (specialized molecules) from sugars derived from agricultural waste. These monomers can be used in the synthesis of nylons and polyesters to enhance the performance of more expensive and less sustainable petroleum-derived plastics. “I’m grateful for this funding to support Pyran, Inc.’s continued development of renewable alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals,” says Huber.

Applications for the program are evaluated on technical innovation, interest to a broad economic sector and potential to benefit Wisconsin’s industrial and economic development in the near-term.

“One of the most effective ways to enhance the development of early-stage startups in Wisconsin is by collaborating with our universities to advance new technologies,” says Aaron Hagar, WEDC Vice President, Division of Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “Funding for these companies increases their chances of successful commercialization and economic growth in our state.”

A previous version of this story was published by Discovery to Product.

Featured image caption: Professor George Huber in the lab with researcher Raka Dastidar. Courtesy of Discovery to Product.