Rob Black, Cabinet Secretary-Designate | New Mexico Economic Development Department
Five technology companies in New Mexico have been awarded up to $100,000 each in state matching grants aimed at supporting advancements in space communications, advanced energy, aerospace, and bioscience.
The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Technology and Innovation Office provided the funding through its Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Matching Grant program. This initiative supports local for-profit science and technology businesses that have already secured federal SBIR/STTR awards. The focus is on startups with the potential to expand and diversify the state's economy.
“By investing in homegrown companies, we’re fueling the innovation that will power our future,” said Rob Black, EDD Cabinet Secretary. “These businesses are tackling major challenges, from clean energy to national security, and helping build a stronger, more resilient economy right here in New Mexico.”
Three companies received $100,000 matches for Phase II awards:
- Solstar Space Co., based in Santa Fe, is working on Space Wi-Fi solutions for various on-orbit assets. The company offers secure internet connections between spacecraft and Earth-based operators as well as communications for crewed missions across sub-orbit, low Earth orbit (LEO), cis-lunar space, and lunar surface operations.
- EnviTrace LLC of Santa Fe develops software tools using artificial intelligence to analyze geologic reservoir processes. Their work includes consulting and research focused on renewable energy production and storage, geothermal extraction and use, carbon sequestration, and waste management.
- Sentiré Medical Systems Inc., also from Santa Fe, is creating an intraoperative monitoring device designed to improve safety and efficiency during laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries. Using advanced gas sensing technology, Sentiré aims to reduce complications associated with these procedures. The company is also a fellow of the New Mexico Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program.
Two additional companies received $50,000 matches for Phase I awards:
- Aperi Computational Mechanics Consulting LLC of Peralta is developing engineering analysis software intended to improve simulations of extreme events such as explosions or landslides.
- Shearit LLC from Albuquerque is working on Lamiflo—a non-drug therapy designed to boost blood flow to the brain during strokes by enhancing red blood cell movement without changing body chemistry. The therapy aims to preserve brain tissue while improving patient outcomes.
