The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) is proud to celebrate the achievements of the participants in the September SBIR-themed cohort of our Accelerate UConn Propelus program. Over the course of this six-week initiative, part of UConn’s National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) site, teams explored the commercialization potential of their technologies with a focus on preparing competitive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) applications.
Throughout the program, participants attended a series of virtual sessions and worked closely with instructors to better understand the market landscape for their innovations. Teams engaged in at least 40 customer discovery interviews, gathering essential insights to inform the commercialization potential sections of their NSF SBIR Phase I and Fast Track applications. Upon completion of these requirements, each team was eligible to receive a $2,000 stipend from the NSF to support their discovery efforts.
This specialized cohort was designed for technical founders and research teams preparing to apply for SBIR funding within the next year. Participants learned to identify their initial target markets, validate customer needs, and develop pathways to generate revenue and achieve sustainability. By applying the Lean LaunchPad and I-Corps methodologies, teams gained the tools and confidence to position their technologies for long-term impact.
September Accelerate UConn SBIR Propelus
Avera: AI Stylist
Milad Alikhani, Niusha Moshrefi
A new personalization engine for fashion e-commerce by using advanced multi-modal RAGs. Unlike traditional text-based search, which struggles in a visual domain like apparel, our system understands both images and text, while also factoring in each user’s style history. This powers AI stylist agents that create personalized style profiles and curate fashion tailored to each individual. For users, it feels like having a personal stylist in their pocket. For brands and retailers, it drives smarter product discovery, higher conversions, and fewer returns.
AlgalSensor
Azeem Sarwar, Yu Lei
A biosensor platform to detect acetate in wastewater streams using microalgae. The system explores two main detection strategies: (1) an optical approach using dissolved oxygen (DO) probes with immobilized algae that respond to acetate presence, and (2) an electrochemical method that leverages biological activity for signal generation. The goal is to create a low-cost, portable solution for real-time monitoring of organic pollutants - especially in wastewater - supporting environmental compliance and sustainable water management.
Decarb Energy Partners
Kevin Gallagher, Harry Cassidy
Transforming the world's toughest waste streams into carbon-negative, American-made biofuel. Our patent-pending “Mobile Biosolids+ Box” is a single prefabricated trailer-mounted system that’s deployed on-site to wastewater treatment plants. The unit is tailor-made to convert wastewater treatment sludge into bio-methanol while destroying PFAS “forever chemicals,” with no hazardous effluent and virtually zero tailpipe emissions. This is possible by integrating existing technology and industrially-proven subsystems inside a single container, in a novel, non-obvious way.
Azyme
Maham Liaqat, Riddhi Viradiya
An artificial enzyme catalyst that merges protein scaffolds with cofactors to drive highly selective and efficient chemical transformations. Operating under mild, aqueous conditions, it reduces energy use and waste while enabling enantioselective synthesis critical for pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. The commercial vision is to provide scalable, customizable catalyst platforms that replace conventional, less sustainable processes, with opportunities for both IP licensing and direct industrial applications.
GreenScent
Chetan Hire, Matt George
New and innovative way for pest control in agriculture.
Nereis
Mihai Duduta, Edward Pomianek
Miniaturized probe for inspection of complex machinery, such as aerospace components, powered by solid state soft capacitors.
MudRat
Amelia Martin, Patricio Acevedo
Eco-friendly alternative to high-preformance styrofoam for marine and actions sports applications.
Epiconnect
Reyhaneh Aghazadeh, Afsaneh Razi
A mobile platform designed to support individuals living with epilepsy in their day-to-day self-management and overall well-being. The concept combines digital health tools with community support to help users better manage their condition and reduce feelings of isolation. The business concept is to offer a scalable, user-centered solution that bridges gaps in care and provides value for patients, caregivers, and potentially healthcare providers and payers.
Phoenix Genetics
Simran Jain, Preti Jain
An AI-powered variant identification tool for RNA and DNA samples.
Varda 5 LLC
Andrea Shields, Jacqueline Vidosh, Les R. Becker, Benjamin Sutton
A simulation-based training program that teaches evidence-based, pregnancy-specific modifications to resuscitation, including maternal cardiac arrest, resuscitative cesarean delivery, hemorrhage, and other critical emergencies. Using a scalable train-the-trainer model, it equips EMS, nurses, and physicians with cognitive aids, rapid-cycle deliberate practice, and team-based skills to improve maternal outcomes.
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We commend the cohort for their dedication to advancing their ventures, and thank our adjunct instructors — Yazmin Feliz, Claire Zick, and Scott Alpizar — for their continued leadership and mentorship throughout the program. Their expertise played a key role in guiding teams through the customer discovery process and strengthening their understanding of how to bring research-based innovations to market.
In 2024, UConn became a member of the NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub, part of a national network that accelerates the real-world impact of federally funded research. The Hub supports innovators across sectors such as healthcare, technology, and sustainability while expanding access to entrepreneurial training for researchers from diverse backgrounds. To learn more about the Hub, visit icorpsnortheasthub.org, or explore our program details and 2026 cohorts at ccei.uconn.edu/accelerate-uconn.
For specific questions about Accelerate UConn, please reach out to Alycia Chrosniak at alycia.chrosniak@uconn.edu.