The traditional production of leather raises environmental concerns. Tanning, the chemical treatment of animal hides, may use toxic substances. Waste is produced from finishing skins and hides, and traditional leather production requires significantly more water than synthetic alternatives. To power their operations, tanneries also produce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

Currently, SBC is developing a product called HemPLY that can be used instead of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) for applications such as roof decking, subflooring, and wall sheathing. HemPLY will integrate seamlessly with standard construction materials and support the use of traditional carpentry tools. Compared to traditional plywood or OSB, HemPLY is stronger, more uniform, and more fire resistant. It’s also impervious to fungus and insects.

Alex Babich, Nuravine’s founder and CEO, was familiar with FuzeHub’s Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund. The company received an Innovation Challenge award in 2018 and partnered with the Manufacturing & Technology Enterprise Center (MTEC) on a Manufacturing Grant in 2019. Nuravine also received a Build4Scale AIM Onshore grant from FuzeHub in 2019.

UAVs, or drones, are remotely-piloted autonomous aerial vehicles. The technology that Dr. Shih envisions for drone wings also applies to soft robotics, a subfield of robotics that uses compliant materials instead of rigid links. For drones and robots with flexible, retractable features, the benefits include reduced storage space and the ability to navigate through narrow passageways.

Through its on-line marketing efforts, Quikiks seeks to reach people with disabilities and their caregivers, as well as diabetics who want a shoe with features to accommodate foot swelling.