Winter Innovations wins $200,000 Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships grant
The start-up will use the funds for a collaborative research study evaluating its EasyWhip® device in novel sports medicine applications.
Winter Innovations Inc. has been awarded a $200,000 Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships (TECP) grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This award marks a significant milestone in advancing the commercialization of Winter Innovations’ patented two-part needle system, EasyWhip®, and accelerating widescale adoption of its innovative suturing technology.
The TECP program provides supplemental funding to NSF Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant awardees. TECP grants support research and development efforts in collaboration with a strategic partner, with the goal of accelerating commercialization and fostering commercial partnerships. Through this award, Winter Innovations will fund a collaborative research study evaluating EasyWhip® in novel sports medicine applications. The study will focus on biomechanical and usability testing to demonstrate compatibility with a strategic partner’s portfolio, positioning the technology for broader adoption in advanced orthopedic solutions.
“Our mission has always been to deliver simple tools that can improve surgical outcomes,” said Lia Winter, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Winter Innovations. “This grant provides resources to validate EasyWhip® in new clinical applications and strengthen its role in becoming the standard of care for sports medicine procedures.”
Preston Dishner, also a Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, added: “Partnership is critical to scaling innovation in orthopedics. By working alongside a major industry partner under this TECP grant, we’ll be able to evaluate EasyWhip® in new contexts and accelerate its path to market adoption.”
As an NSF Phase II SBIR awardee, Winter Innovations has unlocked access to supplemental funding opportunities like TECP that strengthen commercialization pathways. Beyond this $200,000 TECP award, up to $500,000 in additional Phase IIB funding is available to perform similar collaborative R&D studies aimed at advancing commercialization.
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