MONTANA SBIR/STTR SUCCESS STORIES
Discover inspiring SBIR/STTR success stories that showcase how groundbreaking research and innovation are transforming industries and driving real-world impact.
INIMMUNE CORPORATION
2
3
$5,615,672
Phase I Awards
Phase II Awards
Total SBIR Funds
A New Era of Treating Disease
Montana is full of entrepreneurs and full of people with great ideas. They just don’t necessarily know how to get going and how to make themselves successful. Groups like MTIP can really be instrumental in facilitating them taking that first step towards realizing the potential of their ideas.
David Burkhart, COO of Inimmune
Advancing Immunotherapy with SBIR Funding
Inimmune, a biotech startup in Missoula, Montana, is pioneering next-generation immunotherapy treatments for infectious diseases allergies, and cancer. To bring these innovative therapies to market, significant funding for research and development is essential. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs have been crucial in securing the necessary capital.
The Challenge: Securing Early-Stage Funding
Inimmune's leadership team, composed of industry veterans, identified a challenge: new talent lacked experience in securing federal R&D funding. Winning SBIR/STTR grants requires not only strong science but also a strategic proposal that aligns with federal expectations.
The SBIR Experience
Inimmune researchers attended workshops at the University of Montana on market research and SBIR proposal writing, refining their approach to create impactful proposals. This support resulted in millions in SBIR/STTR contracts the NIH, accelerating their research and expanding capabilities.
OPIO CONNECT, INC.
1
1
$1,704,838
Phase I Awards
Phase II Awards
Total SBIR Funds
Advancing Remote Sensing Expanding Access to Opioid Treatment Through Innovation SBIR Success
The dedicated support from MTIP played an important role in getting our first SBIR.
Amber Norbeck, CEO and founder of Opio Connect
Addressing the Workforce Shortage and Access Crisis in Addiction Care
Kalispell-based Opio Connect is working to increase access to opioid treatment in rural and underserved areas. Opio’s ZING methadone dose assembly system brings efficiency to clinics so nurses can provide patient care instead of manually preparing medication, while the groundbreaking Hub + Spoke system enables the nurse to provide doses to patients remotely through a combination of software and robotic automation. This innovation increases the access points to opioid treatment within current workforce constraints while ensuring safe, compliant, and uninterrupted care for patients—no matter where they live.
The Challenge: Expanding Access to Lifesaving Treatment
Only 1 in 5 US counties has access to methadone, the most effective treatment for fentanyl addiction. Workforce shortages further restrict access to this lifesaving treatment. Opio Connect recognized the need for a scalable, efficient, and compliant solution that could bridge this gap and support both patients and healthcare providers. The company looked to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to secure non-dilutive funding to bring their vision to life.
The SBIR Experience: Funding Innovation for a Transformative Solution
Opio Connect utilized support from the Montana Innovation Partnership during their SBIR journey, receiving targeted training, expert proposal reviews, and microgrant funding. This assistance helped them secure over $1.7 million in SBIR funding from NIDA. The funding facilitated technical advancements, allowing Opio to develop a DEA-compliant safe for secure medication storage, create a robotic system to automate tasks traditionally done by nurses, implement a centralized dosing queue for efficient patient care management, advance their software development and prototype their complete system for full-scale deployment.
RESILIENT COMPUTING
4
2
$2,410,499
Phase I Awards
Phase II Awards
Total SBIR Funds
Protecting Our Nation’s Critical Infrastructure
Having great technology is just the beginning — success comes from building a business around it. Think of SBIR funding as a bridge to securing service contracts and product sales, not the final destination.
“Don’t go it alone — Montana has a vast small business support ecosystem with resources to help you succeed. The experts at MTIP and TechLink can help refine your business model and connect you to early-stage funding.
Brock LaMeres, Ph. D., CEO
Innovating for Secure and Resilient Computing:
Resilient Computing, LLC, a Bozeman, Montana-based technology company, is developing next-generation computing technology designed to operate in extreme conditions. By licensing multiple computing technologies from Montana State University, the company has created innovative solutions that function in the harsh radiation environment of space while also providing robust cybersecurity defenses. Their technology is designed to secure our nation’s most critical systems.
The SBIR Experience: From Cutting-Edge IP to a Scalable Business
As a university spin-out, Resilient Computing started with breakthrough technology but lacked experience in building a business around it. Their first step was engaging with the Montana Innovation Partnership (MTIP) to develop strong SBIR proposals. An MTIP microgrant allowed the team to connect with a network of experts who guided them through the SBIR process. This led to multiple SBIR awards, including two Phase II contracts from NASA, helping Resilient Computing advance its technology and explore new markets.
The Opportunity: Expanding Beyond NASA
Resilient Computing initially focused on building computers for NASA. However, the team quickly realized that the space technology market alone was not large enough to sustain and grow the business. To scale their impact, the team is exploring opportunities to expand their customer base into the Department of Defense and the nation’s electrical grid, industries that demand high-reliability computing solutions.
BIOSQUEEZE
2
5
$8,750,274
Phase I Awards
Phase II Awards
Total SBIR Funds
Building a better Future: BioSqueeze Delivers Bio-Cement Innovation to the Energy and Defense Sectors
Early funding from DOE SBIR/STTR’s with support from MSU TechLink was critical in maturing our technology from the lab to a field-ready commercial solution.
Randy Hiebert, Co-Founder and Vice President of R&D
Overview of the Societal or Mission Problem and the Company’s Innovation:
BioSqueeze has commercialized a groundbreaking bio-cement technology developed in collaboration with Montana State University (MSU). This environmentally friendly solution uses mineral-producing microbes to permanently seal leaks in oil and gas wells, preventing methane leakage, improving well performance, and supporting a cleaner, more efficient energy industry. Beyond energy applications, this technology also enhances U.S. airpower readiness in contested environments, supporting critical mission agility and infrastructure resilience.
The Early Challenge: Leaking Wells and Lost Resources
Across the oil and gas industry, leaking wellbores present a persistent problem. Tiny fissures and pore spaces deep underground allow methane and other gases to escape into the atmosphere. This environmental risk not only contributes to greenhouse gas emissions but also reduces well productivity. Unfortunately, traditional sealing methods are often costly, inefficient, and ineffective at providing a permanent solution.
From Lab to Market
BioSqueeze advanced its biomineralization technology from lab to field with Phase I, II, and IIB STTR funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, optimizing the process for wellbore sealing, scaling for deployment, and achieving successful field tests with industry partners. With commercialization support from MSU TechLink, the company moved toward adoption by major energy firms. BioSqueeze also secured Direct to Phase II SBIR contracts with DARPA and the U.S. Air Force to develop defense applications, reducing the cost, time, and logistics of airfield construction and repair.
RESTOREAR
2
2
3,656,720
Phase I Awards
Phase II Awards
Total SBIR Funds
RestorEar Devices Advances Innovative Solutions for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Conditions related to the inner ears
As a medical device startup, SBIR/STTR grants have been absolutely critical for our technology development. In many cases, ours included, risk is often too high early on to attract the interest of private investors, so these small business grants allow us to develop our technology and conduct the proof-of concept work needed to advance to the later stages of product development and commercialization. These grants are a key aspect of our success.
Curtis King, CEO and co-founder at RestorEar.
Combating Hearing Loss with Innovative Hypothermia Therapy
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) affects millions globally, impacting over 600 million people. In the U.S., 24% of adults and 17% of teens experience hearing loss from loud noise exposure. High-risk groups include military personnel and firefighters due to daily occupational noise exposure. RestorEar Devices is tackling NIHL with ReBound™, a wearable device that applies mild therapeutic hypothermia to the inner ear to protect the delicate structures and preserve hearing. They have also developed a surgical device, Resurg, that applies cooling to the inner ear structures during cochlear implant surgeries in order to preserve residual hearing. This non-pharmaceutical, safe solution avoids the complications of systemic cooling and fits seamlessly into current surgical techniques. Both ReBound and Resurg are currently undergoing human clinical trials.
The Challenge
The inner ear’s delicate structures are highly susceptible to damage from loud noise exposure, as well as surgical trauma during cochlear implantation. Traditional protective measures, such as earplugs and noise-canceling devices, cannot fully prevent NIHL, especially for individuals regularly exposed to loud environments. In the case of cochlear implants, preserving residual hearing is crucial for enhanced speech perception and quality of life. The need for effective post-exposure and surgical interventions is critical to prevent long-term hearing damage.
RestorEar’s SBIR Journey: Advancing Hearing Protection
With Phase I SBIR funding, RestorEar Devices LLC developed and tested non-invasive systems to deliver localized cooling to the inner ear. Using heat transfer models and cadaveric specimens, they demonstrated the technology’s potential and are now preparing to bring ReBound™ to market. A Phase II SBIR award from the NIH supports a clinical study in collaboration with the University of Miami and South Florida fire services, evaluating ReBound™’s ability to protect firefighters’ hearing after noise exposure. Additional support from the NIDCD and industry partners helped advance a therapeutic hypothermia probe for cochlear implant surgeries. Preclinical success in rodent models has paved the way for clinical device development, ongoing first-in-patient trials, including a cochlear implant study, and regulatory steps. With newly awarded funding for tinnitus research, ReBound™ offers a novel way to preserve hearing and improve speech outcomes