Chicago, IL, August 1, 2021 – Verboso has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant of $250,293 to conduct research and development (R&D) work on improved speech recognition designed specifically for children with speech impairment.
The results of this work will lay the foundation for improved home practice, which is directly correlated with a person’s ability to overcome a speech impairment. Similarly, these developments will increase access to care while reducing the financial burden on the healthcare system by limiting time spent performing repetition drills in the presence of a certified speech therapist.
“NSF is proud to support the technology of the future by thinking beyond incremental developments and funding the most creative, impactful ideas across all markets and areas of science and engineering,” said Andrea Belz, Division Director of the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. “With the support of our research funds, any deep technology startup or small business can guide basic science into meaningful solutions that address tremendous needs.”
“Verboso’s goal is to improve outcomes and remove accessibility barriers to speech therapy through technological advancements. We are thankful to the NSF for recognizing the potential of our game-changing technology,” said Michael Young, CTO at Verboso.
Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $256,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1,000,000). Small businesses with Phase II funding are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales.
Startups or entrepreneurs who submit a three-page Project Pitch will know within one month if they meet the program’s objectives to support innovative technologies that show promise of commercial and/or societal impact and involve a level of technical risk. Small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. To learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, visit: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/
About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs: America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups
