Protochips, Inc. is a rapidly growing, venture backed, profitable, international early-stage company that provides innovative analytical tools for materials and life sciences research. These tools enable targeted research and development of materials on the nano-scale. In 2005 Protochips received a Phase I SBIR grant to explore the feasibility of a microfabricated sample support with integrated capabilities for in situ experimentation within an electron microscope. Despite strong market need for an integrated platform, the tools used to observe and the tools used to work with nano-scale materials continued to be separate. Using proprietary technology, Protochips addressed this compelling market need by transforming the most widely used tools in nanotechnology – electron and optical microscopes – from just cameras to complete nano-scale laboratories. In 2006, after the success of the Phase I grant, Protochips was awarded a Phase II grant for the development of an in situ prototype. The company also won an Idea Fund grant to support commercialization and received assistance from the Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Program, a NSF funded program, to develop the business model and infrastructure for commercializing the product. During the course of Phase II Protochips received a DOE funded market assessment that proved invaluable and then participated in the DOE Dawnbreaker commercialization assistance program. After completing the prototype development Protochips entered into Phase III and secured venture funding from a syndicate of angel groups in VA, NC and FL including Piedmont Angel Network, Emergent Growth Fund, The Jefferson Corner Group, and Wilmington Investor Network, along with two angels, Mr. Kulkarni and Mr. Zapata. By building a strong board and management team, Protochips was successfully able to commercialize the technology developed in the Phase II grant into the Aduro in situ system, leading to several million in initial sales worldwide to early adopters and lead users. There have now been more than 200 publications by University, National Lab, and Corporate materials researchers using the system. The product is now entering into the early majority phase of its life cycle and seeing rapid growth in sales. In 2008, following the success of the Aduro project for materials heating and electrical studies inside the electron microscope, Protochips was granted a Phase I grant for the feasibility of a liquid flow cell for biological imaging with electron microscopes. After very successful results from Phase I, Protochips was awarded a Phase II award to refine and commercialize the “Poseidon” technology which is now entering into its initial commercialization phase. Protochips has heavily leveraged the SBIR grants to commercialize innovative research products that lead to tremendous growth, taking Protochips from 4 employees in 2009, to 21 employees today. Protochips empowers scientists across the world with innovative tools that enable the study of materials for life and materials sciences. Protochips enables the development and commercialization of revolutionary new nano-scale materials that will transform batteries, medicine, energy production and many other technologies and products coming out of government and corporate research laboratories.