Delaware
Governor Meyer and DSB Announce EDGE 2.0 Winners – State of Delaware News
EDGE Winner Group Photo: EDGE 2.0 Winners – front row (l to r) NFN Brain Connections (2), KiposTech, Jupiter Modern Market. Back Row (l to r) Prismm (2), Lectrolyst, KiposTech, Crystron (3), Director CJ Bell
Newark, Del. – It was an evening of celebration and excitement as Governor Matt Meyer, and the Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) announced the winners of the EDGE 2.0 Grant Competition. EDGE, the Division’s flagship pitch and funding competition, stands for Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion.
Seven awards totaling an enhanced allocation of $1.15M dollars, were presented to Delaware small businesses in a ceremony at the Audion at the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus Wednesday evening. Seventeen companies pitched their projects to an expert panel of judges in late October in two categories: Nine in Entrepreneur and eight in STEM.
The winners for the Entrepreneur category are Insight Ag Scouting (Wyoming), Juniper Modern Market (Milton) and NFN Brain Connections (Dover).
The winners in the STEM category are Crystron Technologies (Wilmington), KiposTech (Newark), Lectrolyst (Wilmington), and Prismm (Newark).
Three of the eight STEM finalists also competed for $1M dollars in federal funding, as part of a special bonus round in this year’s competition. Prismm is the recipient of that award which comes in the form of a direct investment through the Delaware Accelerator and Seed Capital Program (DASCP). DASCP is one of three programs providing funding to small businesses under the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) administered by DSB.
“EDGE 2.0 winners are turning ideas into paychecks and pride across our state, hiring Delawareans, investing in equipment, and keeping opportunity close to home,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “Delaware is a state of neighbors, and we will keep clearing the path for these entrepreneurs with practical support, fast service, and accountability. From shops and farms to labs and kitchens, their success strengthens every community.”
EDGE 2.0 is an expansion of the Division’s program which launched in 2019. EDGE 2.0 still features two established tracks – Entrepreneur and STEM – applies to businesses in operation for less than 7 years and requires a 3:1 funding match and for more than 50% of the company to be located in Delaware.
But there were extensive changes designed to take the program and small businesses to the next level. They included: more funding: $1.15M total available dollars (up from $750K in prior rounds) – $400K available for Entrepreneur (60% increase) and $750K for STEM (50% increase), a new online submission process, no set number of winners, no set amount awarded to each one, eligibility expansion to businesses with 15 or fewer full-time employees, having under $700K in assets, and finalists and awardees receiving additional post-pitch in-kind services and/or award supports. These supports will include memberships to networking organizations and expedited pathways to DSB funding programs and more.
“We wanted to enhance the ability of small businesses to not just get funding, but to receive practical support and tools to help them scale in way that will provide a foundation for longevity,” said DSB Director, CJ Bell. “These companies are the best of the best applicants and I’m excited to see where they go from here.”
Including this round, EDGE has supported 127 small businesses by distributing a total of $9.1 million in grant funds since its inception. This includes 83 businesses in New Castle County, 27 in Kent County, and 17 in Sussex County.
“We are thrilled to help these businesses expand and growThese seven businesses are joining an elite group of entrepreneurs,” said Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez. “Small businesses enhance economic diversity in our state by helping create new industries, jobs and markets. When small businesses thrive, we all thrive.”
EDGE is conducted twice a year. Grants are awarded through an extremely competitive selection process. After thorough internal review, finalists are selected to pitch their proposals to an outside expert panel of judges, who recommend whether to fund them and at what level. In August, 179 businesses applied for funding. Of those, 136 were in the Entrepreneur category and 43 in the STEM category.
Since 2019, more than half (53%) of the 127 awardees have been either woman, minority, or veteran-owned small businesses. Another 14% have been both women and minority owned, and 16% fall into more than one additional categories previously listed.
This was the twelfth round of the program. To learn more about EDGE visit de.gov/edge!
Entrepreneur Awardees:
Insight Ag Scouting (Wyoming) – $75,000
Insight Ag Scouting is a crop and field health monitoring company that uses advanced technology such as drones, sensors, and data analytics to assess crop health, pest infestations, soil conditions, and other key factors. EDGE grant funding will be used to support their growth and expansion plans through the purchase of soil sampling and necessary transportation equipment.
Juniper Modern Market (Milton) – $125,000
Juniper Modern Market is a community-based gourmet grab-and-go cafe, grocery and marketplace planning to open in downtown Milton, January 2025. The company will use EDGE funding to purchase commercial-grade equipment systems including coolers, ovens, grab-and-go hot equipment, a dishwasher, juicer, espresso machine, and extra ovens.
NFN Brain Connections (Dover) – $200,000
NFN Brain Connections works with individuals to restore confidence, focus, and mental balance. Many of those served come to them after experiencing a concussion, brain fog (i.e., Menopause), or early signs of memory loss. EDGE funding will be used to support its office expansion needs, including establishing a larger location in Dover, the purchase of technology infrastructure, the development of an online hub for clients and families, and website upgrades.
STEM Awardees:
Crystron Technologies (Wilmington) – $ 162,500
Crystron produces advanced battery materials and are on the edge of commercializing a breakthrough Cathode Active Material (CAM) for the Lithium-ion batteries. The company reports that its CAM eliminates 65% of current manufacturing steps, reduces energy consumption and emissions by 80%, lowers production cost by 40%, generates no waste, and consumes no water. The company will use its EDGE funding to take its prototype to market by enhancing production capacity, building a larger prototype, and expanding its testing infrastructure.
KiposTech (Newark) – $300,000
KiposTech is a Delaware-based agri-tech startup pioneering next-generation poultry biosecurity. Its flagship innovation, KiposPro, is a patent-pending “plasma bazooka” that uses ionized gas, to continuously eliminate airborne pathogens, dust, and ammonia inside barns 24/7, without filters or chemicals. EDGE funding will be used to take its machine from pilot to production – supporting manufacturing setup, on-farm validation, and safety certification.
Lectrolyst (Wilmington) – $162,500
Lectrolyst uses its innovative “electro-agriculture” technology to convert CO2 waste into valuable chemical products including acetate which then gets fed into precision fermentation for protein products. The company reports that this process enhances solar-to-food efficiency by 4x, reduces land use by 88% and reduces fertilizer use by 60% making it a sustainable alternative for producing fermented proteins, pharmaceutical ingredients, and vertical agriculture. Lectrolyst will use its EDGE grant funds for equipment, materials and testing to optimize its electrochemical stack systems for incorporation into the new containerized systems, and for designing, building and testing a new stack/assembly system.
Prismm (Newark) – $1,000,000 SSBCI/$125,000 EDGE
Prismm is a Delaware-based fintech SaaS company that has built a transaction-enabled digital vault to help banks, credit unions, and wealth managers simplify and automate the inheritance process, so assets transfer seamlessly. The company’s platform automates beneficiary mapping, pre-onboards heirs, and enables compliant transfers upon verification of death. SSBCI and EDGE funds will be used to expand its team, complete technical integration of its platforms, and also for marketing.
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The Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) is a service-focused state agency, within the Delaware Department of State, that is committed to helping businesses start and grow in Delaware. Our Regional Business Managers can help you navigate government processes, connect with partner organizations that offer resources to small businesses and identify opportunities to access capital. DSB also oversees the Delaware Tourism Office and Office of Supplier Diversity.
Media Contact
Andrea Wojcik
Division of Small Business
O: (302) 672-6802; C: (302) 554-0060
andrea.wojcik@delaware.gov
Delmarva Power objects to applying legislation to interim rate
The debate among commissioners over the breadth of their oversight on utility rates comes as the company has pushed back on the group, limiting its interim rate increase to half of its total request, even while it faced criticism from commissioners that it is “cruel” and “tone deaf” for continuing to press for rate hikes.
Delmarva Power, an investor-owned utility, serves 344,000 residential and nonresidential customers in the state. Its parent company, Exelon Corporation, is the nation’s largest regulated electric and gas utility.
Its customers pay a supply and a delivery charge for gas and electricity. The supply of energy comes from PJM Interconnection, a regional grid serving Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and several other states. Delmarva Power profits through the distribution fee.
Delmarva Power Region President Marcus Beal said they need to file rate hike requests to recoup money it spends on improving and maintaining the infrastructure.
“Our equipment is extremely expensive, the items that we buy, the transformers, they’re very large, complex things to build,” Beal said. “Even something as simple as a treated pole of a certain size can be very pricey, so we spend a lot of money on the grid itself.”
Under Delaware law, interim rates can be approved seven months after a rate case is filed, while the full petition is being considered by the commission. Prior to the legislation, 100% of the rate request could be implemented. The bill caps interim rates at 50% and allows 75% of the ask to go into effect after 12 months. The bill also puts limits on Delmarva Power’s infrastructure spending.
Delmarva Power spokesperson Matt Ford said the commission overstepped its authority to cut the interim rate as much as they did and the company has argued in its PSC submissions that SB 326 did not apply to the rate increase request filed in December because it had yet to be signed into law. Meyer said he signed the bill Monday.
“Delmarva Power further reserves its objections to the applicability of the legislation, should it become effective, including its impermissible retroactive application,” the utility company said in comments filed Monday afternoon with the commission.
In addition, Delmarva Power has objected to halving $23.2 million in distribution system improvement charges as part of the interim rate commissioners approved. The fee allows utility companies to recover project costs and depreciation between full rate case proceedings.
“My suggestion is, if you don’t like it, appeal it,” Iorii said.
It’s unclear whether the utility plans to appeal the order. Ford said they were reviewing it and its implications.
Tweedie said he hopes they decide not to appeal.
“If they appeal this, what they are essentially saying is, ‘We want to extract more money from our customers than the commission intended to allow,’” he said.
Delaware State Police have identified the man who was struck and killed by a vehicle while lying on the roadway in Harrington, Delaware.
On Monday, July 13, 2026, Jimmy Burgess, 62, was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado driving westbound near the 1500 block of Whiteleysburg Road.
According to police, the Silverado, which was operated by a 17-year-old boy from Milton, Delaware, was unable to stop once he saw Burgess on the road, striking him. The driver of the Silverado was not injured during the crash.
Burgess was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, said police.
The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collison Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash.
Troopers ask anyone with information about the crash contact Sergeant M. Long at (302) 698-8518.
Information can also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police, or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-(800) 847-3333
Where the music grew
Soon playing the restaurant piano became part of Leonard’s regular routine.
In early 2024, a friend encouraged him to record himself playing the old instrument and post the videos online.
The series, “Putting the Chinese restaurant on to jams,” featured Leonard performing R&B, funk and soul covers in the restaurant and interacting with customers. Before long, the videos found an audience online.
Leonard made one thing clear: It was never about building a following; it was about having peace.
As more videos were posted, he invited his friend to join him. In every live stream, viewers suggested adding more instruments and upgrading the sound system, which he initially thought was ridiculous.
“We started bringing speakers. We started to make music. We started to remix music,” he said. “We pretty much treated it as a public studio at that point.”
Word continued to spread of Leonard’s music and the Chinese restaurant where he played. Drummers, bass players, saxophonists and singers began making their way to the restaurant, transforming an ordinary neighborhood takeout spot into an open jam session where no two performances were ever the same.
“Everything is bliss. So it’s not planned. We just show up,” he said. “I may start a groove — and usually it’s like R&B, gospel, funk, soul, somewhere in that vein — and then it takes off, because the drummer may have a way that he wants to add to the groove. We all just feed off of each other, and then we create something. It’s almost like magic.”
Audiences became part of the performance. Some sang along. Others danced. Many pulled out their phones to capture the moment. Customers who stopped in for dinner often stayed long after their food was ready.
“You’ll have some people come in, maybe to order food, and then they’ll forget that they’re in a restaurant because of everything that is happening,” he said. “They may order food and then stick around for maybe 10 to 15 minutes and then leave.”
For Leonard, the biggest change wasn’t the growing audience or the recognition. It was rediscovering the confidence he thought he had lost.
“When I picked up the … DoorDash at the Chinese restaurant, that piano was my reminder of leaning more towards my creative side and not really pushing it all the way to the side,” he said.
“Me being able to bring things to life in a Chinese restaurant with a piano, able to reach a lot of people from across the globe, it definitely built my spirit back up.”
An imperfect piano; a perfect community
As the jam sessions grew, Leonard realized they were becoming something larger than just music.
“The piano being out of tune and not really in good shape … I actually thought it… would actually push more people away from it,” he said.
Instead, the opposite happened.
Leonard said he believes the piano’s imperfections are what made the phenomenon possible. Because the instrument is out of tune, musicians have to adapt to it and to one another, creating a sense of collaboration and shared purpose.
“We can still make it adhesive if we all agree to be in tune with the piano,” he said.
He hopes people leave the restaurant with more than a memorable performance.
“I hope they feel recharged,” he said. “They leave that restaurant feeling great, and they feel like they can do whatever they want to do. No matter what goes on in the world.”
The jam sessions have also introduced Leonard to opportunities he never imagined, connecting him with other artists and collaborators. He has even produced a couple of songs with British singer-songwriter, rapper and producer KWN.
“Honestly, I just hope it grows in a direction where it needs to,” Leonard said. “I’m just following God at this point, because I mean, to me, a year ago, I didn’t really see this happening. But it just happened.”
Leonard said he hopes to continue creating music similar to his jam sessions, curating spaces where strangers become collaborators and where art feels accessible to anyone.
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