VIPC Awards Commonwealth Commercialization Fund Grant to KnoNap to Commercialize Drink Spiking Test Kit

CCF funding supports development and advances product towards manufacturing and commercial readiness

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) today announced that KnoNap, LLC has been awarded a Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) grant for $100,000. VIPC’s CCF programs have distributed more than $52 million to Virginia-based startups, entrepreneurs, and university-based inventors since 2012 in support of critical early technology testing and market validation efforts.

Arlington, Va.-based KnoNap works to proactively and inclusively empower, educate, and advocate against drug-facilitated sexual assault and crime. KnoNap created Knope, a fast and discreet consumer test that can, upon saturation of select beverages, identify 12 drugs within the Benzodiazepine and Ketamine classes. CCF funding ​allows KnoNap to advance its offering into a commercialized product in preparation for manufacturing.

“Drug-facilitated sexual assault and crime is an under-addressed issue in our society that can affect anyone regardless of an individual’s age, gender, sexual orientation, or geographic location. We are ready to make Knope and our educational services widely available to empower individuals against drink spiking, and are so grateful for CCF’s enthusiastic support” said Danya Sherman, Founder of KnoNap.

“KnoNap has developed a discreet, portable, and gender-inclusive tool, disguised as a stick of gum, that empowers individuals to be more aware of what they are consuming, said Jeanette Townsend, VIPC’s Director for Private Sector Grants. “Not only will CCF funding allow the company to advance their minimal viable product into a commercialized one, but it will help them also expand their social impact and reach. KnoNap is a company rooted in advocacy, empowerment, and education, and they are providing a solution to help people stay safe.”

About Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
VIPC: Connecting innovators with opportunities. As the nonprofit operations arm of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA), VIPC is the commercialization and seed stage economic development driver in the Commonwealth that leads funding, infrastructure, and policy initiatives to support Virginia’s innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and market development strategies. VIPC collaborates with local, regional, state, and federal partners to support the expansion and diversification of Virginia’s economy.

Programs include: Virginia Venture Partners (VVP) | VVP Fund of Funds (SSBCI) | Virginia Founders Fund (VFF) | Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) | Petersburg Founders Fund (PFF) | Smart Communities | The Virginia Smart Community Testbed | The Virginia Unmanned Systems Center | Virginia Advanced Air Mobility Alliance (VAAMA) | The Public Safety Innovation Center | Entrepreneurial Ecosystems | Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) | Federal Funding Assistance Program (FFAP) for SBIR & STTR | University Partnerships | Startup Company Mentoring & Engagement. For more information, please visit www.VirginiaIPC.org. Follow VIPC on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.

About the Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF)
VIPC’s Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) accepts applications and awards funding on a rolling basis to Virginia’s small businesses and university-based innovators. For Virginia’s private sector community, the competitive grant program seeks high-potential Virginia-based for-profit technology companies at the early stage of commercialization and provides grants up to $100,000. The grants support early technology and market validation efforts such as the development of prototypes or minimum viable products (MVPs), customer pilots, and intellectual property protection. For more information on funding opportunities and eligibility requirements, or to apply, visit the CCF pages from www.VirginiaIPC.org.

Angela Costello, Vice President of Communications
Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
angela.costello@VirginiaIPC.org
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