❇️ Piersica Secures $1.9M SBIR Award | CityClips #440

Celebrating Milestones. A Tallahassee-based company has landed its second contract with the U.S. Army – a significant achievement worth celebrating, not just as a recognition but also as a step forward in advancing battery technology. Additionally, another local business has recently celebrated its sweet anniversary. Cheers to our local entrepreneurs and innovators who keep pushing for growth and success. 🥂✨

Quick Summary

For the 440th issue, here’s what’s up:

• Energy Tech: Piersica | Army's SBIR Phase II Contract

• Celebration: Sweetfirmation’s First Year Anniversary

• Featured: Trydent Consulting | Company Culture

• Networking + Business Events

ENERGY TECH

PIERSICA

Image Source: Piersica

🔋 Piersica has secured an approximately $1.9M contract for the U.S. Army's SBIR Phase II program. | Piersica LI Post

• Piersica is a tech company developing advanced materials and breakthrough technologies to build high-performance batteries for both current and future applications.

• Scope & Timeline: Awarded around $1.9M through the U.S. Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II program to advance ultra-high energy density battery technology. This funding will facilitate research over the next 15 months, focusing on validating a cell prototype surpassing current state-of-the-art performance. 🤩

• Funding History: This contract marks Piersica’s third Army SBIR award in three years, and its second Phase II award. To date, the company has received around $3.8M in SBIR grants from the Army, NSF, and the U.S. Air Force/Afwerx. | Milestones

• Army Collaboration: Following the completion of the Army SBIR Phase I contract in November 2024, Piersica became eligible for the Phase II award under "Energy Demand Reduction and Clean Energy Tech." It includes support from Army experts in technical, acquisition, and operational fields to steer development towards potential military applications.

• Potential Applications: Aimed at powering portable electronics, long-range drones, autonomous systems, electric ground vehicles, and portable energy-weapon platforms. Applicability also includes consumer electronics, EVs, robotics, and aerial vehicles due to its high energy and lightweight properties.

• Fun Fact: Piersica’s Founder & CEO, Dr. Claudiu Bucur, was featured by Julia on Episode 66 of CityClips Live. 🎙️  

CELEBRATION

SWEETFIRMATIONS

Image Source: Sweetfirmations

🧁 Sweetfirmations by Kimmie Kakes celebrated their first anniversary. | Tal Dem

• Sweetfirmations by Kimmie Kakes, a Tallahassee bakery, recently celebrated its first anniversary in a physical storefront after moving from a home-based operation. | FB IG

• With a startup grant of $5,259.80 from the Greater Frenchtown Southside (GFS) Business Facility Improvement Program, the owners of Sweetfirmations, Ladell and Kimberly Bryan, opened its brick-and-mortar location. 💝

• The community has played a vital role in their success, as customers rave about their "best cake" and appreciate the bakery's unique atmosphere.

• They aim to provide a delightful experience through their desserts, featuring a range of services such as celebration cakes, wedding cakes, and dessert bars. The owners expressed their wish to keep expanding and delivering outstanding service to the Tallahassee community. 👏

FEATURED

Image Source: Trydent Consulting

Trydent Consulting | Company Culture

• Trydent Consulting’s culture is rooted in integrity, transparency, and community. It fosters a collaborative, values-driven environment where emotional intelligence and accountability are as essential as technical skill. The team embraces a people-first approach, encouraging curiosity, clear communication, and continuous learning. Employees are empowered to lead with empathy, challenge assumptions, and co-create solutions that reflect both purpose and profit. At Trydent, culture isn’t just internal – it’s modeled in every client relationship.

📱 Schedule a strategic consultation with Trydent! Operation hours from Mondays to Fridays, 10 AM to 4 PM (appointment only).

EVENTS

NETWORKING + BUSINESS

Image Source: Capital City Chamber via FB

Tuesday, July 22

• The MagLab: Tallahassee’s Innovation Hub by NEBA | Tuesday, July 22 | 11:30 AM | Capital City Country Club, 1601 Golf Terrace Dr. | Register

  
  

Thursday, July 24

• Moments that Move: Practical Photography for Real-World Impact by Creative Collective Tallahassee | Thursday, July 24 | 6:30 PM | Domi Station, 914 Railroad Ave. | Free | Learn More

Tuesday, Aug. 5

• Featured Event: Coffee & Commerce: Back-to-School Drive by Capital City Chamber | Tuesday, Aug. 5 | 7:45 AM | Earley's Kitchen, 1458 S. Monroe St. | Learn More

  • Bring school supplies to support local students in need.

Thursday, Aug. 7

• Resiliency Through Change by Capital City Chamber | Thursday, Aug. 7 | 8 AM | Parkview at Cascades, 414 E. Bloxham St., Suite 110 | Register

Thursday to Friday, Aug. 7 to 8

• The Global Leadership Summit by ISF, Inc | Thursday to Friday, Aug. 7 to 8 | 10 AM | ISF, Inc at Florida Technology Council, 350 S. Duval St. | Register

Thursday, Aug. 14

• Engineering the Future of Health Tech: Insights from Serial Entrepreneurs by IGNITE Tallahassee | Thursday, Aug. 14 | 10 AM | Online via Zoom | Register

Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 14 to 17

• The Annual Chamber Community Conference by the Chamber of Commerce | Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 14 to 17 | Ritz Carlton Amelia Island | Register

  • Agenda:

    • Thursday, Aug. 14: Conference Registration at 2 PM

    • Friday, Aug. 15: Conference Registration at 8 AM

    • Saturday, Aug. 16: Business Exhibit Hall Opens at 7:30 AM

    • Sunday, Aug. 17: Breakfast & Closing Session at 8:30 AM

Friday, Aug. 15

• The Power Pack Event by the Chamber of Commerce and Second Harvest of the Big Bend | Friday, Aug. 15 | 1:30 PM | Talbot Ballroom | Learn More

Monday to Tuesday, Aug. 18 to 19

• 2025 Small Business Summit by The Florida SBDC Network | Monday to Tuesday, Aug. 18 to 19 | Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay | From $250 Register | Learn More

  • Agenda:

    • Monday, Aug. 18: Registration Opens at 9 AM

    • Tuesday, Aug. 19: Registration Opens at 7 AM

Tuesday, Aug. 19

• The Economic Club of Florida Presents Michael Simas, President and CEO, Council 100 | Tuesday, Aug. 19 | 11:30 AM | Capital City Country Club, 1601 Golf Terrace Dr. | Virtual Registration Onsite

  
  

Thursday, Aug. 21

• Major Considerations for Managing Employees by Capital City Chamber | Thursday, Aug. 21 | 5:30 PM | SBDC at FAMU, 625 E. Tennessee St. | Register

Thursday, Aug. 28

• Access to Capital for Startups by IGNITE Tallahassee | Thursday, Aug. 28 | 10:30 AM | IGNITE Tallahassee, 1729 W. Paul Dirac Dr. | Register

THIS WEEK

Get ready for our 90th episode this Wednesday on LinkedIn, Facebook, or YouTube, powered by JH Creative. We are thrilled to have Jabaree Allen, an AI innovator and the visionary founder behind Phusion AI. Got questions? Join us live!

- Team CityClips (editors@cityclips.net)

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