Michigan Technological University, Alpha-Otto Technologies Selected for AFWERX STTR Phase I Award

Michigan Technological University and Alpha-Otto Technologies have been selected by AFWERX for an STTR Phase I contract in the amount of $109,998.00. The contract is focused on the REVflux PowerCell and advanced microgrid solutions for agile energy security, both of which are needed to address the most pressing challenges in the U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF). 

The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines; changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business; and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded. Now, Alpha-Otto Technologies and Michigan Tech’s Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APS LABS) will start their joint journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen national security.

“This award gives us the opportunity to work alongside Michigan Technological University to speak with key Air Force stakeholders to better understand how the REVflux PowerCell can support resilient power at fixed installations,” said John Krzeminski, founder and CEO of Alpha-Otto Technologies. “Our goal is to develop a reliable, modular system that can strengthen mission readiness, shorten deployment times, and reduce dependence on a single fuel source through revolutionary fuel-adaptable technology.”

APS LABS’ Energy & Thermalfluids Group Manager Robert Waara says Michigan Tech is excited to contribute its engineering expertise in propulsion and energy generation to this partnership. 

“APS LABS exists to bridge the gap between fundamental science and application, turning ambitious concepts into highly functional, high-impact solutions. Partnering with Alph-Otto lets us push technical boundaries together, bringing the practical innovation that APS LABS is known for to a project that has the ability to shape the future of scalable, fuel-agnostic energy generation.”

About Alpha-Otto Technologies

Alpha-Otto Technologies is developing the next generation of power generation: a hyperscalable electric power platform that is cleaner, more efficient, highly versatile, and capable of operating on almost any liquid or gaseous fuel. Its standardized REVflux PowerCell is designed to produce 100 kW of electric power from a compact modular unit that can be deployed individually or combined to scale with demand. The company’s future-ready platform is being developed to support reliable power across defense, microgrid, distributed generation, data center, mobility, marine, and other mission-critical applications. For more information, visit alphaotto.com.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX

As the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and a division within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings American ingenuity from small businesses and startups to solve the most pressing challenges facing Airmen and Guardians. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFWERX strengthens the defense industrial base by expanding access to nontraditional vendors, building new defense partnerships and accelerating the transition of critical technologies to operational capability. In fiscal year 2025, AFWERX awarded more than 1,000 contracts totaling $1.37 billion and achieved 438 Phase III transitions valued at $8.1 billion, supercharging the industrial base that supports U.S. military readiness and battlefield advantage. For more information, visit afwerx.com.

About APS LABS

APS LABS is a research institute within Michigan Tech that delivers solutions throughout the mobility and energy space for a wide range of government and corporate clients.  Guided by a commitment to technical excellence and backed by world-class facilities in three locations, APS LABS’ team of experienced professionals operates with the rigor of industry and the innovation of academia to create, develop, and deploy next-generation technologies. For more information, visit mtu.edu/apsrc/.