APEX Accelerator client Endeavor Composites, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based company, was recently awarded a $1.2 Million STTR Phase II award from the National Science Foundation. The company has also received a $1.7 Million STTR Direct to Phase II award from the Department of the Air Force. In addition to these awards, Endeavor Composites was named the “Startup of the Year for 2025” at the MOVE: Mobility Reimagined Summit.

Troubled by the trim waste generated by the carbon-fiber manufacturing process, Hicham Ghossein founded Endeavor Composites in 2019 to repurpose those fibers, which would otherwise go to landfills, into a nonwoven fabric. The fabric is then used to reinforce vehicles and other parts made of sustainable composites. The process delivers aerospace-grade materials at automotive speed using the new nonwoven fiber platform, making high-performance, sustainable, U.S. made composites fully scalable and mission-ready.

Hicham first connected with the Tennessee APEX Accelerator (then known as PTAC) just a few months after he founded Endeavor Composites. He participated in a PTAC-sponsored manufacturing webinar and became a client shortly thereafter. Since that time, APEX has provided guidance and support as Endeavor Composites began the process of seeking SBIR and STTR awards. SBIR and STTR are federal programs that award research and development funds to small businesses that partner with non-profit research institutions to encourage them to jointly explore their technological potential and innovate new technologies that will be made commercially available to the public.

Hicham said, “I came to the APEX Accelerator because we needed a knowledgeable partner to help us navigate the federal market. As a growing advanced materials company, we knew our technology was a strong fit for defense, but the contracting process can be overwhelming. APEX offered exactly what we needed: expert guidance, direct support, and a clear roadmap to engage the DoD effectively and responsibly. They walked us through SAM registration, helped us navigate the WAWF system, guided us through the paperwork and processes that can overwhelm small businesses, and even provided direct introductions to DoD stakeholders. What impressed us most was their genuine commitment to our success; they treated us like a partner, not a case number.”

According to East Tennessee APEX Counselor Jutta Bangs, “Hicham is extremely dedicated to providing innovative advanced composite manufacturing solutions to his customers. He is driven by a scientific curiosity while ensuring the growth of his company and operating it efficiently. The repurposing of post-industrial fibers into new markets contributes to an environmentally friendly and sustainable model that keeps waste out of our landfills. Endeavor Composites is an integral part of the Defense Industrial Base and is making tremendous contributions to the field of advanced composites manufacturing.

Of his experience with the Tennessee APEX Accelerator, Hicham says, “Endeavor Composites wouldn’t be moving this fast in the federal space without the Tennessee APEX team. Their guidance helped us turn complex processes into clear, actionable steps, and their support has had a measurable impact on our growth. Thanks to the APEX Accelerator, we moved faster, avoided costly mistakes, and became fully prepared to compete in defense opportunities with confidence. We’re grateful for their partnership and excited to keep building momentum together.”

Join the Tennessee APEX Accelerator in congratulating Endeavor Composites on its achievements!

You can find Endeavor Composites on LinkedIn or visit their website at https://endeavorcomposites.com/.