UTICA, N.Y. -- Seven more start-ups in the Air Force Research Laboratory Commercialization Academy have been getting help on their way to success.

"The normal failure rate for a start-up is 90 percent. We haven't had any," said Griffiss Institute Technical Director Frank Hoke.

It's a Griffiss Institute program led by Wasabi Ventures. The start-ups are from across the country.

"I didn't know what I was doing in a lot of areas and T.K., the Wasabi Ventures managing partner, he helped me a lot, figuring out things, what I need to do, what the steps are," said Jeff Johansen, founder of MakeIt 3D. "I would be nowhere if it wasn't for this academy right now."

"All of the start-ups are using intellectual property or technology that was developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory Research Directorate," Hoke said.

Wednesday night, entrepreneurs pitched their ideas to a panel of judges and audience at The thINCubator in Utica. Two start-ups won $20,000.

"We're fortunate, as part of this academy, that we get grant money in the first place," Johansen said, "so we get a substantial portion of money to help build a company with, and the award would help a lot."

"We want to be a resource for entrepreneurs that are starting businesses large and small, and for firms that are dealing with commercialization," said Ryan Miller, director of The thINCubator.

Some out of state entrepreneurs said their experience in the program is encouraging them to work in central New York.

"I would have no problems working around here," said Johansen. "The area is nice."

"If we were able to, or we were ever to consider moving to this area, we have the same opportunity -- well, New York's even bigger than New Hampshire, if you think about the actual sheer population," said Bob Leland, co-founder and CEO of Boxscore. "So we would be able to certainly have a great opportunity here."

Hoke said the entrepreneurs have agreed to base their operations in the area for one year.

MakeIt 3D won the judge's vote. It's a company linking people with 3-D printing designs. Sensible Spreader Technologies won the audience's vote. That company would bring operators of winter road maintenance and street-sweeping fleets together.