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NC SBIR/STTR Road Tour Events
9/8, 9/14 and 9/15
We are pleased to announce that coming up on 9/8, 9/14 and 9/15 there will be three unique virtual SBIR/STTR sessions that is a collaboration between the SBA, federal agencies, First Flight Venture Center and the NC SBTDC.
Below is information about each of the sessions, as well as registration information. Note that several registrations are required.
Date: September 8
Event: Prep course for one-on-one meetings
Time: 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Description: The Small Business and Technology Development Center's (SBTDC) Technology Commercialization Team will host a pre-SBIR Week in the Southeast virtual workshop to help maximize the rare opportunity to virtually meet with SBIR Program Managers. The SBTDC workshop is complimentary and will cover the following topics:
- How SBIR/STTR can be used as seed capital for growing your company
- The missions of participating federal agencies
- How to prepare for one-on-one meetings with SBIR Program Managers
Date: September 14
Morning Event: SBIR Agency Program Manager Presentations
Time: 9:00am - 1:30pm
Description: Hear directly from the participating federal agency program managers
Afternoon Event: Early Stage Capital - Sources and Challenges
Time: 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Registration: No additional registration is required, however a separate Zoom link will be provided to access this session.
Description: Sources of funding are critical to a startup's ability to progress through different stages of research, development and commercialization. The panel will expose the audience to a range of revenue/grant options related to all stages of their company's development, the advantages and consequences of each and factors that impact the best choices. Experts who have "been there done that" in non-dilutive funding, the angel investing and venture capital arenas will share their invaluable, "insider" knowledge.
Date: September 15
Event: One-on-one meetings with SBIR Program Managers
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Description / Registration: As a registered participant for the 9/14 session, you will receive an email from [email protected] with a unique registration link to request virtual one-on-one meeting appointment(s) with SBIR Program Managers. NOTE: September 8th at 10:00 a.m. EDT is the cutoff date for selecting meetings in advance.
Summer Internship Program Assists SBIR Awardees
We are pleased to announce that the SBTDC's 2020 Graduate Technology Commercialization Summer consulting program has come to a successful close at the end of July.
A few highlights from this year:
- 24 small to medium size tech companies that are working toward commercialization of their technologies participated
- 14 Graduate students participated - 4 of which had "last minute" availability because their previously planned internships were cancelled due to Covid
- Over 5000 hours of consulting service was provided to these companies
- Technologies encompassed by these clients included biotech, agriculture, IoT, software, engineering, medical devices, environmental, and more
- Participating universities included: Duke MBA and MEM, NC State MBA and MMB, UNC MBA, App State MBA and UNC School of the Arts
- All engagements with interns and clients were held virtually and had no adverse impact on productivity and deliverables
Over the past 19 years:
- 190 interns have participated
- 375 client companies
- 75, 000 hours of consulting service
- Equating to 37 person years of service
NIH Releases Solicitations For Next Three Submission Deadlines
The new SBIR and STTR Omnibus Solicitations and CRP (Commercialization Readiness Pilot) Program FOAs have been published.
The application submission due dates are - SEPTEMBER 8, 2020, JANUARY 5, 2021, AND APRIL 5, 2021
In addition, the updated CRP (Commercialization Readiness Pilot) Program FOAs participate have also been re-issued.
If you are considering submitting an SBIR/STTR proposal to NSF, the current submission windows are:
June 5- September 3, 2020
September 4 - December 3, 2020
STTR Submissions - NSF has recently seen a drop in the number of STTRs submitted and is specifically encouraging STTR submissions.
If you are interested in applying, proceed to visit https://seedfund.nsf.gov/apply. Here you will see a clearly defined list of steps that you need to take. The first step will be to draft and submit a project pitch. Upon submission, NSF will review and then let you know within three weeks if you project is a fit with the SBIR/STTR program.
The SBTDC is here to walk you through the process.
DoE and DoD SBIR/STTR Openings
Department of Energy and Department of Defense also have solicitations either open now or opening soon.
Department of Energy
Open date: 8/10
Submission deadline: 10/13
Department of Energy
Open date: 8/25
Submission deadline: 10/22
SBIR/STTR Solicitation Dates
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Coming soon: Virtual "Becoming an Investor-Ready Entrepreneur"
The Technology Commercialization team's well known Investor-Ready Entrepreneur (IRE) workshop serves as one of SBTDC's educational tools in its mission to level the playing field for entrepreneurs as they prepare to enter the private equity investment process. IRE focuses on proper market positioning and provides entrepreneurs with an inside look at what catches an investor's attention.
The program is engaging and interactive covering the following topics:
- The private equity investment process
- The different types of investors
- Key attributes of businesses that raise equity funding
- Representing the financial need and financials
- Targeting / qualifying funding sources
- Presenting to investors
- Due diligence
- Valuation
- Deal structure
- Boards and Exists
For each topic there is a brief presentation followed by commentary from a panel of experienced investors. Companies will leave with a much stronger understanding of the norms and expectations related to raising investment capital.
SAVE THE DATE
As a result of COVID19, the team is pivoting from an in-person format to a two-day Virtual IRE event that will take place on the afternoons of December 2nd and 9th. The online format will also make the event more accessible to a larger number of companies across North Carolina and the region.
The event will feature keynote speaker Robert Preville, CEO of KWIPPED, Inc., who is a serial entrepreneur, and investor. There will also be investor reverse pitches to familiarize the audience with investment groups from across the region. Stay tuned for information and we hope to see you there (virtually).
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Business Start-up Course - 4 Week Session - Starts 9/8
If you're interested in starting a business but don't know where to begin, Taking the Leap is a great resource for you! In this free four-week long virtual course, participants will learn about different aspects of starting a business, including identifying potential markets, writing a business plan, running the finances of a business and marketing a business. You'll work with mentors and peers in fun breakout activities designed to help strengthen your business ideas and prepare you for success.
Course outline:
September 8 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm
The Voice of Your Customer
A human-centered design thinking experience to understand future customers and their needs. Experiment with solutions through storytelling to gather feedback and learn quickly.
September 15 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm
A Plan for Success - Develop Your Business Model
Using the Ice House Opportunity Canvas, participants will visually fine-tune their Customer, Solution, and Connection and will receive feedback from others. The first steps of "how to" legitimize the business will be discussed.
September 22 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Cash is King
Investment and initial capital, burnrates, cash flow, and/or product pricing will be developed by participants in the session. Live Plan and QuickBooks will be explored as a tool for monitoring long-term financials.
September 29 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Pitch Night! Marketing your business and Celebrating your Business Launch
Using the insights about your customer, value proposition, and financials, you will develop and share your business pitch. Best practices for marketing your new business' new product or service will be discussed.
This is also graduation night! Successes from the cohort will be shared and highlighted. Clients that completed all four modules receive an SBTDC Certificate of Completion.
Understanding your Customer - Recommended Book
Success starts with understanding your customers. Talking to Humans is a small and quick read, at only 87 pages, it can be read in less than 2 hours. It is 100% free as a PDF online as well. (
https://s3.amazonaws.com/TalkingtoHumans/Talking+to+Humans.pdf) The value that it brings to the table is key to better understanding your customers, their needs, and how your product will help solve them. I encourage any business owner or entrepreneur to go through this exercise once a year to ensure they are staying in touch with how they are working to create value, increase revenue and change the world. More details on the website.
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MORE SBTDC TARGETED SERVICES
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SELLING TO THE GOVERNMENT
The North Carolina Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) educates business associates on how to obtain contracts by providing comprehensive assistance in selling products and services to local, state and federal government agencies.
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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The SBTDC's International Business Development Specialists assists small and mid-sized businesses with export planning and exporting.
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The Team
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The Technology Commercialization Services team provides one-on-one business counseling and advice to: small business owners, university researchers, and entrepreneurs looking to advance their innovations to the marketplace.
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Director, Technology Development
and Commercialization
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SBIR/STTR Specialist & Newsletter Editor
Statewide
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Technology Commercialization Counselor
Eastern NC
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Technology Commercialization Counselor
North Central NC
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Technology Commercialization Counselor
Western NC
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