August 2023 Newsletter

In This Issue

“The Business of Innovation” Event Series: Wilmington: 9/26
Position Opening: Small Business Equity Funding Advisor
NC’s SBIR/STTR Award Data Trends
One NC Small Business Program
Graduate Internship Program Highlighted in Business NC
SBIR/STTR Agency Open Funding Opportunities

“The Business of Innovation” Event Series

Wilmington

September 26

9:00AM to 3:00PM

Registration is now open for The Business of Innovation session in Wilmington on September 26. This session, the third held this year throughout NC, will provide research faculty and innovation / R&D businesses guidance, advice and connections to experts on the various components of strategically setting up and growing a technology-based business.

Topics include:

SBIR/STTR Program Overview
NC Biotech Center funding options
Equity funding discussion
Legal considerations of setting up your innovation business
Accounting and financial considerations
One NC Small Business Match and Incentive Programs
Tech transfer and partnerships
Successful innovation business panel

The Business of Innovation

September 26 - 9:00AM to 3:00PM

UNCW, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Wilmington, NC

Click below for registration and agenda

Learn More

New Position: Small Business Equity Funding Specialist

We are pleased to announce that the NC SBTDC's Technology Commercialization Program is expanding with a new Small Business Equity Funding Specialist position based at the SBTDC's UNC-Chapel Hill office.

This high-visibility position will entail advising North Carolina innovation-based start-ups and existing small businesses through the journey of raising equity capital. Connecting with the statewide equity funding ecosystem, delivering training, and more provide a unique opportunity to help drive North Carolina's success as an innovation state.

Candidates may bring a blend of funding, technical, business, and entrepreneurial backgrounds with a robust interest in continuing to build the equity ecosystem in NC and helping businesses become investor-ready.

Learn More

NC’s SBIR/STTR Award Data Trends

North Carolina’s small innovation-based companies reaped the benefits of the federal SBIR/STTR programs to the tune of $158M in 2022, a gain of 178% compared to 10 years earlier. In total, 114 companies secured SBIR/STTR funding through a combination of over 200 Phase 1 and Phase 2 awards in 2022. While the number of awarded companies and the number of awards trended higher in the period of 2013 to 2021, 2022 showed a decrease from the prior year.

One NC Small Business Program

The North Carolina Board of Science Technology and Innovation’s One Small Business Program recently released data on the innovation/technology sectors that SBIR/STTR awardee match funding recipients represent and the companies’ use of the match funds. The top three innovation sectors, which include the broad categories of biotech, IT, and materials, make up 61% of the total. The majority of match funding was used to support expenses including wages, equipment, supplies and facilities.

Graduate Internship Program Highlighted in Business NC

We are pleased that Business North Carolina Magazine has published our article, "Fueling NC's Innovation Engine," in its July edition. The article highlights the benefits of the SBTDC’s Technology Commercialization Summer Internship program from the perspectives of an MBA graduate student, a small innovation-driven client, and the university.

“Phaxtec, a firm founded in 2019 to develop sustainable coating materials, lauded Lois Chen’s contribution to the company’s vision, financial planning, and strategy development. Chen was not an employee or consultant hired by the company, but rather a graduate student intern.

Each summer, the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) offers the opportunity for graduate students from across the state to work closely with early-stage innovation-based companies. Chen joined an impressive list of over 200 SBTDC internship alums that have taken part in the program over the past 21 years and shared that the program provided 'a rare opportunity for one to work directly with CEOs who have a clear vision for innovative technology.'”

Read the Full Article

SBIR/STTR Agency Open Funding Opportunities

A plethora of SBIR/STTR funding opportunities are either open now or will be in the near future. Click below to view several opportunities with links to the agency funding websites.

Current and Future Solicitations

Stay updated on current and future solicitation openings.

View links to each of the SBIR/STTR participating agencies.

About Us

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.

John Ujvari

Interim Director

jujvari@sbtdc.org

Ramya Vijapurapu

Counselor

rvijapurapu@sbtdc.org