Several Arkansas innovators connected with federal agency representatives and local resource providers at the Little Rock stop of the America’s Seed Fund 2024 Road Tour on April 2.
More than 100 participants heard about the upcoming funding opportunities offered by the 15 federal grant and contracting agencies that provide SBIR/STTR seed funding for the commercialization of technologies.
The event also unlocked key resources available for SBIR/STTR applicants, including the technical assistance offered by Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and event co-host Arkansas APEX Accelerator, whose conference facilities served as the event venue.
The U.S. Small Business Administration coordinated the tour, which was continuing on to Jackson, Miss., then to Baton Rouge, La., and Houston, Texas, on its Southern swing.
“The event in Little Rock was a great success and a terrific way to kick off the Southern leg of the 2024 Road Tour,” said organizer and SBIR Program Development Specialist Nancy Kamei. “The crowd was very engaged in the presentations, and the companies and entrepreneurs who participated in one-on-one meetings were so prepared, leading to real and fruitful conversations with agency representatives. I’m looking forward to several high-quality SBIR and STTR proposals and new applicants from Arkansas.”
Morning highlights included presentations and panels spotlighting the SBIR/STTR agencies. They highlighted the presenting agencies’ funding priorities, evaluation procedures, and tips and techniques for creating competitive funding proposals.
In addition, throughout the morning proceedings, innovators were able to meet one-on-one with the various agency representatives, to discuss their research and development projects and goals for commercialization of their innovations.
The agency representatives on hand helped guide innovators toward the best topics or funding opportunities for their ideas or new product development. Entrepreneurs came away with leads to further investigate.
Phase I SBIR awards, for example, can help provide seed funding to facilitate the proof-of-concept stages of R&D projects up to $300,000+ over six months to a year, depending on the awarding agency.
“It’s vital, as a first step in the exploratory process, to talk with program managers whose insights can help direct, or redirect, an innovator who is seeking to develop their technology in concert with government priorities,” said Karen Bergh, ASBTDC’s innovation specialist and FAST program support staff for outreach and technical assistance to science and technology-driven small businesses.
“Having 15 of the agency program managers here in person provided an unparalleled opportunity for our innovators to learn, first-hand, and to begin to develop the relationships and connections they need to be successful.”
The day concluded with lunch and a closing panel of Arkansas-based SBIR/STTR awardees who shared their startup challenges, victories, and insights.
The event in Little Rock was a great success and a terrific way to kick off the Southern leg of the 2024 Road Tour. The crowd was very engaged in the presentations, and the companies and entrepreneurs who participated in one-on-one meetings were so prepared, leading to real and fruitful conversations with agency representatives. I’m looking forward to several high-quality SBIR and STTR proposals and new applicants from Arkansas.
Nancy Kamei, SBIR Program Development Specialist and Road Tour organizer
