America’s Seed Fund Week aims to educate and connect in SBIR’s 40th year

Entrepreneurs learned more about small business funding opportunities from federal agencies with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs during America’s Seed Fund Week last week. The $4 billion funding program, which is currently up for reauthorization, is celebrating 40 years of providing funding to small businesses each year in a variety of technology areas. Videos, including advice from program managers, and resources from each participating federal agency are available online.

The week included America’s Seed Fund rebranding initiative, including the beta launch of their new website, which has been redesigned to be more informative and user friendly, along with a new Lab2Market Hub, which will connect users to sources of funding. 

Attendees were taught more about the SBIR and STTR processes, through information from the SBA, which walks through the three phases of the process: Phase I, proof-of-concept; Phase II, technology development; and Phase III, commercialization. John Williams, director of innovation and technology for the Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), emphasized in his welcome address that great ideas come from everywhere and America’s Seed Fund wants to get more people involved to expose them to SBIR and STTR funding opportunities.