Federal SBIR and STTR Programs: Winning Strategies to Fund Your Innovation
(Phase I SBIR/STTR Activities Will Be the Focus of this Seminar)
Date: To be announced
Location:The Federal Sales Academy in Bethesda, Maryland
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $500 per person
The federal government will award more than $3 billion dollars in
SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) and STTR (Small Business
Technology Transfer) program grants to some 4,000 small businesses in
FY 2007- 2008. According to the SBA’S web site, the purpose of the SBIR
and STTR initiatives is to provide “qualified small business concerns
with opportunities to propose innovative ideas that meet the specific
research and development needs of the federal government.” By
Congressional mandate, federal agencies must allocate two percent (2%)
of their budgets to these programs. Because both initiatives have been
well publicized and have been around for approximately twenty years,
winning a SBIR or STTR award is very difficult and the competition
intense. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs and small businesses will
spend countless hours putting together a proposal only to be turned
down because they did not have the right strategies in place to be
competitive.
Fedmarket’s seminar will provide not only the basics of the SBIR and
STTR programs but also the successful strategies employed by high
technology research and development companies in getting their
proposals approved and funded. The morning session addresses the
fundamentals of each program as well as what makes each unique. We will
also discuss those federal agencies participating in the SBIR and STTR
programs and how the proper development of your company’s initiative
makes your plan attractive to multiple agencies. The afternoon session
examines the proposal process itself and what you must do to create a
competitive proposal (Note - this means more than following the
agency’s proposal guidelines). Finally, find out the good news about
not winning an award and what lies ahead for those who have won.
Special Guest Speaker: Jack Selter
Fedmarket's special guest speaker, Jack Seltzer, has been directly
involved in technology development for the past twenty (20) years. Mr.
Seltzer has, in his capacity as a project manager for applied research
and technology transfer programs, worked with entrepreneurs, technology
companies and small businesses to bring their technology to the
government and commercial marketplace. He has, in partnership with
colleges and universities, economic development agencies, Small
Business Development Programs and commercialization centers, actively
participated in the development and presentation of more than thirty
(30) SBIR/STTR workshops and seminars. Fedmarket.com has made special
arrangements with Mr. Seltzer to have him present his unique
perspectives and insights at the Federal Sales Academy in Bethesda, MD.
Seminar Content
Winning Strategies for Participating in the Federal SBIR and STTR Programs
(Phase I SBIR/STTR Activities Will Be the Focus of this Seminar)
Introduction
- Purpose and intent of SBIR and STTR programs
- Types of funding mechanisms
- What you need to have in place to compete
- Going it alone or project teaming
- Your likelihood or odds of success
- Past winning ideas
Understanding the Who, What, Where, and When of SBIR and STTR
- Developing and selling your initiative
- Matching your proposed plan with agency needs
- Understanding agency requirements and your funding chances
Beginning the Proposal Process
- Organizing the process before you begin drafting the proposal
- Confirming agency requirements and timelines
- Writing in order to address the agency’s need, not your corporate ego’s needs
- Demonstrating your expertise and reliability/ability to perform
Proposal Phase I Basics - Follow the Agency Rules
- Summary
- Technology
- Management Expertise
- Timeline
- Results
Outcome
- If awarded, being ready for the paperwork and accounting requirements; preparing for a Phase 2 submittal
- If denied, be prepared to debrief and move forward
Class Schedule
| 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. | Registration and refreshments |
| 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. | Discussion of participants’ expectations |
| 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. | Introduction |
| 10:20 to 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 to 11:50 a.m. | Understanding the Who, What, Where, and When of SBIR and STTR |
LUNCH
| 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. | Beginning the Proposal Process |
| 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. | Proposal Phase I Basics - Follow the Agency Rules |
| 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. | Outcome |
| 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. | Additional Resources, Summary and Seminar Evaluation |
