America’s Seed Fund Road Tour is a national outreach effort to connect innovators and entrepreneurs to non-dilutive, technology funding opportunities provided through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, known as “America’s Seed Fund”.

America’s Seed Fund Road Tour plays an important role in encouraging participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by members of underrepresented groups while supporting the mission of the SBIR/STTR programs to support scientific excellence and technological innovation to build a strong national economy.

Federal Agency representatives have been invited to attend a series of events in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas that bring together local and national innovation ecosystems to help attendees navigate over $4 billion in early-stage funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund.

Sign up now and secure your spot. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/americas-seed-fund-2024-road-tour-jackson-ms-tickets-791325645307?aff=oddtdtcreator

Agenda:

7:00 – 8:00am – Registration and Networking

8:00 – 8:15am – Host Welcome and Introduction VIP’s: Janita Stewart, SBA Mississippi Director and Jackson State University Representative in Ballroom B

8:15 – 8:47am – America’s Seed Fund – SBIR/STTR Overview
(Erick Page-Littleford, Acting Director SBIR/STTR Program Office and Nancy Kamei, SBA Program Development Specialist) 

8:45am – One-on-one’s kick off in Ballroom A

8:48 – 9:44am – Four-minute Reverse Pitches from Agencies

9:48 – 10:30am – Panel Session 1: Matching Your Project to an Agency
(Nancy Kamei)
Have you wondered how to get focused on a few SBIR agencies? We understand how America’s Seed Fund can seem a bit overwhelming at first, which is why the session is of value! Catch a general overview of the SBIR/STTR programs as experts answer questions about how to get started, what types of companies they are looking for, agency prerequisites, the nuances between granting and contracting agencies, and more!

10:30 – 11:10pm – Panel Session 2: Inside the Head of an Evaluator (Erick Page-Littleford)
Curious about what evaluators are looking for when reviewing submissions? Don’t miss this last session with Agency Program Managers as they share common and avoidable mistakes made by applicants. Enjoy candid insight for preparing more competitive proposals. The panel will also touch on items required by the SBIR Policy Directive to be reviewed at any SBIR program.

11:10 – 11:50am – Panel Session 3: Finding Support and Help (Nancy or Erick)
Join us for this important session to gain insights on the resources available to you from the SBA at sbir.gov, organizations within your state or region that can guide you along your journey, and additional resources connected to our nation’s innovation ecosystem. Leave with concrete next steps on how to get started.

12:00 – 12:15pm – Get lunches & move to “Cookies & Connections” in Ballroom B

12:15pm – Federal Agency representatives board the bus

12:15pm – Cookies & Connections with Universities
Want to work with a Mississippi Research University to increase your chances of a successful project and a successful SBIR/STTR Application? Come meet with various university research groups from Mississippi’s research universities in a rapid-fire networking event.

12:45pm – Mississippi-Specific Resources and the MS-FAST Program (Joe Graben)
The MS-FAST Program, led by Innovate Mississippi in conjunction with the USM Office of Innovation Management, aims to elevate the volume of SBIR and STTR proposals from small businesses in Mississippi, ultimately increasing SBIR/STTR awards. Through direct counseling with companies, solicitation matching and Phase 0 awards, MS-FAST helps Mississippi companies create winning SBIR/STTR proposals.

1:15pm – Show Me the Money! – The funding to fit your business (Tony Jeff)
While SBIR/STTR funding is a great source of non-dilutive funding, many other financial tools are available to get your business on the fast track. Innovate Mississippi has a wide variety of tools and connections to others with even more tools that will be explored and discussed.

1:45pm – Encountering Innovation and the Department of Defense with the RISE Center Edge
(Barbara Bonner-Stephens and Chip Templeton)
Mississippi SBDC participates in Encountering Innovation, a program offering opportunities for innovators, government tech scouts, and manufacturing & technology companies (from Federal Agency Prime Contractors to Small Businesses) to collaborate with each other for Commercialization and Contracting purposes via Private Tech Transfer Pitches and Matchmaking Sessions. MSBDC supports Mississippi technology innovators wishing to work with or advance technologies within the DoD.

2:15pm – Wrap-up & Adjourn

Learn more about Mississippi Resources for Securing SBIR/STTR Funding here: https://www.innovate.ms/mississippi-sbir-sttr-resources/