Licensing – We are reviewing licensing and development opportunities to advance startups into the marketplace, creating a grant process which will lead to investment opportunities.

Introductory Presentations / Office Hours – We have delivered introductory presentations and office hours for startups and economic development programs, helping the companies identify potential opportunities for expansion.

Business Development Programs / Revenue Focus – We have conducted multiple business development programs with a focus on developing collaboration and sales opportunities for the startup. Our focus in this area was the development of financial opportunities for these startups, not general research interviews. We provided successful connections and start of business opportunities on multiple projects.

Grant Review Panels – We have been part of DoD Grant Review Panels, providing feedback on grants which were seeking funding.

Identification of Grant Opportunities – We have worked with multiple startups in the identification of the best grant programs for application. We have worked with the government agency Program Managers and the startups on determining opportunities and eligibility for funding. We believe this is a key first step in the grant process and use the process to develop potential clients into customers.

Grant Review and Development – We have written multiple grants in the DoE, NSF, and NIH space. This includes reviews of technical sessions and writing of commercialization sections for Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 2A and 2B grants.

The Donut has conducted multiple business development programs with a focus on developing collaboration and sales opportunities for the startup. Our focus in this area was the development of financial opportunities for these startups, not general research interviews. We provided successful connections and start of business opportunities on multiple projects.

The SBA has awarded $150,000 to BioMedSA for a new’Bridge to Bio’ Initiative. This program will use nationally proven mentors at participating partner organizations to assist companies in exploring and increasing knowledge and access to the military health market. For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/g9SxKrFm.
National Partners: VentureCraft, Inc., The Neutrino Donut, LLC, LifeBlood , The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Special thanks to: Alberto Chan, Shaun Sanders, J.D., Linda Yaswen-Corkery, Ph.D., Allen Morris, Earle Hager

Hello, This is a reminder that registration is now open for StartUpNV’s Seed Funding Seminar: Navigating SBIR/STTR Grants on October 12th and 13th. All sessions are offered online and in person at Las Vegas City Hall, 495 S Main Street, Las Vegas NV 89101. This seminar is a must-attend for aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, and small business owners eager to leverage SBIR grants to boost their startup growth.  Whether you’re at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or actively seeking government funding opportunities, this event is tailored for you. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

Register Here

October 12th – Schedule of Events 9:00am – 11:00am Succeeding at Securing Non-dilutive SBIR/STTR Funding For University Spinoffs and Advanced Technology Startups Kirk Macolini will discuss successfully securing non-dilutive SBIR/STTR funding, focusing on empowering university spinoffs and advanced technology startups to harness these opportunities for innovation and growth

Presenter: Kirk Macolini, Founder, President, & Principal Consultant of InteliSpark Kirk has over 15 years of experience with the SBIR and STTR programs and has developed proposals that have resulted in ~400 funded projects from agencies including all SBIR granting federal agencies. His work assisting start-ups in competing for SBIR/STTR funding has been featured in the journal Nature.  Many of his clients’ projects are based on university-generated technologies – including technologies from well-respected research institutions such as Cornell University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California Berkeley, and the University of Virginia.

1:00pm – 2:00pm SBIR/STTR for Entreprenuerial Support Organizations The government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs award over $4.4 billion in high-risk, non-dilutive capital to innovative small companies annually. The goal of this session is to equip ecosystem service providers on how to identify and provide basic guidance to SBIR / STTR eligible companies. This session will cover the basics of the SBIR / STTR program.  It will highlight program eligibility requirements, the differences between the SBIR and STTR programs, the differences between the 11 participating agencies, and other basic requirements of the programs.

Presenter: Jerry Hollister, Senior Principal Consultant – BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting (BBCETC) Jerry Hollister has over 30 years of leadership experience in government, higher education, non-profit and for-profit enterprises. After earning an engineering degree from the University of Michigan, he served as a Naval Officer and warranted Contracting Officer for the DOD. As Niowave Inc Chief Operating Officer, Jerry led the SBIR program that received over 45 SBIR awards and was named the 2010 SBIR/STTR Small Business of the Year by the DOE and a 2016 Tibbetts Award by the SBA. Before joining Niowave, Jerry served in several leadership roles for non-profit and educational institutions following his honorable discharge from the Navy.

2:00pm – 3:00pm: SBIR Workshop: Process and Opportunities Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82713466101 In Person: Las Vegas City Hall, 495 S Main Street, Las Vegas NV 89101 Earle Hager will provide a detailed overview of the SBIR process from the applicant’s point of view. We will discuss understanding the process, defining the best application opportunities, and developing the outline of an effective grant proposal.

Presenter: Earle Hager, Managing Partner – Neutrino Donut, LLC Mr. Hager is the Managing Partner of The Neutrino Donut, LLC, a consultancy focused on the management and commercialization of science. He is a thought leader who understands commercialization processes from early-stage technologies through the development of business models and execution. Managed entrepreneurial processes within larger organizations.

October 13th – Schedule of Events 9:00am – 10:00am Agency Roundtable: Department of Energy Are you an innovator with an early-stage technology that has commercial potential? Please join U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SBIR/STTR Program Manager Dr. Eileen Chant for a deep dive into the DOE SBIR/STTR Programs. DOE SBIR/STTR provides early-stage, nondilutive R&D funding for small businesses to develop their technology and commercialize it. Learn about the surprising breadth of topics funded by DOE SBIR/STTR! Additionally, we will discuss how to access DOE SBIR/STTR application and awardee assistance programs, such as TABA, and what you need to consider now regarding commercialization and partnering. The presentation will be followed by Q&A from the audience.

Presenter: Eileen Chant, Outreach Program Manager – Department of Energy SBIR/STTR Eileen Chant joined the DOE as the Outreach Program Manager at the Office of SBIR/STTR Programs in 2020. Eileen is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years of industrial experience. Her engineering experience encompasses analysis and design of diverse energy technologies, aiding startup companies with technology evaluation and grant writing. She received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

10:00am – 11:00am Agency Roundtable: National Science Foundation (NSF)   This talk will present an overview of America’s Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation, a grantmaking program that provides funding to startups without taking any stake in your company. The program encourages innovators across all scientific disciplines to submit proposals that explore new frontiers and challenge conventional knowledge boundaries. By providing critical seed funding, the U.S. National Science Foundation supports the ideas and the people who create breakthrough discoveries and innovations to address complex societal challenges. In this interactive session, a program officer will provide key insights on how to get started, the basics of eligibility and what they look for when they review Project Pitches, the first step in gaining access to up to $2 million.

Presenter: Peter Atherton, SBIR/STTR Program Director – National Science Foundation Peter Atherton joined the U.S. National Science Foundation as an SBIR/STTR program director in 2013 with a broad background in the physical sciences and extensive experience in technology development and commercialization.

11:00am – 12:00am Agency Roundtable: Department of Defense The Department of Defense SBIR/STTR program offers early-stage, non-dilutive R&D funding for small businesses to advance and commercialize their innovative technology solutions tailored to meet the unique requirements of the Department of Defense. This session will provide insights into accessing DoD SBIR/STTR application and awardee assistance programs and delve into considerations around commercialization and partnering.

Presenter: Christina “Tina” Barnhill, Associate Director, Defense SBIR/STTR Program Christina “Tina” Barnhill, is currently on a detail to the OUSD as the Associate Director, Defense SBIR/STTR Program. Previously, Tina served for 5 years as the Operations Manager at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) SBIR/STTR Program Office. At the Defense SBIR/STTR Program Office, she is the point of contact for Congress, the Small Business Administration, Government Accountability Office, and inter-agency SBIR/STTR community representative.

1:00pm – 2:00pm Post Award Insights with the Larta Institute In this session, Sophia Cook and Kaitlyn Nguyen from the Larta Institute will cover everything that happens once a small business has been selected, including Technical and Business Funding and preparing for Phase 2.

Presenters: Sophia Cook, Development Associate, Larta Institute, and Kaitlyn Nguyen, Program Manager, Larta Institute

2:15pm – 3:15pm After the Award: SBIR Success with SEEID

Presenter: William “Bill” Reny, CRO/CMO/Co-Founder at SEE ID, Inc. SEE ID is an Industrial IoT company providing systems to identify, locate, authenticate, and status assets in real time.They are developing the first U.S. made industrial long-range, passive beacon which enables their zero infrastructure material flow and asset tracking system for use in both the DoD and Private Sector. See ID has successfully won multiple SBIR awards and additional government contracts. In this presentation, Mr. Reny will talk about his experience and overall journey with the SBIR process.

Register Here

We hope to see you there!   Cara O’Hare Accelerator and Incubator Operations Manager | StartUpNV cara@startupnv.org (760) 486-6459

The Donut will be participating in the 25th Annual SoCalBio Conference. Startups will be working with VCs and other industry players to determine the most effective strategy for moving ahead.

The conference will held on October 26 – 27, 2023 (PDT) | Westin Long Beach
333 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802.

Registration information is at https://socalbioinvest.com/register/.