Developing Relationships within the SBIR Program Part 4 – Assessing the Marketplace for a Technology

By EARLE HAGER published SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

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Competitive data is key to market evaluation.  Is the research current?  Are others working on similar projects, or is the competitive research part of the past?  Is the technology too far into the future for the marketplace?

If the research is too old, the project may not have an opportunity in the marketplace.  If the technology is too far into the future or too far from entering the marketplace, the technology would be best managed as a research project for a few more years.

If the patent space is crowded, an innovator will need to be careful in their patent applications, to ensure the space claimed is not too large or too limited.  If there is little patent activity in this space, innovators should consider whether or not patents will be part of the market development process.  Many technologies rely on trade secrets or are simply “sales and marketing” plays.  If the technology is a “sales and marketing” play, the innovator will want to find no patent protection and seek partners who are interested in working with them on getting the product to the marketplace.

Finally, what are the competitive products and trials?  Companies with a product already in your space may want to seek additional patent protection.  Companies without a product may want to enter the space.  Companies testing a product that has recently failed may want to substitute a new product in this space.

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Developing Relationships within the SBIR Program Part 3 – Working with Universities

By EARLE HAGER published SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

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We note universities are eager to help with their own networks and ecosystems. For them, there is an opportunity to advance multiple technologies in a single area. The startup will gain access to university professors and graduate students and potentially work with university startups seeking business support. Finally, it is an opportunity to pitch the company with the statement, “Hi, I am a startup working with a USC / CalTech technology …”

If you want to see a list of all University of California technologies available for licensing, look here.

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Developing Relationships within the SBIR Program Part 2 – Getting Started

By EARLE HAGER published SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

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Eventually, startups will seek relationships with larger companies to license or sell their technology.  These larger companies seek startups based on university technologies and prefer the startups over working directly with the university.  The startups will have a revenue, which is market validation of the technology.  Additionally, it is easier for these organizations to work with the startup, rather than university relationships.  One aspect of this justification is the need for non-disclosures of the terms of the agreement, which are confidential between the two companies.

SBIR revenue slide 2

A check of Twitter has an extensive list of programs, updates, assistance, and even congressional support for the programs.

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Developing Relationships within the SBIR Program – Part 1 – What is the SBIR Program?

By EARLE HAGER published SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

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THE HISTORY OF THE SBIR AND STTR PROGRAMS

The Small Business Innovation Research and the Small Business Technology Transfer programs are both considered small business set-asides and contain sunset provisions. Funds are restricted or set aside exclusively for use by small businesses in both of these initiatives. The Small Business Administration establishes size standards on an industry-by-industry basis using the North American Industry Classification or NAICS codes.

Though dynamically different, both programs share a common goal – to foster innovation among domestic small businesses engaged in Federal research and development activities. As such, both programs harness the entrepreneurial spirit for which the United Sates is recognized and will continue to evolve over time.

For more on the history of the SBIR program, click here.

In 2015, there were 17K SBIR Phase 1 proposals submitted.  Just under 17% of these applications were funded. You need to find a way to increase your chances.

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SBIR – How to Double your Money

India, Kentucky, Buffalo and other locations will help you double your money.  India will match funds for research conducted in India.  If you are working with a university, they may already have collaborators/contacts in India for this step.

Kentucky will double your SBIR money if you setup shop in Kentucky. The bourbon is good and the housing is inexpensive.

Buffalo is sharing an annual fund of $5m for tech startups.  They also need a quarterback.

 

SBIR – Small Business Innovation Research

SBIR 1

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  • Funding is for startup companies
  • Funding goes to the company, who hires the professor / university
  • STTR is for tech transfer offices
  • R21 and others are research grants for professors

SBIR 3

  • License a technology, partner on SBIR grant
  • Work with professor on research
  • Multiple commercialization programs

SBIR 4

  • What is the best slot for the application?
  • Is this a scanning technology or a
    cancer technology?
  • Get ideas on focus areas

SBIR 5

  • Know your program managers / they are online
  • Talk with them
  • Get connected with them

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  • $150K / 6 months – Phase 1
  • $1M – 2 years – Phase 2
  • Phase 3 is not an option
  • University costing is with overhead
  • iCorps program – $50K for marketing / biz dev
  • 7% Profit – use for anything, $5K for biz dev