STOR Startup Co. Seminar Series: Submitting your first SBIR proposal

The SBIR & STTR programs financially support the development of bold technical advancements with commercial potential as proposed by small businesses. These programs provide significant support long before equity investors have an appetite. These programs mandate the participation of all major federal agencies (DOD, NIH, NASA, DOE, etc.) and make $2.2B available each year.

This workshop will review the basics of the programs, who is eligible, and how to get started submitting a company’s first proposal. More important than submitting a proposal, is learning to write one good enough to be funded.

Martin Casstevens and Jack McGowan will provide an overview and share expertise obtained over 20 years. The last half of this session will feature young startups who have each secured SBIR or STTR awards in the last 18 months who will share their experiences and participate in a Q&A session. Attendees will have the opportunity to sign up for individual coaching sessions.

Presenters:

Jack McGowan is a Project Manager at Insyte Consulting and works with manufacturers on business and strategic planning, Innovation Engineering, lean manufacturing, finance and ISO quality management systems and helps technology start-ups prepare for equity and grant funding. Jack is director of the Western New York Venture Association/Buffalo Angels, manages the WNY Business Development Fund and is the NYSTAR-designated Regional Specialist for SBIR/STTR funding.

Martin Casstevens is the Business Formation and Commercialization Manager at UB STOR. Trained as a scientist (Biophysical Sciences), he led startups for 15 years and is a veteran of the SBIR program.

SBIR awardees in attendance: Brian Schultz and Sean Depner (Dimien), Kate Rittenhouse-Olsen (For-Robin) & Glenna Bett and Randall Rasmussen (Cytocybernetics)