Alternatives to Angel and Venture Investors - What is the SBIR/STTR Program?

To date we've been focusing on "conventional" start-up funding such as angel and venture capital. One of the realities of these funding sources, however, is that they are very difficult to find, especially locally. They also present a number of other disadvantages related to dilution, control, liquidation preferences and other factors that limit upside potential for the founding team. This session will begin our exploration of alternative financing methods. We will present the Federal SBIR/STTR and the Kentucky Matching Funds Program. Combined, these programs can provide millions of dollars to fund your start-up. And if that's not cool enough for you, this funding is completely non-dilutive.

6:00pm - 6:30pm - Networking and refreshments.

6:30pm - 7:30pm - The ABC's of SBIR/STTR - Lisa Kurek, managing partner of BBCetc. The SBIR/STTR program was developed to fund domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research and Development that has the potential for commercialization. Over $40 billion dollars has been invested through this program since it's inception in 1982. It is, hands-down, the most successful federal program for the development of jobs in the high-tech sector. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. Each year over $3 billion is made available by 11 federal agencies, in Phase I Phase II awards. Lisa is an expert on this program and one of my favorite speakers on the topic. In this recorded webinar, she will provide an overview of what the SBIR/STTR program is and isn't and whether it may present a viable funding option for your company.

7:30pm - 8:00pm - I will present an overview of the Kentucky SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program - The Kentucky Matching Program is designed to provide a full-match of funding to those companies awarded SBIR/STTR grants. This program is the best matching program of its kind in the country (trust me) and can provide up to $1.150 million in additional funding, depending on the size of your federal SBIR/STTR award.

8:00pm - 9:00pm - Discussion