SBIR/STTR Support

The Corridor helps Florida’s small businesses tap into Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) awards, the nation’s largest source of early-stage startup funding for research and development. Each year, 11 participating federal agencies distribute SBIR/STTR awards totaling $4 billion to finance cutting-edge, high-risk technologies.

SBIR/STTR awards are helpful for:

Developing a proof of concept or prototype
Hiring technical staff or subject-matter experts
Purchasing essential materials and equipment
Validating potential as a government vendor
Funding university research partnerships

Unlike traditional venture capital, SBIR/STTR funds are non-dilutive, so participants retain full company ownership, including the rights to intellectual property. Additionally, companies that are successful in securing SBIR/STTR awards and are engaged in research partnerships with UCF or USF may be eligible for matching funds from The Corridor’s Matching Grants Research Program.

FL FAST: Florida’s First Centralized SBIR/STTR Support System for Entrepreneurs

Powered by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, The Corridor’s “FL FAST” initiative is Florida’s first centralized support system for companies pursuing SBIR/STTR awards.

FL FAST serves small businesses statewide with an emphasis on women-owned, rural-based, and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses pursuing research and innovation activities in The Corridor’s 23-county region and beyond.

Services include in-person and virtual workshops and one-on-one assistance to meet business needs in key areas, such as topical award identification, budget preparation, proposal review, support letters, and research partnerships.

FL FAST also serves as an important resource for entrepreneurial support organizations, sharing resources, events, solicitations, legislative actions, and other information relevant to driving SBIR/STTR outcomes.

FL FAST SBIR/STTR Training Events

Register for upcoming SBIR/STTR training aimed at improving the knowledge and capabilities of Florida entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders alike.

The Virtual Training Series

Open to Any Entrepreneur or Ecosystem Builder in Florida | Registration for new training events will be posted soon!

All sessions are recorded and made available on demand. To access these recordings, you can complete the “SBIR/STTR Support” interest form embedded below.

CLICK HERE to Register for any of our upcoming sessions.

February 13-15

NIH SBIR/STTR: Proposal Preparation
During this 3-part workshop, our experts will provide important information about SBIR/STTR funding and how to craft a competitive SBIR/STTR proposal that meets the unique requirements of the NIH. In addition to up-to-date information on the SBIR/STTR programs.

March
14

Grantsmanship, Formatting and Readability for SBIR/STTR
A good SBIR/STTR proposal is made infinitely better by writing and formatting that enhances readability by reviewers and showcases your technology to its best advantage. Improve the competitiveness of your proposal with tips and best practices for making it look good and read well.

March 20

Building a Quality SBIR Team
Find out how to choose the right Project Investigator for your SBIR proposal, and how to use sub-contractors, Advisory Boards and Technical Advisers to strengthen your company and proposals.

April 17

SBIR/STTR: ABCs/Introduction
The government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs make over $4 billion in high-risk, non-dilutive capital available to innovative small companies annually. If you are considering pursuing SBIR or STTR funding, the first step is to learn what it takes to be eligible and then determine which of the 11 participating agencies best fits your technology. This session will give you basic information to determine if this is a path you would like to seriously pursue.

Apr 30 – May 2

NSF Proposal Development Series
This virtual SBIR workshop provides an overview of the NSF SBIR/STTR program and proposal requirements. In addition to up-to-date information on the SBIR/STTR programs, we’ll take a deep dive into the NSF program specifics, so you’re equipped for a successful proposal.

June 5

Developing your SBIR/STTR Budget
Developing a proper budget for a grant or contract proposal should not be overlooked. A proper budget can be an effective tool in driving the project from start to finish. Be sure not to leave money on the table. This session will walk through the development of a project budget and justification that the company can afford to pursue this project.

August 7

DoD Program & Components Overview
Get an overview of the various DOD components and how their programs differ and learn how to find the right solicitation for your technology, how to contact the Technical Points of Contact (TPOC) as well as how to influence future topics and tips for a successful proposal.

August 14

Communicating with DoD
The DoD SBIR and STTR programs offer a wide range of opportunities for small firms to address military needs in just about every technology area. Since DoD is a procuring agency, companies have the unique opportunity to solve problems identified by the SBIR solicitations and ultimately sell products to the Defense Department. This webinar will provide a brief look at how SBIR/STTR projects fit into the DoD’s procurement process, and how you can “speak their language” to improve your chances of winning Phase I and Phase II contract awards.

SBIR/STTR Agency-Specific Cohorts

New cohorts coming soon!

National Institute of Health (NIH) – Office Hours
If you are planning to submit a National Institute of Health SBIR/STTR proposal, join the FL FAST team for our open office hours to ask questions, access resources or receive proposal reviews leading to the April 5th deadline. These are open Q&A sessions where we’ll help you navigate the proposal process for NIH while providing resources to help you in your proposal process.

Office Hours occur every Thursday at 1pm between February 22nd and April 4th.

RSVP HERE to join us for NIH SBIR/STTR Office Hours

National Science Foundation
FL FAST will guide you through the process of designing and submitting your NSF SBIR/STTR proposal. An entrepreneur must have an accepted NSF Project Pitch to participate.

Request SBIR/STTR Support

Please complete the form below to stay up to date with SBIR/STTR support resources available through FL FAST.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The FL FAST Network for Ecosystem Builders

The statewide FL FAST network includes more than 40 innovation ecosystem builders and entrepreneur support organizations and is expected to grow. We host a monthly call to connect ecosystem builders and provide SBIR/STTR-related resources. Please RSVP to join the monthly call, stay up to date on FL FAST activities and help entrepreneurs secure SBIR/STTR funding.