SBIR – Seed Capital for Innovative Small Businesses Senator Enzi’s Fifth Annual Inventors Conference Cheyenne Holiday Inn April 20-21, 2006

Financing start-ups is one of the greatest challenges facing innovators in launching new products and ventures

The most common sources of start-up capital are… Personal savings Credit cards Selling assets (boats & other toys) Second mortgages Loans & investments from family, friends and ….. Suppliers, vendors, other businesses Commercial bank loans Private investors, Angels Government Grants Venture Capital

GOVERNMENT GRANTS SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

the largest, most accessible source of SEED CAPITAL for the nation’s innovative small businesses $2.2 Billion in 2006 the largest, most accessible source of SEED CAPITAL for the nation’s innovative small businesses $2.2 Billion in 2006

SBIR Program Highlights National Competition Sponsored by 11 Federal Agencies 2.5% R&D Funding Set-Aside for Small Businesses to Develop Innovative New Products and Services Provide Federal Agencies with Innovative Concepts Stimulate Innovation & Job Creation in the Nation’s Small Business Sector

…and this capital is in the form of grants and contracts no repayment no debt service no equity forfeiture no IP forfeiture

SBIR is a 3-Phase Program PHASE I Ü Feasibility Study Ü Up to $100K and 6-month Award PHASE II Ü Prototype Development Ü Up to $750K and 2-year Award PHASE III Ü Commercialization Stage Ü Use of non-SBIR/STTR Funds

SBIR PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY Small business organized for profit At Least 51% U.S. owned and independently operated Located in the U.S. Fewer than 500 employees Principal Investigator (PI) primarily employed with the small business

DODSBIR/STTR HHSSBIR/STTR NASA SBIR/STTR DOE SBIR/STTR NSF SBIR/STTR DHSSBIR/STTR USDASBIR DOCSBIR EDSBIR EPASBIR DOTSBIR 11 SBIR/STTR Participating Agencies TOTAL ~ $2.2 B Nw

CAUTION….. No two agency programs are alike!!!

Agency Differences Granting Agencies Granting Agencies Ü Investigator initiates approach approach Ü Less-specific topics More flexibility More flexibility DOD HHS/NIH NASAED EPADOT DOC Contracting Agencies Contracting Agencies Ü Agency establishes plans, protocols, requirements protocols, requirements Ü Highly focused topics Ü Procurement mechanism for DOD and NASA for DOD and NASA Ü More fiscal requirements HHS/NIH NSF ED USDA DOE

More Agency Differences Number and Timing of Solicitations Proposal Due Dates Dollar Amount of Award (Phase I and II) Proposal Preparation Instructions Proposal Submission Process (electronic/hard copy) Financial details (e.g., Indirect Cost Rates, Gap Funding) Proposal Review Process (Peer/Internal) Proposal Success Rates

How do I participate? Annually, each agency releases an electronic Solicitation listing topics Small business selects topic best suited for their innovative concept Small business prepares a proposal following solicitation guidelines Submit proposal on or before due date.

next… Agency reviews proposals (peer/internal) Proposals are ranked by review scores determined by quality, responsiveness and team qualifications Awards assigned according to ranking until funding is spent Small business is notified of award Process is lengthy (6-12 mos.) and agency specific

These programs are very competitive… Depending on the agency, 8-15% of the Phase I proposals and 40-50% of the Phase II proposals are funded…

…and not for everyone Principal Investigator and team must be qualified Concept must be innovative and address a specific topic of interest to the federal agency Innovation must have commercial potential Only research and development - no sales, marketing or manufacturing costs Proposal preparation is a daunting task Computer literacy required

How has Wyoming performed in this national competition? During the first 17 years of this 24 year program, Wyoming small businesses received a total of $5.5 million. 10% of the national per capita average

During the past 7 years Wyoming small businesses have received a total of $23 million 110% of the national per capita average

How was this turn-around achieved?

The Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI) an economic diversification program funded by The Wyoming Business Council and administered by The University of Wyoming Office of Research and Economic Development

The WSSI Mission To encourage and assist all eligible Wyoming residents to participate in the SBIR and STTR programs The WSSI Mission To encourage and assist all eligible Wyoming residents to participate in the SBIR and STTR programs

What does the WSSI do? Provides state-wide outreach on an individual basis to encourage small business SBIR & STTR participation Conducts state-wide conferences and workshops providing opportunities to meet with federal agency program specialists and Wyoming award winners.

The WSSI also … Provides one-on-one guidance in the preparation of competitive proposals. Publishes a monthly e-newsletter with current information on agency solicitations, due dates, regional and national conferences and workshops, a listing of additional resources, and other SBIR/STTR news and topics of interest.

But of greatest importance to Wyoming residents… the WSSI administers the innovative, popular and very successful…

WSSI Phase 0 Program

If You Decide You’re Going To Participate In The SBIR Grant Process…

Then you will want to take advantage of the WSSI Phase 0 Program $5,000 Planning Grant No Payback Of Funds

$120,000/year from the Wyoming Business Council $120,000/year from the Wyoming Business Council Administered through the UW Research Office Administered through the UW Research Office Typically Two $5,000 awards/month Typically Two $5,000 awards/month 2005 – 50% award rate! 2005 – 50% award rate!

Phase 0 WSSI Modeled After The Federal Program Modeled After The Federal Program Competitive Process Competitive Process Prepares You For the SBIR Competition Prepares You For the SBIR Competition Reviewer Feedback Reviewer Feedback

Where To Begin…

WSSI Phase 0 Solicitation on Web Site Solicitation on Web Site Phase 0 Template Provided Phase 0 Template Provided Sample Phase 0 Provided Sample Phase 0 Provided

Phase 0 Process Submit electronically by 5:00 p.m. the first of each month (regardless) Submit electronically by 5:00 p.m. the first of each month (regardless) Receive Verification of Receipt Receive Verification of Receipt Proposals Evaluated (3 reviewers) Proposals Evaluated (3 reviewers) Funding Recommendations Made Funding Recommendations Made Awards announced about the 10 th of each month Awards announced about the 10 th of each month

Phase 0 Process cont. If Chosen For Award –Receive Contract, Reviewer Comments, Assigned a Mentor –Receive $2,500 up front –Receive $2,500 after Contract is fulfilled Draft Reviews Completed By Mentor Mentor Paid In Full Proof of Submission to Target Agency Final Copy of Proposal Submitted to WSSI If Not Chosen For Award –Receive Review Comments, Encouraged to Resubmit

Tricks To Winning? Read the Solicitation –Evaluation Criteria Follow the Instructions!!! Use the Template – Follow the Format Ask Questions

WSSI Electronic Newsletter –Updates (award winners, etc.) –Agency Openings/Closings –Upcoming Conferences, etc. Sign Up for the WSSI Electronic Newsletter on the WSSI Web Site

or contact Eugene (Gene) Watson Program Manager cell Kelly Haigler Cornish Outreach Coordinator toll-free

…or contact the staff of these partner organizations located in six regional offices throughout Wyoming - Manufacturing-Works - Wyoming Business Council - Wyoming Small Business Development Centers

Questions?