- University News Archive - Vlogý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/sttr/ Vlogý Little Rock Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:07:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 U.S. Small Business Administration grant extends center’s services for high-tech entrepreneurs /news-archive/2018/09/18/asbtdc-grant-2/ Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:07:16 +0000 /news/?p=71870 ... U.S. Small Business Administration grant extends center’s services for high-tech entrepreneurs]]> The (ASBTDC) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $125,000 grant to assist innovative, technology-driven small businesses.  The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded the competitive funding as part of the. ASBTDC is one of, which include state and local economic development entities, Small Business and Technology Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, incubators, accelerators, colleges, and universities that provide support to small businesses developing and commercializing high-risk technologies.   FAST is designed to stimulate economic development with outreach, training, mentoring, financial support, and business/technical assistance to small businesses focused on research and development. Fostering participation of women-owned, rural-based, and socially and economically disadvantaged firms to help them compete in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs is a key aim. “SBA is thrilled to work with these organizations to increase the understanding of the SBIR/STTR programs,” said Administrator Linda McMahon. “FAST partners are an important part of the innovation entrepreneur ecosystem. They provide training, financial and technical assistance for small, next-generation technology businesses, and help them navigate federally funded innovation and R&D programs.” The grant will allow the center to provide consulting services to more entrepreneurs seeking funding through SBIR and STTR, said Laura Fine, state director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. Those services include market research and proposal writing assistance. “We look forward to helping more small firms in Arkansas commercialize their innovations,” Fine said. “We will continue to focus on assisting with SBIR and STTR proposal writing to increase the number of awards to Arkansas companies. Rebecca Todd, our innovation consultant, has a solid reputation with clients and federal program managers for helping Arkansas companies submit winning proposals.” To encourage participation in SBIR/STTR by companies owned by women, ASBTDC will build on the success of its 2018 “accelHERate” programs with additional outreach and events geared toward women entrepreneurs. Also, the center is a partner with the 2018 Arkansas Life Science Summit that will be held Oct. 25 in Conway. ASBTDC will also offer additional educational opportunities for innovative Arkansas entrepreneurs and technology-based companies, specifically in the area of intellectual property. SBA coordinates the SBIR/STTR programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund, which each year provides more than $2.5 billion in early-stage seed capital totaling nearly 5,000 awards to small businesses. Eleven participating federal government agencies announce funding opportunities as either grants or contracts to address their research and development needs. Companies supported by the SBIR/STTR programs often generate some of the most important breakthroughs each year in the U.S. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration through a partnership with the and other institutions of higher education. The center assists startups, existing businesses, expanding businesses, and innovation-based businesses statewide.]]> National Small Business Innovation Road Tour Coming to Little Rock to Promote $2.5B in Early-Stage Funding /news-archive/2018/03/22/sbir-road-tour/ Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:42:34 +0000 /news/?p=69841 ... National Small Business Innovation Road Tour Coming to Little Rock to Promote $2.5B in Early-Stage Funding]]> Through SBIR and its sister program, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), federal agencies award $2.5 billion annually to small companies developing groundbreaking technologies. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host the Road Tour stop at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “We are dedicated to supporting America’s entrepreneurs wherever they are. American innovation is not restricted by geographic or cultural boundaries,” said SBA Administrator Linda McMahon. “This tour reflects our commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of the resources that can help them turn a big idea into another great American innovation story.” Program managers from nine federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation, will meet one-on-one with attendees and share insights into how their agencies make funding decisions. The SBIR/STTR programs award more than 4,000 new grants and contracts per year. The funding has helped U.S. innovators advance new technologies and create thousands of jobs, according to SBA. The agencies fund a wide variety of innovations in health, cybersecurity, advanced materials, unmanned systems and more. The Road Tour looks to increase SBIR and STTR participation by women, small companies in underrepresented states like Arkansas and individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Small technology firms, entrepreneurs, scientists and researchers are encouraged to attend. Participants can also learn about state-specific resources for innovation-based ventures during the afternoon session. Lunch will be provided. There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required and available online. To learn more, visit or contact the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at 501-683-7700.]]> ASBTDC to host webcast to help innovative small businesses apply for U.S. Navy grants /news-archive/2017/11/17/asbtdc-webcast-navy-grants/ Fri, 17 Nov 2017 14:34:22 +0000 /news/?p=68511 ... ASBTDC to host webcast to help innovative small businesses apply for U.S. Navy grants]]> The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will host a free webcast to help entrepreneurs learn about Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding available through the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense. The will be shown from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the Reynolds Business Center Room 251 on the Vlogý Little Rock campus. The webcast will review Navy Sea System Commands’ SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program topics, for which local science and technology-driven small businesses are invited to apply. In addition, participants can sign up to have a private meeting with a Navy representative in the afternoon. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. to register for the event. For more information, contact Shannon Roberts at 501-683-7700 or sxroberts@ualr.edu. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with SBA through a partnership with the Vlogý Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education. The center assists companies at every stage of business development and growth. To learn more, visit asbtdc.org. All programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Pamela Reed at (501) 683-7700.]]>