The SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit was curated to connect entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) from around the country to learn from one another as we work together to build a thriving national ecosystem that promotes equitable access to capital and resources for innovators across the country.

On December 13-14, 2023, we heard from numerous experts and community builders from across the country whose resources and advice is designed to expand innovation and opportunity everywhere!

Scroll through each day's session titles to see resources and links shared during the discussions. Full session recordings can also be found on the 2023 Innovation Ecosystem Summit - YouTube.

December 13

Day One, 2023 Innovation Ecosystem Summit Welcome Address

Introduction by Bailey DeVries, Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bgdevries/ 

Welcome Address from Isabella Casillas Guzman, 27th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration
X: @SBAIsabel

Brittany Sickler, Director of Ecosystem Development, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsickler/  

Jennifer Shieh, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershieh/ 

Resources shared:  

• Visit sbir.gov to learn more about the SBIR/STTR programs (also known as America's Seed Fund)
• Visit the America's Seed Fund website designed to assist entrepreneur support organizations
• To find local assistance, check out sbir.gov/local-assistance  
• America's Seed Fund is on X @sbirgov  
• The U.S. Small Business Administration is on X @SBAgov 
• The U.S. Small Business Administration is on Instagram @SBAgov
• The U.S. Small Business Administration is on LinkedIn 
• View all FAST Awardees here: https://www.sbir.gov/about-fast 

Day One, Fireside Chat:

"Small Businesses and the Semiconductor Industry"

Hosted by Bailey DeVries, Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bgdevries/  

Speakers:  

Arjun Gupta, Chief Believer, TeleSoft Partners 

X: @AspenArjun

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjungupta 

Srujan Linga, Senior Investment and Financial Structuring Director of CHIPS, Program Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srujan-linga-a444265/ 

Learn more about the speakers’ organizations:

• TeleSoft Partners: https://www.telesoftvc.com/ 
• U.S. Department of Commerce: https://www.commerce.gov/ 

Resources shared:

• NIST Chips for America Program: https://www.nist.gov/chips 

Day One, Panel Discussion:  
“The Impact of COVID-Recovery Programs on Local Innovation Ecosystems”

Moderated by Joseph Parilla, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

Panelists:  

Mark Madrid, Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration  
X: @SBAMarkMadrid 

Kathleen Warner, Senior Advisor, America Achieves
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleendwarner/ 

Jessica Milano, Chief Program Officer, Office of Capital Access, U.S. Department of the Treasury   

Learn more about the panelists’ organizations:

• Brookings Institution: https://www.brookings.edu/ 
• Small Business Administration: https://www.sba.gov/ 
• America Achieves: https://americaachieves.org/ 
• U.S. Department of the Treasury: https://home.treasury.gov/  

Resources shared:

• More on the Treasury Department’s SSBCI Program: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/small-business-programs/state-small-business-credit-initiative-ssbci  

Day One, Panel Discussion: 
“Empowering Entrepreneurship in Rural Ecosystems”

Moderated by Obum Ukabam, Associate Director, OK Catalyst
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obum-ukabam-53241565/  

Panelists:  

Pete Nelson, President, AgLaunch

X: @AgLaunchPete  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-nelson-87151b66/ 

Anna Maria Lucas, Director, Office of Rural Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-lucas-12a9a46/  

Donald Ufford, Assistant Director for Supply Chain and Ecosystem Development, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)  

Learn more about the panelists’ organizations here:

• OK Catalyst: https://www.okcatalyst.com/ 
• AgLaunch: https://aglaunch.com/ 
• Office of Rural Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/rural-businesses 
• National Institute of Standards and Technology: https://www.nist.gov/ 

Resources shared:

• Find local assistance at the SBA: https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance 
• NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP): https://www.nist.gov/mep  

Day One, Breakout Session: 
“Building Partnerships Across the Innovation Ecosystem: SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition” 

Moderated by Maura Shenker, Economic Impact and Innovation Fellow, U.S. Small Business Administration

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maurashenker/

Speakers: 

Scott Mosley, Executive Director, StartingBlock Madison

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottfmosley/

Daniel Kleinman, Founder & CEO, Seaworthy Collective  

X: @SeaworthyDaniel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kleinmandaniel/ 

John Selep, Co-Founder & President, AgTech Innovation Alliance (AgStart) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jselep/ 

Suling Walker, Board Vice President, North Carolina Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce

Learn more about the speakers’ organizations:

• U.S. Small Business Administration: SBA.gov  
• StartingBlock Madison: https://www.startingblockmadison.org/programs 
• Seaworthy Collective: https://www.seaworthycollective.com/ 
• AgTech Innovation Alliance (AgStart): https://www.agstart.org/  
• North Carolina Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce: https://web.raleighchamber.org/AssociationsBusiness-Professional/North-Carolina-Hispanic-Chamber-of-Commerce-4706 

Resources shared:

UND Center for Innovation: https://www.innovators.net/ 

U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build-to-Scale Program: https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale 

Learn about receiving assistance and applying for Federal grants here: https://grants.gov/ 

Department of Energy’s American-Made Network: https://network.americanmadechallenges.org/  

Day One, Panel Discussion:  
“Stories from Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) on Accessing Federal Funding”  

Moderated by Elden Hawkes, Partnership and Innovation Specialist, Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer Office, U.S. Small Business Administration  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eldenhawkes/ 

Speakers: 

Jerry Hollister, Co-Owner, BBC Entrepreneurial Training and Consulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bbc-entrepreneurial-training-&-consulting-llc/ 

Keishla Tirado, Director of the Center for Innovation and Technology, Puerto Rico Small Business Development Centers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-keishla-tirado-b5304b125/?originalSubdomain=pr 

Tulinda Larsen, President, Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tulinda-larsen-40aa3a10/ 

Learn more about the speakers’ organizations:  

• U.S. Small Business Administration: http://sba.gov/
• BBC Entrepreneurial Training and Consulting: https://bbcetc.com/ 
• PR Small Business Development Center: https://prsbtdc.org/ 
• Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI): https://americanmcc.org/utahmc/  

Day One, Breakout Session: 
“Fueling Innovation: America’s Seed Fund and ESO Collaboration”

Moderated by Erick Page-Littleford, Acting Director, Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer Office, U.S. Small Business Administration

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickpagelittleford/ 

Speakers:  

Mary Larkin, Program Manager, DRIVe Accelerator Network, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-larkin-07772511/ 

Josh Nichol-Caddy, Director of Innovation and Technology Programs, Nebraska Business Development Center

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuanicholcaddy/ 

Amy Whitney, Director, University of North Dakota Center for Innovation

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-whitney-9a185913/ 

Learn more about the speakers’ organizations:

• U.S. Small Business Administration: SBA.gov 
• BARDA: https://drive.hhs.gov/accelerators.html 
• Nebraska Business Development Center: https://www.unomaha.edu/nebraska-business-development-center/index.php 
• University of North Dakota Center for Innovation: https://und.edu/innovation/index.html  

Day One, Panel Discussion: 

“Build State Support for Your Innovation Ecosystem”  

Moderated by Stacy Swider, VP Investments, MassVentures

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyswider/ 

Panelists: 

Jason Rittenberg, Vice President, SSTI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrittenberg/ 

Jennifer Kim, Associate Administrator, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Small Business Administration

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-kim-3306b41ab// 

Tony Sardella, Chair, API Innovation Center, Acendian

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-sardella-65144322/ 

Learn more about the panelists’ organizations:  

• MassVentures: https://www.mass-ventures.com/ 
• SSTI: https://ssti.org/ 
• U.S. Small Business Administration: SBA.gov 
• Acendian: https://www.acendian.com/ 

Resources shared:

• U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build-to-Scale Program: https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale
• Learn about receiving assistance and applying for Federal grants here: https://grants.gov/  

Day One:
2023 Innovation Ecosystem Summit Closing Remarks  

Brittany Sickler, Director of Ecosystem Development, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsickler/ 

Jennifer Shieh, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershieh/ 

Learn more about the speakers’ organization:  

• U.S. Small Business Administration: SBA.gov 

December 14

Day Two: 
2023 Innovation Ecosystem Summit Welcome Address

Brittany Sickler, Director of Ecosystem Development, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsickler/ 
 
Jennifer Shieh, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration   
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershieh/ 

Resources shared:

• View all Federal and State Technology (FAST) partnership sites at: https://www.sbir.gov/about-fast 

Day Two, Fireside Chat: 
“Critical Technologies and Small Businesses”

Hosted by Bailey DeVries, Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bgdevries/ 
 
Speakers:  
Jared Evans, Director, Transition Acceleration Program, Office of Strategic Capital, Office of the Secretary of Defense 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-evans-377ab978/ 
 
Erica Fuchs, Professor, Department of Engineering & Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-fuchs-4613931/ 

Learn more about the speakers’ organizations: 

• Office of Strategic Capital, Office of the Secretary of Defense: https://www.cto.mil/osc/ 
• Department of Engineering & Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University: https://www.cmu.edu/epp/ 

Resources shared: 

Learn more about the DOD’s critical technology areas: https://www.cto.mil/usdre-strat-vision-critical-tech-areas/  

Day Two, Panel Discussion: 
“The Small Business Capital Journey”

Moderated by Shalei Holway, Senior Advisor, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaleiholway/ 

Panelists: 
Cordelia “Dede” Zecher, Chief Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for IP and Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cordeliakane/ 

Mary Grove, Managing Partner, Bread and Butter Ventures
X: @maryGrove 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygrove/ 
 
Learn more about the panelists’ organizations:

• U.S. Small Business Administration: https://www.sba.gov/ 
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: https://www.uspto.gov/ 
• Bread and Butter Ventures: https://www.breadandbutterventures.com/ 

Resources shared:

• USPTO’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium event series: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events/womens-entrepreneurship-symposium  

Day Two, Panel Discussion:
“Equity and Entrepreneur Ecosystems”  

Moderated by Madeleine “Maddy” Stokes, COO, UpSurge Baltimore
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmstokes/

Speakers: 
Jackson Brossy, Assistant Administrator, Office of Native American Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacksonbrossy/ 

Joann Hill, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), U.S. Department of Commerce
 
Learn more about the speakers’ organizations:

• UpSurge Baltimore: https://upsurgebaltimore.com/ 
• Office of Native American Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration: Office of Native American Affairs | U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov) 
• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): https://www.mbda.gov/ 

Resources shared:

• SBA’s Community Navigator Pilot Program: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events/womens-entrepreneurship-symposium 
• Minority Business Development Agency’s Capital Readiness Program: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events/womens-entrepreneurship-symposium 
• Apex Accelerators: https://www.apexaccelerators.us/#/  

Day Two, Listening Session:
“Where are the Gaps in Federal Support for Innovation Ecosystem Builders?”

Moderated by Alison Evans, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-evans-aba1961aa/  

Day Two, Breakout Session:
“ESO Capacity Building for Sustainable Impact”

Moderated by Ross Busch, Partnerships Associate, Village Capital
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-busch-1860191ab/ 

Speakers:  
Rohit Shukla, Founder & CEO, Larta Institute
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-shukla-23810/ 

Bridget Weston, CEO, SCORE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-weston-mba-cae-2b822b17/ 

Tricia Compas-Markman, Director, National Venture Programs, VentureWell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-compas-markman-04103239/ 

Learn more about the speakers’ organizations:

• Village Capital: https://vilcap.com/ 
• Larta Institute: https://larta.org/ 
• SCORE: https://www.score.org/ 
• VentureWell: https://venturewell.org/ 

Resources shared:

• DOE Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize Round 3 here: https://www.herox.com/EPICRound3   

Day Two, Breakout Session:
“Lab to Market – Supporting Entrepreneurship at HBCUs and MSIs”

Moderated by Qyana M. Stewart, CEO & Principal Consultant, GlobalForce Tech Consulting, LLC
X: @GlobalForceTech 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qyanams/  

Speakers:  
Erin Horne McKinney, National Executive Director, Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhornemckinney/  

Donna Harris, Founder & CEO, Builders + Backers
X: @dharrisindc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharrisindc/ 

Learn more about the speakers’ organizations:

• GlobalForce Tech Consulting, LLC: https://globalforcetechconsulting.com/ 
• PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship: https://hupnccenter.howard.edu/ 
• Builders + Backers: https://www.buildersandbackers.com/  

Day Two, Panel Discussion:
“Quantifying Impact as an ESO”