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America's Seed Fund
America's Seed Fund

#SeedtheFuture

  • Welcome
  • Programs & Events 
    • 2025 GAFC
    • SBA Innovation Ecosystem
    • SBIR/STTR Road Tour
    • America's Seed Fund Week
    • SBIR/STTR Innovation Conference
    • Innovation Ecosystem Summit
    • Startup Expo
  • Contact
  • …  
    • Welcome
    • Programs & Events 
      • 2025 GAFC
      • SBA Innovation Ecosystem
      • SBIR/STTR Road Tour
      • America's Seed Fund Week
      • SBIR/STTR Innovation Conference
      • Innovation Ecosystem Summit
      • Startup Expo
    • Contact
America's Seed Fund
America's Seed Fund

#SeedtheFuture

  • Welcome
  • Programs & Events 
    • 2025 GAFC
    • SBA Innovation Ecosystem
    • SBIR/STTR Road Tour
    • America's Seed Fund Week
    • SBIR/STTR Innovation Conference
    • Innovation Ecosystem Summit
    • Startup Expo
  • Contact
  • …  
    • Welcome
    • Programs & Events 
      • 2025 GAFC
      • SBA Innovation Ecosystem
      • SBIR/STTR Road Tour
      • America's Seed Fund Week
      • SBIR/STTR Innovation Conference
      • Innovation Ecosystem Summit
      • Startup Expo
    • Contact
America's Seed Fund
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    America’s Seed Fund Road Tour is a national outreach effort to connect innovators and entrepreneurs to non-dilutive, technology funding opportunities provided through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, known as “America’s Seed Fund”.

     

    America's Seed Fund Road Tour plays an important role in encouraging participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by members of underrepresented groups while supporting the mission of the SBIR/STTR programs to support scientific excellence and technological innovation to build a strong national economy.

     

    Federal Agency representatives participated in events in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota that brought together local and national innovation ecosystems to help attendees navigate over $4 billion in early-stage funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund.

    America's Seed Fund

    2024 Road Tour: Great Lakes

    July 15 - 19, 2024 | Complete

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    July 15 | East Lansing, Michigan

    Hosted by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting, Michigan Catalyst Advantage Network

    8:00 AM - 12:30 PM

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    July 16 | Indianapolis, Indiana

    Hosted by Indiana Economic Development Corporation

    8:00 AM - 12:30 PM

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    July 17 | Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

    Hosted by Research Park at the University of Illinois, EnterpriseWorks

    8:00 AM - 12:30 PM

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    July 18 | Madison, Wisconsin

    Hosted by the Center for Technology Commercialization

    8:00 AM - 12:30 PM

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    July 19 | Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Hosted by MNSBIR, Inc.

     

    8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  • Who Will Be There

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    Nicole Allen

    SETA Support Contractor

    DoD - Army

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    Laura Appenzeller

    Executive Director, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

     FAST – Illinois
    Read Bio
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    Shadi Azoum

    NAVWAR SBIR/STTR Program Manager

    DoD - Navy
    Read Bio
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    Derris Banks

    Regional Director, Midwest

    USPTO

    Read Bio
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    Eileen Chant

    Outreach Program Manager

    DOE
    Read Bio
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    José Colucci-Ríos

    General Business Specialist
    NIST
    Read Bio
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    Pat Dillon

    President, MNSBIR, Inc.

    FAST - Minnesota

    Read Bio
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    Stephanie Fertig

    Director, NIH Small Business Program

    NIH

    Read Bio
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    Colleen Gibney

    SBIR Deputy Project Manager

    DoD - DHA

    Read Bio
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    Jacqueline Gray

    SBIR Program Manager

    NIST

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    Carissa Grosh

    AFVentures Specific Topic Branch Chief

    DoD - AFWERX

    Read Bio
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    Keith Harris

    Acting Director, Bioenergy Division

    USDA

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    Wendy Hastings

    FLC Chair and NCI Senior Technology Transfer Manager

    NIH - HHS

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    Nicholas Hofacker

    Acquisition Program Manager

    DoD - AFWERX/Spacewerx
    Read Bio
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    Jerry Hollister

    Executive Consultant and Co-Owner / BBC Entrepreneurial Training and Consulting

    FAST - Illinois

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    Gary Laier

    Center Liaison, Armstrong Flight Research Center

    NASA

    Read Bio
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    Natasha Jensen-Matta

    Vice President, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Development

    FAST - Indiana

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    Molly Kocialski

    Regional Director, Rocky Mountain

    USPTO

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    Dusty Lang

    DHS SBIR Director

    DHS 
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    Monica Meyer

    DHA SBIR/STTR Senior Transition Analyst 

    DoD - DHA

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    Collin Rust

    Specific Topic Program Manager

    DoD - AFWERX

    Read Bio
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    Mara Schindelholz 

    SBIR/STTR Program Director

    NSF 
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    Ben Schrag

    SBIR/STTR Program Director and Policy Analyst

    NSF
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    Lynn Schwenning

    Assistant for Outreach

    USPTO

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    Ruth Shuman

    Program Director, I-Corps

    NSF - I-Corps
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    Laura Skow

    Presidential Management Fellow

    NIH

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    Megan Sloane

    NAVAIR SBIR/STTR Program Office - PEO(A) Process Lead

    DoD - Navy
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    Robert Smith

    National Program Leader, Animal Health & Veterinary Medicine

    USDA

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    Todd Strother

    Senior Technology Consultant

    FAST – Wisconsin
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    Geri Aglipay

    Regional Administrator, Minnesota

    SBA

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    Martin Anderson

    Deputy District Director, Indiana

    SBA

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    Tammie Clendenning

    Lead Economic Development Specialist, Wisconsin

    SBA 

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    Laketa Henderson

    District Director, Michigan

    SBA 

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    Don (Mike) Jackson

    Lead Outreach and Marketing Specialist, Minnesota 

    SBA 

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    Levi Kinnard

    Branch Manager, Illinois

    SBA

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    Ben Marchionna

    Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer, Michigan

    SBA 

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    Kathleen Sly

    Representative of the National Ombudsman/Case Management Specialist

    SBA 

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    Michelle Andrade

    Outreach Engagement Operations Specialist

    SBA - SBIR

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    Claire Corbett

    Outreach Engagement Operations Specialist

    SBA - SBIR

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    Elden Hawkes, Jr.

    Partnership and Innovation Specialist

    SBA - SBIR

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    Nancy Kamei

    Program Development Specialist

    SBA - SBIR

    Read Bio

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SBA’s participation in this activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

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