• America's Seed Fund Road Tour Program

    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 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 have been invited to attend a series of events that bring together local and national innovation ecosystems. The events will help attendees navigate over $4 billion in early-stage funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund.

  • Thank you to those who participated in the 2024 Road Tour!

    Learn more about each tour below.

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    America's Seed Fund Week/2024 Road Tour Virtual

    January 23 - 25 | Complete

     

    America's Seed Fund Week kicked off our 2024 Road Tour with a free and virtual opportunity for startups and small businesses to learn about the $4 billion non-dilutive funding available through SBIR/STTR programs.

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    2024 Road Tour: Coastal

    February 7 & 9 | Complete

    • February 7 | Orlando, Florida
      Hosted by the Florida High Tech Corridor
    • February 9 | San Juan, Puerto Rico
      Hosted by the Puerto Rico Small Business, Technology and Development Centers
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    2024 Road Tour: South

    April 2 - 5 | Complete

    • April 2 | Little Rock, Arkansas
      Hosted by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
    • April 3 | Jackson, Mississippi
      Hosted by Innovate Mississippi, Jackson State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi
    • April 4 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana
      Hosted by LSU Innovation
    • April 5 | Houston, Texas
      Hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio
      Texas South West SBDC
      Technology Commercialization Center
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    2024 Road Tour: Southeast

    May 13 - 17 | Complete

    • May 13 | Columbia, South Carolina
      Hosted by University of South Carolina
    • May 14 | Atlanta, Georgia
      Hosted by Innovation Gateway - University of Georgia, Center for Black Entrepreneurship, and Small Business Development Center at Morehouse
    • May 15 | Knoxville, Tennessee
      Hosted by Launch Tennessee
    • May 16 | Lexington, Kentucky
      Hosted by the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation
    • May 17 | Huntington, West Virginia
      Hosted by TechConnect West Virginia and Marshall University
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    2024 Road Tour: Great Lakes

    July 15 - 19 | Complete

    • July 15 | East Lansing, Michigan
      Hosted by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting's Michigan Program
    • July 16 | Indianapolis, Indiana
      Hosted by Indiana Economic Development Corporation
    • July 17 | Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
      Hosted by the Research Park at the University of Illinois
    • July 18 | Madison, Wisconsin
      Hosted by the Center for Technology Commercialization
    • July 19 | Minneapolis, Minnesota
      Hosted by MNSBIR, Inc.

  • 1:1 Meeting Resources

    These resources will help attendees of the 2024 Road Tour prepare for potential 1:1 meetings with federal agency representatives.

    How to complete a quad chart

    Please review this Completing a Quad Chart video for guidance in preparing a quad chart. Quad charts are required to be considered for a 1:1 in-person meeting with federal agency representatives.

    Innovator’s Guide for preparing for 1:1 meetings with federal SBIR/STTR program representatives

    Jerry Hollister, Michigan FAST awardee and Executive Consultant and Co-Owner, BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting, provides tips on making the most out of your 1:1 meetings on the Road Tour.

  • ROAD TOUR HISTORY & HIGHLIGHTS

    Between 2015 and 2019, America’s Seed Fund Road Tour visited every state and Puerto Rico - mostly traveling by bus between stops, with virtual events held between 2020 and 2022. In July 2023, Road Tour Midwest took place and was the first in-person event since 2019. This year, America's Seed Fund Week/Road Tour Virtual kicks off the 2024 Road Tour.

     

    As part of America’s Seed Fund Road Tour, local Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partners coordinate with SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation and SBA Field Offices to host each stop and programming throughout the day. Federal agency representatives representing the 11 SBIR and STTR funding agencies, as well as organizations that provide resources to entrepreneurs and small businesses, travel to each stop along the tour in a meeting of local and national innovation ecosystems.

  • Stay Up-to-Date @SBIRgov

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