$Unlocking SBIR\/STTR: Expert Tips for a Winning Application$

Find out how SBIR/STTR programs can be a source of R&D funding for your innovative startup idea.
About this Event

Find out how the government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs can provide a source of R&D funding between the initial development of your innovative idea and proof that it has potential in the marketplace.

The two programs make over $4 billion in high-risk, non-dilutive capital available to innovative small companies annually!

Join our expert in this interactive workshop to learn what it takes to participate in the programs. We'll review, eligibility requirements, participating agencies, the differences between SBIR and STTR, common misconceptions and more!

This training is designed to provide enough information for attendees to determine if they would like to seriously pursue proposal development and provides the tools to help begin the process.

About the Presenters

Jerry Hollister

Executive Consultant and Co-Owner,

Jerry Hollister became a Co-Owner of BBCetc in October 2023, six years after joining BBCetc in late 2017. Jerry leads the customer development efforts at BBCetc and the NSF/DOD/DOE/USDA Team that supports clients applying to these four Agencies. He led the 2021 Catalyst Award effort that continues as the Women-CAN program funded by the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund and leads the Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Program for NOAA Phase I awardees. He currently serves as a reviewer for NSF, DOE, USDA and NOAA and regularly speaks about SBIR/STTR at several national conferences.

Tiara Durham

Director of Commercialization Programming,

Tiara is an ecosystem builder with a passion for helping founders launch and grow their businesses. As Director of New Ventures. Tiara supports a number of existing commercialization activities in addition to developing new opportunities. Before joining with the Science Center, Tiara led East Coast business development for an impact investment company devoted to diverse-founder-led businesses and those committed to diverse hiring practices by helping them accelerate business growth through catalytic capital and advisory services. Prior, Tiara was a global business leader in the healthcare industry – driving fifteen years of innovation, growth, and sustainability across several therapeutic areas.

Kelly Wylam

Director,

Kelly has over 25 years of experience with a variety of businesses and economic development programs/initiatives in Pennsylvania. Her current position is Directing the Innovation Partnership (IPart), PA’s premiere SBIR/ STTR statewide assistance program. Ms. Wylam was a part of the IPart’s origination team, spearheaded by PA DCED in 2002. IPart is truly a statewide collaboration, bringing to bear the counseling, business assistance resources of more than 18 PA-based organizations & institutions of higher education (75+ locations), assisting tech-based entrepreneurs and existing businesses to grow and thrive in the Commonwealth.

About the University City Science Center
We help life sciences startups grow and nurture diverse STEM talent.

For 60 years, the Science Center has been at the forefront of innovation that elevates our region and enriches our world. We've proven that you can accomplish amazing things when you bring the right people together in the right place at the right time, and we take pride in creating those connections every day.

We are a community of current and future innovators, makers and doers fueling billions into the economy, expanding the workforce, and solving problems to enable us to live longer and better. Find out more here.

The Science Center is committed to supporting Pennsylvania small businesses in navigating the complexities of federal funding programs. Join us and learn about resources available to help you in navigating this complex funding space for your innovation.