WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will launch a live road tour connecting entrepreneurs developing advanced technologies to America’s Seed Fund, the country’s largest source of early-stage federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. America’s Seed Fund finances cutting-edge research & development (R&D), providing over $4 billion each year in non-dilutive funding from across 11 participating federal agencies.

America’s Seed Fund Road Tour is a national outreach effort to connect innovators and entrepreneurs directly with federal agencies that fund non-dilutive SBIR/STTR grants and contracts. The Road Tour plays an important role in increasing the engagement of our nation’s entrepreneurs with organizations supporting and financing next-generation innovations. The Road Tour will kick off with America’s Seed Fund Week, a Virtual Road Tour ahead of four in-person road tours scheduled to visit 16 states and territories in 2024.

“The Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda is about connecting innovators with the resources and capital to support next-generation research and technology, from concept to commercialization. The SBA is coordinating this federal engagement to ensure innovative startups and small businesses from underserved states and communities can equitably access this critical source of early-stage funding,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman.

Each Road Tour stop is hosted in collaboration with SBA’s Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partners, who serve as navigators connecting entrepreneurs to America’s Seed Fund opportunities in their regions. At each stop, technology entrepreneurs and small business owners will meet one-on-one with federal agency representatives and attend programming designed to help participants navigate applications for SBIR/STTR funding.

“Incubating cutting-edge American innovations, innovations capable of improving the human condition and increasing economic growth and opportunity frequently requires close coordination between the public and private sectors. America’s Seed Fund Tour strives to increase connectivity between innovators, experts, funders and federal resources in communities across America,” said Bailey DeVries, Associate Administrator of Investment and Innovation.

For the full list of SBIR/STTR funding agencies, visit PARTICIPATING FEDERAL AGENCIES | SBIR.gov.

America’s Seed Fund 2024 Road Tour Schedule

2024 Road Tour Virtual – America’s Seed Fund Week
Jan. 23-25 | Host: SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation

2024 Road Tour Coastal 
Feb. 7 - Orlando, Fla.| Host: Florida High Tech Corridor
Feb. 9 - San Juan, PR | Host: Puerto Rico Small Business, Technology and Development Centers

2024 Road Tour South 
April 2 – Little Rock, Ark. | Host: Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
April 3 – Jackson, Miss. | Host: Innovate Mississippi, Jackson State University and The University of Southern Mississippi
April 4 – Baton Rouge, La. | Host: Louisiana Technology Transfer Office
April 5 – Houston, Texas | Host: University of Texas at San Antonio – Texas South-West SBDC Technology Commercialization Center

2024 Road Tour Southeast 
May 13 – Columbia, S.C. | Host: University of South Carolina
May 14 – Atlanta, Ga. | Host: Innovation Gateway-University of Georgia, Center for Black Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Center at Morehouse
May 15 – Knoxville, Tenn. | Host: Launch Tennessee
May 16 – Lexington, Ky. | Host: Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation
May 17 – Huntington, W.Va.| Host: TechConnect West Virginia and Marshall University

2024 Road Tour Great Lakes 
July 15 - East Lansing, Mich. | Host: BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting’s Michigan Catalyst Advantage Network
July 16 - Indianapolis, Ind. | Host: Indiana Economic Development Corporation
July 17 - Champaign-Urbana, Ill. | Host: Research Park at the University of Illinois
July 18 - Madison, Wis. | Host: Center for Technology Commercialization
July 19 - Minneapolis, Minn.| Host: MNSBIR, Inc.

For detailed information on the America’s Seed Fund Road Tours and registration, visit americasseedfund.us/road-tour.

For more information about America’s Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR) programs, visit sbir.gov.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality.  As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. Learn more at sba.gov.

About SBA Office of Investment and Innovation
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the high-growth small business community with access to two things: financial capital and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO. Learn more at sba.gov.

Christine Saah Nazer
U.S. Small Business Administration
202-765-0304
christine.saahnazer@sba.gov

Rebecca Galanti
U.S. Small Business Administration
202-756-0304
rebecca.galanti@sba.gov

Han Nguyen
U.S. Small Business Administration
202-765-0304
han.nguyen@sba.gov