The Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Centers are offering a variety of classes and workshops targeted to help science and engineering oriented companies. The MO SBTDC technology specialists can help you take your intellectual property from the idea stage to commercialization. Some of the offerings to help those who are tech-savvy but need help with the business side of things are listed below:

• July 23 – FastTrac® TechVenture™
  4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: online course; 7 session series
  This online course is part of the Kauffman Foundation’s acclaimed FastTrac® TechVenture™ series designed specifically by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. This intensive seven-session course provides a proven framework and network of connections to help grow a great idea into the next viable innovation. Experienced business coaches and successful entrepreneurs work together to facilitate critical teachings, guide lively small group sessions and share practical experiences to enhance your business. Participants learn with and from peers, creating a powerful network that continues well after the program is complete.

• August 3 – Intellectual Property Workshop
  11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in St. Joseph
  Led by Mr. Keith Strassner, Director of Technology & Economic Development at MU’s University of Science & Technology in Rolla, the following topics will be explored:
  
  • What patents do need for your business and best practices for filing a patent, plus patent process and costs
  • The newest regulations surrounding patents
  • Copyrights/copyright infringement (what is and what is not protected)
  • Trademarks – costs to file and what is covered
  • Trade secrets – what is included and what legal protection exists

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• August 8 or September 12 – Funding Technology Through SBIR/STTR
  2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Fort Leonard Wood
  This class covers the basics for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs that provide government money to small businesses willing and able to perform R&D for the participating government agencies.
  

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• August 24 – Technology Development & Commercialization
  9:00 a.m. – noon in Portageville
  Learn about Federal opportunities to fund new products and the process to get started. Learn about the support network offered by MO SBTDC technology specialists.
  

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• September 6 & 7 – Funding Technology Through SBIR/STTR Boot Camp
  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m in Columbia
  
  Missouri’s SBIR Boot Camp pairs PIs with professional technical writers and editors in six formal “real time” writing sessions. Past boot camp participants were able to write more than 80 percent of Phase I proposals in just two days, instead of the three to four weeks typically invested in this effort. Registration deadline is Sept. 3, and classes are limited to 30 individuals.

Learn how to build an investor-ready tech company – Thur., June 14 in Columbia

Description: Management Skills to Help You Find the Resources You Need
Join us to discuss a variety of topics related to business creation and development of a high-technology company.

Here’s the line-up:

• The Basics of Business: Formation, taxes, partnership agreements, business systems, financial statements, pricing, debt financing, NDAs and more.
• Determining the Market: Primary research techniques, secondary research sources, market quantification, total available market, the role of SBIR funding and more.
• Managing the IP: Intellectual property from the inventor’s (and investor’s) viewpoints, legal considerations, negotiating and more.
• The Equity Investment Process: Expected return, ownership considerations, deal sheets, private placement memoranda and more.

Location: University of Missouri SBTDC
500 East Walnut, Suite 103
Columbia, MO 65201
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Registration: Register online or contact the Small Business & Technology Development Center at (573) 882-7096.
Preregistration is required; deadline is 6/12/2012
Class Size: 30
Fee Info: $249
Primary Contact Name: Paul Bateson
Primary Contact Email: batesonp@umsystem.edu

Looking for funding for your technology startup? In this informational workshop, you’ll learn specific tips for preparing a winning Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal to federal agencies. Included will be an overview of the programs, search techniques for finding funding sources, best practices for applying and a summary of the changes to the recent SBIR/STTR rules.

When and where:
Tuesday, April 3, 9am to 12pm
at the Bond Life Sciences Center,
no cost to attend

To register:
Please contact the MU Small Business & Technology Development Center office at 573-882-7096 or email gillos@missouri.edu.

For more information, download this workshop flyer.

Below is some information about an exciting workshop taking place later this month at the Skandalaris Center at Washington University in St. Louis.  Please consider attending.  A full description of the event can be found here:

http://sc.wustl.edu/Events/Pages/diversity.aspx

SUMMARY:

Diversity as a Catalyst for Innovation in the Sciences: Connecting Women and Under-Represented Innovators to Regional Resources

On Monday, July 25, the Skandalaris Center, with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Partners for Innovation program, will host a day-long workshop entitled “Diversity as a Catalyst for Innovation in the Sciences: Connecting Women and Under-Represented Innovators to Regional Resources.”

The workshop is a follow-up to a grant from the NSF in 2008. The grant created a number of tools, concepts, and approaches that enhance regional innovation ecosystems. This workshop will broaden their impact by introducing the tools and approaches to under-represented groups. As part of the workshop we will publish and make available online a guidebook of resources available to innovators and entrepreneurs, to connect them to existing innovation support systems in the St. Louis region. The workshop will provide four learning tracks and include multiple opportunities to learn about and connect with resources in the region.

We recommend this workshop for the following groups:

• Women and other under-represented researchers who want to meet others and investigate how their ideas may move forward
• Service providers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who want to support underrepresented groups
• Students who want to learn more about St. Louis scientific startup ventures and regional entrepreneur support systems
• Community members who are part of, or wish to contribute to improving, the region’s innovation ecosystems
  Investors and funders who want to support early stage technology ventures
• Organizations and companies who support diversity
• Executives, mentors, advisors, and other people who might want to advise or join new technology ventures led by underrepresented groups

If you or your clients are looking for capital, don’t miss the Missouri Venture Forum event “Getting $$$ from Angel Investors” on Thursday, May 19 from 4-7 pm. The event features five speakers followed by a Q&A session.

This event is a must make for anyone seeking funds to take their business to the next level or for those planning a fund-raising round. Register now to take advantage of the knowledge and insights of this panel of experts. Again, it’s this Thursday so sign up and forward this message to anyone you know that needs capital.

Date: Thursday, May 19

Time: 4:00-7:00 p.m. includes open bar and hors d’oeuvres

Place: Sheraton Clayton Plaza, 7730 Bonhomme, Ave., Clayton, MO 63105

Cost: $32 members, $40 nonmembers

Register: For more details and to register go to www.MissouriVentureForum.org or call 314-241-2683

Thanks and call with questions.

Judy Meador

Association Manager
314-241-2683

Judy@MissouriVentureForum.org

A boot camp for companies interested in submitting a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant to the NIH will be held at the ITenterprise building near the UM St. Louis campus on July 15-16th.   This proposal writing workshop will help busy PIs draft a quality and hopefully winning proposal for the August 5th SBIR/STTR deadline set by NIH.  Please see the following link for the boot camp brochure and to find out how to register.

http://www.missouribusiness.net/fast/docs/bootcamp_sbir_july10.pdf