Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) is currently accepting IDEA Fund applications for the TechLaunch and High-Tech Industrial Expansion programs.  MTC is also accepting applications for Missouri Building Entrepreneurial Capacity (“MOBEC”) grant program.  Applications for these programs are due on April 16^th by 5:00 p.m.   Visit the links below for additional information regarding  the current funding round.

• missouritechnology.com/commercialization-programs/missouri-techlaunch
• missouritechnology.com/commercialization-programs/high-tech-industrial-expansion-program
• missouritechnology.com/commercialization-programs/missouri-building-entrepreneurial-capacity

For questions, please contact Andrew Smolik at 573-526-2423 or andrew.smolik@ded.mo.gov.

Small businesss can apply for one of three MTC awards not to exceed $3 million.

The Missouri Technology Corporation recently announced the opening of funding rounds for the Seed Capital Co-Investment, Venture Capital Co-Investment and High-Tech Industrial Expansion programs. Application deadline is February 5.

• The Seed Capital Co-Investment Fund is designed to accelerate private investment in Missouri-based start-up companies and to increase the overall investment impact. Award amounts vary but will not exceed $500,000.
• The Venture Capital Co-Investment Fund is also designed to accelerate private investment in Missouri start-ups and increase overall impact; individual awards will not exceed $2,500,000.
• The High-Tech Industrial Expansion Fund supports industrial expansion efforts in Missouri that result in significant capital investment and high-paying jobs in the biotech and high-tech clusters. An emphasis is placed on those firms that can leverage Missouri’s rich agricultural history. Individual awards will not exceed $3,000,000.

For more information, visit missouritechnology.com

The Small Business Administration administers two unique programs for small business to acquire federal government contracts, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Eleven federal departments participate in the SBIR program, and five departments participate in the STTR program, together awarding $2 billion to small high-tech businesses.

One of these departments is NASA.

Now NASA is seeking proposals for its SBIR and STTR programs to create the new technologies that will send the agency to Mars and beyond. The deadline for the two program solicitations is Nov. 29, and selections will be announced in late February 2013.

According to NASA, previous rounds of small business programs have resulted in components for air-traffic control systems, the International Space Station and the Curiosity rover now busy exploring the Red Planet.

The highly competitive SBIR and STTR programs are based on a three-phase award system:

Phase 1, a feasibility study to evaluate the scientific and technical merits of a proposal
Phase 2, which expands on the results of Phase 1
Phase 3, commercialization

For more information about SBIR and STTR solicitations, including how to apply, go to missouribusiness.net/fast/about_sbir.asp or contact your MO SBTDC technology development specialist (http://www.missouribusiness.net/sbtdc/centers.asp).

The Missouri Technology Corporation recently announced the opening of funding rounds for the TechLaunch, High-Tech Industrial Expansion and MOBEC programs. Applications are due on November 1, 2012. More information is located on their website at:
missouritechnology.com

The Department of Defense issues three SBIR and two STTR solicitations for proposals annually. Each solicitation has a: pre-release, open and close. During the pre-release period the government is not accepting proposals, but small businesses can discuss technical questions directly with the topic authors (contact information available in each topic). Once the solicitation is open, direct questions with the topic authors are no longer allowed, but technical questions may be submitted anonymously through the SBIR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS).

Accepting Proposals – SBIR FY 2012.3
Deadline September 26, 2012

Here is a link to the solicitation schedule.

Informational Session on Missouri Technology Corporation’s IDEA Funds

August 9, 2012 from 8:30 – 9:30 am

Join us on Thursday, August 9 for an information session about the Missouri Technology Corporation’s (MTC) IDEA Funds.

The info session will take place from 8:30 – 9:30 am at:

Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
Kansas City Room
4801 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO  64110

Andrew Smolik, Senior Associate for MTC, will explain the Missouri IDEA Fund programs and outline the application process.

The funding cycle for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 is now open.

MTC will allocate up to $4.75 million to Missouri firms across three IDEA Fund programs in this funding cycle:

• Seed Capital Co-Investment Program
• Venture Capital Co-Investment Program
• High-Tech Industrial Expansion Program

Applications for each of these programs may be found on MTC’s website at http://www.missouritechnology.com/commercialization-programs.

The deadline to submit proposals for consideration is 5:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, August 20, 2012.

Please RSVP your attendance to Brande Stitt at: stittb@kcsourcelink.com or 816-235-6661

Missouri Technology Corporation is accepting applications

(deadline: August 20, 2012)

The Missouri Technology Corporation’s (MTC) funding cycle for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 is now open. In this cycle, MTC will allocate up to $4.75 million across the following three Missouri IDEA Fund programs:

• Seed Capital Co-Investment Program
• Venture Capital Co-Investment Program
• High-Tech Industrial Expansion Program

Applications for each of these programs may be found on MTC’s website.

Submission Deadline: Monday, August 20, 2012, 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Bill Anderson, Acting Executive Director, MTC
Phone: 573-522-2293 Email: william.anderson@ded.mo.gov

The following updates come from Rick Shindell and his excellent SBIR Insider newsletter. Rick’s website and contact information are below. Consider subscribing to his updates as Rick serves as one of the most knowledgeable and informative sources of data on SBIR and the reauthorization process.

Dear SBIR Insider,

Here’s a quick update on SBIR reauthorization as of 11/29/11. The news is somewhat encouraging with an emphasis on “somewhat.”

You would not believe the extent of the effort Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) went through today, fighting for your SBIR program. The House Small Business Committee (HSBC) was once again dragging their feet on reauthorization talks and the program once again found itself in trouble. (more…)

Registration is now open for the Missouri Technology Expo 2011 held on September 8, 2011 in Columbia, MO. The Expo will feature exciting and promising inventions developed at universities throughout Missouri and be a catalyst for economic development.

You can find information regarding registration and other details at:

tmir.missouri.edu/mte2011.

New State Funding for Technology and Bioscience Companies

Missouri Technology Corporation launches four new small business programs.

Entrepreneurial technology and bioscience companies in Missouri can get a boost from four new programs recently launched by the Missouri Technology Corporation.

The Missouri TechLaunch program is designed to help high-tech entrepreneurs overcome the challenges of launching new start-ups that leverage research and talent at Missouri’s public and private universities and other research organizations.

Companies can receive up to $75,000 in pre-seed funding for intellectual property development and evaluation, including in-depth analysis of market potential, conducting competitive analysis, establishing proof of concept of a scientific discovery, prototype design and development and related activities.

The Bioscience Industrial Expansion program supports industrial expansion efforts that result in significant capital investment and high-paying jobs in targeted high-tech bioscience clusters with an emphasis on those that leverage Missouri’s rich agricultural history.
Through the Bioscience Industrial Expansion program, MTC makes investments up to $500,000 that can be used to purchase equipment, facilitate construction and hire key personnel.

MTC’s Seed Capital Co-Investment program (SeedCap) will award seed capital funds up to $150,000 that match qualified private capital investments. The seed capital may be used by the start-up company for advanced intellectual property development and evaluation, including in-depth analysis of market potential, conducting competitive analysis, advanced proof of concept work for a scientific discovery, advanced prototype design and development, research and development needed to attract venture capital financing, hiring key personnel and related activities. (more…)