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.

Designed specifically by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, the Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac TechVenture program is an intensive eight-session course designed to give technology and science-based entrepreneurs 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 their peers, creating a powerful network that continues well after the program is complete.

Begins: 5:30 p.m. March 4 (first of eight sessions)
Ends: 8:30 p.m.
Fee: $795

For more information: Contact Jill Meyer, technology specialist at the UMKC Small Business & Technology Development Center, at 816-235-6072 or email: meyerjz@umkc.edu

Register online

Location: Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO

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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

Please join Chief Counsel for Advocacy Winslow Sargeant for a day-long conversation about the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in our economy. This participant-driven symposium titled Small Business and Government: Maximizing Entrepreneurship, Driving Innovation will bring together entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, government officials, angel investors, funding innovators, and academics. Panels throughout the day will focus on optimizing the relationship between small business innovators and government, maximizing the impact of entrepreneurial accelerators, and utilizing emerging capital strategies.

Check out the website for the incredible agenda and speaker bios at www.sba.gov/advocacy/7496/260591.  Highlights include:

• Keynote address by University of Washington President Michael K. Young
• Panels moderated by GeekWire.com’s Jonathan Sposato and Rebecca Lovell
• Successful startup Founders and CEOs sharing their experiences
• Government reps listening to suggestions and offering information on resources available to innovators
• Academics describing the impact of commercializing innovation and ways to amplify it
• Entrepreneurial accelerators showcasing what they do and why it works

You can watch the event live on September 19 at http://n50.onetotheworld.net/commerce04.

Help us get the conversation going in advance by going online, (at the same web address) and participate in our SuperChat.

Note: You must have flashplayer installed and JavaScript enabled. Also this event will be taking place from 9:00-5:00 Pacific Standard Time

The event is co-sponsored by the SBA’s Office of Advocacy, the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, the Seattle Center Foundation and GeekWire.com. Admission is free, but advance registration is required. For more information or to register, please visit www.sba.gov/advocacy/7496/260591.

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

Remember when Congress voted to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs and the President signed the bill into law back in December, 2011? Implementing laws however, and doing it right, often takes just a little more time.

The programs are important to small businesses, each year providing more than $2 billion of R&D funding to innovative small business across a broad range of technologies.  After a long series of temporary reauthorizations, this reauthorization will last six years, much to the appreciation of all parties involved. (more…)

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