Winning SBIR Grants:  

“Free” Government Funding for your Technology Product &/or Startup

MIT IAP 2024 Offering

Tue Jan 30 & Thur Feb 1 2024, 3-5pm, 4-270

Register Here https://tiny.cc/mitsbir 

Raise anywhere from $150k to $2M of “free” federal government funding for your startup

How to write winning SBIR proposals (of 100 proposals only 5-10 are typically accepted)

The biggest US Government agencies are mandated to fund small businesses and startups developing needed technologies with roughly $4 Billion per year. 

This is “free” funding to commercialize your deep technology research – meaning you don’t sell shares and it’s not a loan but you do have to deliver towards your promises, so it’s not a gift.

Instructor:  Steve Derezinski, sjd@mit.edu, steve.derezinski@alum.mit.edu

MIT S.B. Mechanical engineering and Sloan MBA alum

Winner of $23M+ SBIR+other federal awards from NSF, NASA, DOE, ARPA-E

Co-founder of multiple tech startups & GeorgiaTech’s VentureLab

Tuesday Jan 30, Day 1:  Overview, Admin, Key Details

• Overview of SBIR plus STTR
• Review of the 11 agencies who fund SBIR/STTR:
  • DOD, NIH, DOE, NSF, EPA, NASA, USDA, ED, DOC, DOT, DHS
• Admin stuff -- boring but really critical
• Is it really free? Comparing Non-recourse funding versus VC or Debt financing

Thursday Feb 1, Day 2:  Winning Strategies

• Timing and calendar management
  • Applying while in school
• Generative AI enhancements
• Review process details or “what happens after I press submit?”
• Advanced tips to ensure success… including repeat future wins

Who is this for?

• Current or graduated Students or MIT Affiliates
• Undergrad, Grad, MBA, MEng, PhD, Post-Doc, Staff, etc.
• Anyone seeking funding for their technology-based product or company

Prerequisites:  Watch Ben Schrag’s Intro to SBIR from NSF – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OePUxtd2TjM – a good overview of SBIR / STTRs from NSF, which runs one of the best SBIR programs.