Wichita State University and Meritrust to host $2.5 billion technology seed fund event April 30

Area innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and small technology firms are invited to take advantage of a special opportunity as Wichita State University and Meritrust hosts the SBIR Road Tour from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, on the second floor of the Rhatigan Student Center.

The SBIR Road Tour event represents America’s largest seed fund, and is a national outreach effort to convey the non-dilutive technology funding opportunity provided through the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

At these events, federal and state program managers representing $2.5 billion in early-stage funding are invited to present to technology entrepreneurs and innovation supporters from across the country.

SBIR Road Tour events are a coveted opportunity for those involved in advanced technology, including women-owned and minority-owned firms, to hear directly from federal agency program managers and meet one-on-one with program decision-makers.

Agencies represented at the event include:

  • Agencies represented at the event include:
  • Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • Department of Defense - Air Force
  • Department of Defense - Army
  • Department of Defense - Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
  • Department of Defense - Navy
  • Department of Energy (DOE)
  • Department of Health and Human Services - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

The first step for those who want to attend the SBIR Road Tour at Wichita State is to register at wichita.edu/sbirroadtour. Registered attendees can set up one-on-one meetings with program managers at sbirroadtour.com/meetings/ks/ on a first-come, first-served basis. Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served at the event.

For more information about the SBIR Road Tour, go to sbirroadtour.com.