As part of its mission to bring better technologies to the warfighter, AF CyberWorx hosted its first Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Seminar in order to stimulate the Small Business and Entrepreneur community of Colorado (and beyond) with regard to getting SBIR funding to develop their technologies.

This event gave nontraditional, small businesses, and innovators an opportunity to learn more about the SBIR application process, SBIR funding and accounting, navigating the SBIR phase, and Tech Transfer. Attendees networked with statewide government resources, organizations driving the economy, and SBIR subject matter experts. The all-day event was powered by the Center for Technology, Research, and Commercialization (C-TRAC) and held at the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation, the innovation hub for small businesses and government in Colorado Springs.

During this two-and-a-half-day sprint, 40 participants from 21 military entities and 10 companies around the United States gathered at the Air Force CyberWorx design studio. They divided into six groups, and each created a hypothetical end-user persona based on the problem discovery. Using their personas, groups developed solutions that meet the needs of real end-users.

0800 Registration and Continental Breakfast
0830 Welcome and Introductions
0845 Honorable Sue Payton, SCI Aerospace, Inc: Intent of Government Small Business Outreach
0915 Frances Padilla, U.S. SBA: Government/Small Business Relationship in Colorado
0945 Russell Long, Long Capture and Contract Management LLC: Introduction to SBIR & STTR
1045 Breakout Session 1

1. SBIR Workshop
2. STTR Workshop
3. Government Cost-Accounting Requirements

1200 Lunch and SBIR Awardee Panel
1345 Breakout Session 2

1. Pitching to the Government
2. Phase 2 and Beyond
3. Regional Small Business Resource Panel

1500 Breakout Session 3

1. Pitching to the Government
2. Regional Small Business Resource Panel
3. Government Cost-Accounting Requirements

1600 Closing Comments
1630 Networking and Happy Hour