SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Grants

During my MBA program, I investigated government programs for granting money to small business programs to conduct and productize technology research. There are two programs (SBIR and STTR) in which eleven different government agencies provide two billion dollars in grants to small technology companies.

I actually wrote a preliminary proposal, which was modeled on a copy of a successful proposal provided to me from one of my classmates, Holly. The proposal was sent for developing feedback-controlled sports bra for SmartWear, Inc. While she was not the "principal investigator," she wrote the proposal, which led to a National Institute of Health grant in 2001 of $100,000 for six months to a year of work.

I never sent in my proposal, since, at the time, I missed the proposal deadline which was infrequent (once a year) and estimated my chances of success at being low, since it involved natural language. The large companies (IBM, Google, Microsoft) have hundreds of researchers, developers, and linguists, compile massive amounts of data and pour millions of dollars into research. With me, my credentials and my product ideas are in doubt; I am not going to convince anyone reading my proposal that I have a better way especially with a $100K grant.

The couple, who developed the Dragon Software speech-recognition technology, subsisted for seven years during the 1980s through government grants, before they were able to release version 1.0 of their software.

I have been thinking that my static analysis tool could actually fare better. I have working technology right now as well as demonstrated commitment using my own time and funds. My background (schooling and prior work experience) is very good. There is still quite a bit of work that I need to do to take it to the next level.

The government agencies examine proposals more frequently, four times a month, with DoD solicitations arriving in Nov 1 and the next proposal deadline in January. However, proposal writing and benchmarks are a time sink, and I could probably just do better organically by keeping focus on my development and funding my research through internal cash flows. I do wish that I had submitted a proposal last year.

Comments

[Simon Johnson]

Do it! If this allowed you to sell NStatic directly rather than selling your program to some other organisation - then you must absolutely positively must do it.

I want pay money for the product and I want that money to go directly to you - rather than some faceless organisation who's only talent is that they have boat loads of cash.

I think NStatic is potentially an industry changing piece of technology.

I know it feels riskier to run your own company and it's easy for me to say because I'm not the one who has to bear that risk. However, I think you could make a really large sum of money off selling this product.

You just have to take the risk and get it out there.

I've had a couple of hundred pounds earmarked for the day NStatic gets released - I suspect I'm not alone.

Simon.

[Philipp Schumann]

Ever thought about angel funding? If you're just a very few months from releasing and selling NStatic, might be more worthwhile.

"I have working technology right now as well as demonstrated commitment using my own time and funds."

This is what would impress a potential investor. I'm not sure bureaucrats care. ;)

[Craig Stuntz]

One other option is to hire a grant writer. They're not terribly expensive, and would probably do a better job than someone without grant-writing experience. Plus it would allow you to keep coding.

[Raj]

Hello Wes,
Any chance that you can send me Holly's proposal. I would like to take a look at a sample proposal.
Thanks.
And I think you should submit your proposal... NStatic is an awesome tool - it should be pursued further.

[Wesner Moise]

No, angel funding... I am my own angel.

Raj, I'll have to ask Holly if I could actually send it out. I don't think that it's meant to go public, as they already operating.

[Barry White]

Great dialog going on here! I need your help! If anyone has been successful in winning SBIR's and STTR's, the Missouri Extension office is looking to hire a couple of experts. The catch is that these positions are based on someone with a strong technology background and education, plus success in winning some SBIR's. The positions will be located in St. Louis and in Rolla, MO.

Please pass the word to people you may know about these opportunities. These are well paying positions, located in the heartland of America!

If anyone is intersted, have them visit UMR's webpage and look in employment and follow the prompts. Any problems, call me at 573 341-4562.