Author: c366n745@wichita.edu

Thinking about applying for NSF SBIR/STTR funding? Start here. WSU Strategic Initiatives invites you to a special webinar from the Great Plains SBIR Alliance featuring Dr. Alastair Monk, NSF SBIR/STTR program director at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Get an insider’s overview of the new NSF SBIR/STTR solicitation, learn what makes America’s Seed Fund unique and hear directly from NSF about what startups need to know before applying.

This session will cover:

• Program basics and eligibility
• What’s new in the latest solicitation
• The proposal process
• Live Q&A with an NSF Program Director

Applications are now being accepted for the fall 2026 WSU I-Corps cohort.

Participants will go through a multi-session workshop alongside a cohort of fellow teams led by experienced instructors. Each week, participants will learn more about the customer discovery process and the business model canvas. Findings will be integrated to bring innovations closer to market. Participants will also take part in office hours with trained coaches from various entrepreneurship resources. Participants who complete the program are awarded up to $2,000 in funding to conduct customer interviews.

Are you ready to validate your innovative idea? For questions, contact icorps@wichita.edu. The application deadline is Sunday, Aug. 2. 

Are you working on innovative technology with the potential to make a commercial impact? If you’re planning to apply for SBIR or STTR in the coming year, this two-day virtual boot camp is designed to help you get there. These hands-on sessions will guide innovators through the critical steps of preparing a strong DOW, NSF, NIH and NASA SBIR/STTR grant application.

The sessions will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. June 8 and 9 and will be led by Veronika Redman with the Crane Group and supported by the Great Plains SBIR Alliance.

The fall 2026 WSU I-Corps cohort will run Aug. 17 through Sept. 28 on Mondays. This hands-on program is built for researchers and early-stage innovators looking to explore and validate the market potential of their ideas. Participating team leads can receive up to $2,000 in funding for completing the program. To apply, a team’s entrepreneurial lead will need to fill out an interest form.

Want to learn more about patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets? Join IP 101 from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. April 21 in 264 John Bardo Center. Participants will learn about intellectual property basics and potential ways to protect innovations as they transition from idea to product.

Hope Shimabuku, director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Southwest Regional Office, will lead this session. You’ll receive an overview of IP types and learn why innovators and entrepreneurs should consider protecting.

This learning session is free to attend, but an RSVP is required.

Curious if your idea has real market potential? Join an upcoming I-Corps information session from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 in the John Bardo Center lobby to learn how you can test your concept, talk to real customers and reduce risk before pursuing funding or launching a venture.

The event is open to researchers, students and community innovators. Whether you’re a newcomer to innovation, or an experienced entrepreneur, I-Corps is a great place to start. The session is free to attend but RSVP is required.

Have an innovation that you want to discover the market potential of? Starting Jan. 20, 2026 and running through the week of March 9, 2026, you can join other innovators and expert instructors for the spring 2026 Great Plains Hub I-Corps cohort.

If you’re interested in getting entrepreneurship education and mentoring, with the ultimate goal of reducing the time it takes to get your innovation to market, this is for you.

Email icorps@wichita.edu for questions.

Are you pursuing or managing DoD SBIR/STTR contracts? Understanding DFARS clauses is critical for compliance and long-term success.

Join Strategic Initiatives for DFARS Essentials, a webinar designed to give your team the knowledge and confidence to navigate the most important DFARS requirements, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 9.

• Key DFARS clauses every contractor must know
• Practical insights to avoid compliance pitfalls
• Live Q&A (30 minutes) with experts to address your specific questions
• Short break to keep the session engaging and focused

Registration is required.

Did you know over 60% of all start-ups fail, primarily due to lack of customers? I-Corps will help you evaluate the product-market fit. By helping teams connect with potential customers, strategic partners and key experts, the program will de-risk the pathway from innovative ideas to impactful products.

I-Corps is a vital part of the National Science Foundation’s mission to create and support a national innovation network. The program offers training to university researchers and community innovators who are interested in entrepreneurship education and mentoring, with the ultimate goal of reducing the time it takes to transform technologies from the laboratory to the market.

Through the NSF I-Corps program, participants can:

• Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps in research and/or development
• Cultivate network connections and receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs
• Develop the entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed to start a successful business

University-affiliated teams are eligible to apply to participate in the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and up to $50,000 in funding

All researchers and entrepreneurs in the region, including students, researchers, faculty and community entrepreneurs with deep technology ideas to bring to market are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Defense (DOD) SBIR and STTR programs offer a wide range of opportunities for small firms to address military needs in just about every technology area from software to training systems, from medical products to air, land and sea platforms.

DOD SBIR/STTR program overview webinar:

Join an overview of the Department of Defense (DOD) SBIR components webinar from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 14. Gain insight on how to identify the right solicitation for your technology, connect with technical points of contact and influence future topics.

You’ll learn:

• Which components participate in the SBIR/STTR programs
• How the components differ
• How to find open BAAs and deadlines
• Tips to be competitive and more

This event is hosted by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting.

DOD SBIR/STTR proposal preparation webinar:

Are you wanting to submit a SBIR/STTR proposal to the DOD, but don’t know where to start? This webinar, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 21 is for you.

In the webinar, you will receive a brief overview of DOD SBIR/STTR programs and learn about the recommended process for developing a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal to the DOD, with attention paid to the differences among the various components and services.

This event is hosted by Jim Greenwood

Registration is required for both webinars.