America’s Seed Fund Road Tour Coming to Little Rock
The America’s Seed Fund 2024 Road Tour is coming to Arkansas April 2 as part of a national tour that will connect entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding.
Also known as the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, America’s Seed Fund focuses on next-generation research and development through 11 participating federal agencies.
Agency representatives will travel together to Little Rock to conduct one-on-one meetings with small businesses and startups, take part in panel discussions, present on SBIR/STTR technology areas, and share insights into how agencies make funding decisions.
The Road Tour is organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The host for the Little Rock stop is the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, a local Federal and State Technology (FAST) partner.
“This is a rare opportunity for Arkansas entrepreneurs to engage face-to-face with the SBIR and STTR program leaders. We are excited for our state’s small companies and startups with innovative technologies to come explore how America’s Seed Fund supports groundbreaking ideas and, in the one-on-one meetings, receive immediate feedback on how to get started,” said Laura Fine, ASBTDC state director.
Americaʼs Seed Fund provides over $4 billion in early-stage funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity, and defense.
The program executes over 6,000 new funding awards annually, which allow innovators to advance new technologies and have contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs.
The Road Tour seeks to increase SBIR and STTR participation by women, small companies in underrepresented states like Arkansas, and individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
Participants can also learn about state-specific resources for innovation-based ventures. Lunch will be provided. Small technology firms, scientists, and researchers are encouraged to attend.
Registration is required and available online at asbtdc.org/road-tour, where an agenda and other details about the event can also be found.
For more information, contact ASBTDC’s Karen Bergh at 501-831-2584 or kbergh@ualr.edu.
Based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, ASBTDC assists emerging, existing and expanding small businesses through a statewide network of offices. Learn more at asbtdc.org.
