
America’s Seed Fund Week – Virtual Road Tour is the official 2025 Road Tour Kickoff.
America’s Seed Fund Week is a free online event to connect entrepreneurs across the nation working on advanced technologies and the organizations that support them to America’s Seed Fund, the country’s largest source of early-stage funding.
Register today and stay updated for more details on America’s Seed Fund Week 2025, taking place February 11-13, 2025.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund, provides $4 billion each year in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization.
Visit the Agency Resources page to access 1-Pagers that list topic areas; Reverse Pitch Slide Decks that provide details, stats, and contact information; and Reverse Pitch Videos where Program Managers pitch their programs to innovators.
Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
Accessibility and Inclusion: All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance of this event. Contact Sharon.Hoffmeyer@sba.gov.
Have questions about America's Seed Fund Week - Virtual Road Tour? Contact technology@sba.gov.
11:00 AM ET | Meet the FAST Awardee: State Based Support for Innovators
The 30-minute sessions are state-based and provide an overview of state-based support through FAST to help entrepreneurs. Morning programming will feature Northeast and South regions including:
11:00 AM ET – 11:30 AM ET: Connecticut, Montana, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Mississippi
11:30 AM ET – 12:00 PM ET: Maine, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky
12:00 PM ET – 12:30 PM ET: New Hampshire, New York, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama
12:30 PM ET | Welcome and Program Overview (SBIR) 101
Hear about the incredible programming and events taking place Tuesday through Thursday including live Q&A with Program Directors during sessions organized by technology area, state-based support sessions hosted by Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program Awardees, illuminating panels with opportunities to ask our experts questions live, and virtual networking spaces to connect with other participants and panelists.
1:00 PM ET | Panel: Matching Your R&D Project to a Federal Agency
We understand that America's Seed Fund can seem a bit overwhelming and intimidating. In this panel, we hope you will gain an understanding of what SBIR/STTR agencies are looking for as program experts share information about the types of projects that are eligible for funding, differences between agency prerequisites, required registrations for companies, nuances between granting and contracting agencies, and more important information to help you understand how to navigate America’s Seed Fund.
2:00 PM ET | Meet the Program Directors: Insights into SBIR/STTR Opportunities
Engage with SBIR/STTR federal agency representatives to gain valuable insights, ask questions, and explore funding opportunities within technology areas to advance your innovation.
2:00 PM ET – 3:25 PM ET: Sustaining Critical Supply Chains: (Semiconductors, manufacturing and materials), Space/Transport/Flight, Cybersecurity
3:30 PM ET – 4:55 PM ET: Communications and Sensors,
Navigating HHS (Component Differences) - Panel Discussion
5:00 PM ET | Meet the FAST Awardee: State Based Support for Innovators
The 30-minute sessions are state-based and provide an overview of state-based support through FAST to help entrepreneurs. Afternoon programming will feature Pacific and Western regions including:
5:00 PM ET – 5:30 PM ET: Nevada, Wyoming, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington
11:30 AM ET | Meet the FAST Awardee: State Based Support for Innovators
The 30-minute sessions are state-based and provide an overview of state-based support through FAST to help entrepreneurs. Morning programming will feature South and Midwest regions including:
11:30 AM ET – 12:00 PM ET: Tennessee, Oklahoma, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota
12:00 PM ET – 12:30 PM ET: Arkansas, Texas, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota
12:30 PM ET – 1:00 PM ET: Louisiana, Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska
1:00 PM ET | Welcome to Day Two
Welcome to Day 2 of America's Seed Fund Week – Virtual Road Tour.
1:05 PM ET | Panel: Inside the Head of an Evaluator
Curious about what evaluators are looking for when reviewing SBIR and STTR submissions? Don't miss this session where Agency Program Managers will share common and avoidable mistakes made during the application process. Get tips directly from agencies on how to prepare more competitive proposals. The panel will also touch on items required by the SBIR Policy Directive that apply to all SBIR and STTR programs.
2:00 PM ET | Meet the Program Directors: Insights into SBIR/STTR Opportunities
Engage with SBIR/STTR federal agency representatives to gain valuable insights, ask questions, and explore funding opportunities within technology areas to advance your innovation.
2:00 PM ET – 3:25 PM ET: Health, Energy
Breaking Down Barriers to DOD SBIR and STTR Programs
In this session you will learn about what DoD components are doing within their SBIR and STTR programs to break down barriers and facilitate increased participation in the Defense Industrial Base by the small business community.
3:30 PM ET – 4:55 PM ET: Entrepeneur Resources
Spotlight NIH
NSF – The Project Pitch Process
Startups or entrepreneurs applying for the National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR or STTR programs can submit a Project Pitch to learn if their technological innovation meets program requirements. In this session, you will learn about the Project Pitch process and other key NSF SBIR/STTR requirements directly from an NSF Program Director.
11:30 AM - 12:25 PM ET | Getting Ready for an In-Person Road Tour
Join us for the Innovator's Guide to Preparing for 1:1 Meetings with Federal SBIR/STTR Program Representatives where you will learn more about what you can do to get ready for a 1:1 meeting with federal agency staff during an in-person America’s Seed Fund Road Tour stop.
12:30 PM ET | Meet the FAST Awardee: State Based Support for Innovators
The 30-minute sessions are state-based and provide an overview of state-based support through FAST to help entrepreneurs. Afternoon programming will feature Puerto Rico and Western regions including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico and Utah.
1:00 PM ET | Panel: Next Steps, Getting Started
Please join us for this important session to gain insights on the resources available to you from the SBA at sbir.gov, organizations within your state or region that can guide you along your journey, and additional opportunities from across the innovation ecosystem. Leave with next steps on how to get started.
1:55 PM ET | Closing – Panel Program
Thank you for joining us for America’s Seed Fund Week 2025. While this closes the SBA Panel portion, please join us for additional programming including Meet the Program Directors in the Earth/Climate/Weather, AI/ML, and Education/Workforce/Learning Development topics as well as a panel on Working with Defense Primes.
2:00 PM ET | Meet the Program Directors: Insights into SBIR/STTR Opportunities
Engage with SBIR/STTR federal agency representatives to gain valuable insights, ask questions, and explore funding opportunities within technology areas to advance your innovation.
2:00 PM ET – 3:25 PM ET: Earth/Climate/Weather
Working with Defense Primes
Gain insight into the role major primes play in acquisition programs and how R&D from other businesses transitions into those programs.
3:30 PM ET – 4:55 PM ET: AI/ML, Education/Workforce/Learning Development