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Science, Ag and Energy (SAgE) Innovation

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NBDC is proud to announce registration for our next SAgE Cohort is now open.

Entrepreneurs doing innovative work in physical sciences, agriculture, or energy are eligible for this free program, which will prepare them to pursue R&D funding opportunities with the United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, or National Science Foundation.

Programming for the cohort will kick off May 18. Through interactive webinars and one-on-one support, you’ll learn the basics of federal funding, develop a quad chart for your organization, prepare your proposal, create a budget, and go through the registration process to formally apply.

The program is designed to help you succeed, and includes assignments, templates, and materials that will ensure you stay on track with your proposal. Previous members of the cohort have received as much as $1.5 million in funding.

“The checklists you prepared for me kept me organized and on track! Thank you also for reviewing multiple drafts and for your excellent feedback. You made the proposal stronger.” -2021 Cohort Member

To join, simply register for one or more of the events listed below. We strongly recommend you attend as many events as possible to receive the full experience and have the greatest chance of success.

For questions, please reach out to Josh Nichol-Caddy at jnicholcaddy@unomaha.edu.

2022-23 SAge Cohort Timeline and Events

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Webinar | May 18 | 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Intro to Federal Funding

Learn about federal funding program basics for innovation and how to apply. This event will help attendees identify appropriate agencies and topic areas and discuss the commercialization process.

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Webinar | May 25 | 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Identifying Solicitations and How to Develop a Quad Chart

Learn about the SBIR/STTR program, the submission documents required, ask questions, and then begin to develop the documents required to speak with program managers.

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Webinar | June 8 | 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Intro to Federal Funding ft. USDA

Join USDA representative Melinda Coffman to learn about federal funding program basics for innovation and how to apply. This event will help attendees identify appropriate agencies and topic areas and discuss the commercialization process.

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Webinar | June 15 | 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

How to Develop a Project Pitch/Letter of Intent

Learn about the SBIR/STTR program, the submission documents required for NSF and DOE, ask questions, and then begin to develop the documents required to speak with program managers. Participants will learn to develop project pitches for National Science Foundation and letters of intent for Department of Energy.

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Webinar | June 22 | 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

How to Develop a Quad Chart

Learn about the SBIR/STTR program, the submission documents required, ask questions, and then begin to develop the quad chart that is required to speak with program managers for DoD and USDA.

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Webinar | June 29 | 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Organizing a Business ft. Secretary of State

Applicants for federal innovation grants must be organized as small businesses. This session will cover the options and resources available when organizing a business in Nebraska as well as key considerations for starting a new business.

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Deadline | July 8 | Quad Charts submitted by this date. Email Josh Nichol-Caddy: jnicholcaddy@unomaha.edu
Virtual Meetings | July 11 - July 15 | Individual time slots available

Prep Meetings with NBDC Team

Meet with the NBDC team to prepare for one-on-one program manager meetings. NBDC will send a link to schedule times closer to the event, so companies can identify meeting times that work with their schedules.

Live Event | July 20 | 1:00 - 5:00 P.M.

AgTech Connect

Celebrate Midwest's Agricultural Technology with this half-day program in the heartland. With two panels featuring prominent topics in AgTech, a keynote speaker, and a startup showcase, the afternoon will provide many opportunities to learn, network, and celebrate the growing industry.
This event is hosted by The Combine, Nebraska Innovation Campus, Invest Nebraska, and Burlington Capital Ag-Venture.
Virtual Meetings | July 18 - July 22 | Individual time slots available

Prep Meetings with Federal SBIR/STTR Program Managers

Companies submitting an SBIR or STTR should meet one on one with federal program managers to discuss their SBIR/STTR proposals. The Nebraska Business Development Center will strive to match companies/proposals to relevant program managers/topic areas, but spots are limited.

NBDC will send a link to SignUpGenius closer to the event, so companies can identify meeting times that work with their schedules.

Webinar | July 27 | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

"From the Sources' Mouth" with the Department of Energy

This presentation is conducted by BBCetc. Registration details will be provided at a later date.

Webinar | August 8 | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Registration Party!

Companies seeking federal innovation grants must complete a few registrations before they can submit their proposal. This session will cover obtaining DUNS and EIN credentials and accessing and activating an account with the System for Award Management (SAM). The session will provide time to begin that process and ask questions of an expert at Nebraska’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center as your work through it. Attendees also will learn how to access SBIR.gov and Grants.gov.

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Webinar | August 10 | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Building a Budget

Applicants for federal innovation grants must have a formal budget plan with their application. This session will cover the requirements for creating a budget as well as a walk through of a budget template.

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Webinar | August 18 | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

"From the Sources' Mouth" with USDA

This presentation is conducted by BBCetc. Registration details will be provided at a later date.

Webinar | August 24 | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Writing Workshop

Learn best practices from a grant writer; The grant writer will provide actionable guidance and help attendees outline their submissions and plan their work. They will provide samples and templates that will help companies develop competitive proposals.

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Webinar | September 9 | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Cuss and Discuss

Getting a grant application across the finish line presents real challenges - many that only others trying to do the same thing can understand!

This interactive session provides a forum for companies to air some grievances but focus on devising solutions and developing partnerships that will help them overcome their challenges and submit their grant applications on time.

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Webinar | September 21 | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

How to Submit

This session will focus on ensuring that companies have the required registrations and tools needed to hit the submit button.

The Nebraska Business Development Center will present how to navigate and troubleshoot common problems with the submission platforms. NBDC can field last-minute questions about proposals' content, but the focus of this session is the technical details of uploading an SBIR/STTR proposal, submitting it through the system, and resolving any errors.

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Webinar | September 28 | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Q&A Proposals

As a follow-up to the Grant Writing Workshop , companies can ask questions of NBDC's Josh Nichol-Caddy.

Come with questions and be prepared to provide feedback during this interactive session.

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