The Small Business Association (SBA) announced the launch of America's Seed Fund Startup Expo 2022, an initiative created to select innovative startups and provide them with resources to promote their growth and prosperity. This inaugural competition seeks to take advantage of the current scenario of economic recovery in which there has been a record growth of new commercial applications with which entrepreneurs take advantage of technology to strengthen their businesses.

“Every day, in communities across America, entrepreneurs are advancing innovative solutions to our nation’s most pressing challenges. The SBA is committed to helping ensure that those good ideas from everywhere and anywhere connect to federally-supported ecosystems and partners to commercialize and grow into resilient American businesses,” said Isabel Guzmán, SBA Administrator.

The official also highlighted that in the midst of this Expo, there will be shared the exceptional stories of businessmen who “have leveraged federal R&D funding in key industries,” highlighting resources to promote innovations in the US.

What to expect from America's Seed Fund Startup Expo 2022?

The SBA has highlighted four main objectives of this ambitious event:

1. Offer broad exposure to innovative small startups in national innovation networks and local ecosystems.
2. Provide a platform where these companies can connect with networks that stimulate their scaling and growth.
3. Educate new entrepreneurs about the opportunity to commercialize critical innovation in a global marketplace.
4. Highlight US companies at the forefront of sectors such as AgTech, Climate & Energy, Homeland Security, and Supply Chain Resilience, especially those that have chosen the US as the place to manufacture their products.

“The giants of future industries so often start as small business startups with big ideas. We know the public and private sectors must work together to nurture these small businesses with big ideas over many years so they may sustain and grow. America’s Seed Fund Startup Expo will lift up big ideas and provide a platform for our national innovation community to support the businesses of tomorrow,” said SBA Associate Administrator Bailey DeVries.

Entrepreneurs are advancing innovative solutions to our nation’s most pressing challenges. @SBAgov is committed to helping ensure that those good ideas connect to federally-supported ecosystems and partners to commercialize and grow into resilient American businesses. https://t.co/X4TxjADaG3

— Isabel Guzman (@SBAIsabel) April 8, 2022

How to apply?

The SBA is looking for businesses to apply to be part of the inaugural competition, offering an incredible opportunity to entrepreneurs who want to raise their profiles and have developed technology through the Small Business Innovation Research/Technology Transfer programs for small businesses (SBIR/STTR).

Those interested may submit their application until April 22. The winners will be announced in May 2022.

Competition rules, requirements and additional information can be found clicking here.

How to attend?

Members of the venture capital and innovation community, SBA resource partners, the media, and other entrepreneur support organizations have been invited and encouraged to attend.

The Startup Expo will be virtual and will take place on May 25 between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. EDT. The Expo is open to the public and people can register to attend clicking here.

What is the Seed Fund?

The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs, also known as “America's Seed Fund,” support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of federal research funds.

“These programs represent the nation’s largest source of early-stage research and development funding for small businesses. SBA coordinates the programs, collaborating with 11 federal agencies, who collectively support more than $4 billion a year in federal research and development funding,” it is pointed out by the SBA.

Through a series of highly competitive grant programs, small domestic businesses with commercial potential are encouraged to participate in "Federal Research and Development (R&D)."

As an important resource for researchers, innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and startups working on great ideas, the goals of these programs are to stimulate technological innovation; meet federal research and development needs; foster and encourage participation in innovation and entrepreneurship of women and socially or economically disadvantaged individuals; and increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development funding.

About the SBA Office of Investment and Innovation

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the high-growth small business community with access to two things: financial capital and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO.