Pilot on Enhancing EPSCoR State Proposal Success Rate & Mastering Negotiation Skills

This pilot project establishes an applied research model with intensive training program to boost participation and commercialization success among early-stage entrepreneurs from states that have underutilized the NSF SBIR/STTR program. This applied research approach combines virtual and in-person delivery, while emphasizing specialized coaching, pitch refinement, and proposal development to help early-stage innovators submit competitive applications to the SBIR/STTR program. Additionally, pipeline companies will receive advanced negotiation training, targeted skills coaching, and strategic support to accelerate their commercialization pathways. The project also includes development of documentary series showing how America's Seed Fund drives U.S. technology, economic competitiveness, and impact. To increase NSF SBIR/STTR submissions and awards in EPSCoR states, this applied research project leverages regional ecosystems to recruit and train early-stage innovators. Over two years, the team will deliver in-person workshops across 16 states alongside an extended webinar series focused on Project Pitch development. Invited applicants will then transition to personalized coaching, virtual training, and application reviews to build competitive full submissions. Further, advanced training in investor negotiations, licensing, and stakeholder mapping will prepare pipeline companies to secure crucial follow-on funding. Finally the project will support development of a three-part applied research documentary series driven by historic data and analyses that captures stories illustrating specifics of how America's Seed Fund supports technological advancement, economic competitiveness, and other impacts throughout the United States. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.