National Small Business Road Tour Comes to Hawai‘i

The Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) is inviting all local entrepreneurs, researchers and small technology firms to participate in a two-day conference from Mon. through Tues., Sept. 18 to 19, 2017, at the Waikiki Beach Marriott.

HTDC is hosting the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) National Road Tour, providing companies a unique opportunity to meet directly with federal funding program managers and discuss their technology products.

“Hawai‘i is just one of just 15 stops on this national road tour, which speaks volumes of our state’s reputation as a place where technology-based entrepreneurship and innovation are being fostered and encouraged,” said Robbie Melton, chief executive officer of HTDC. “Over two-days, companies will hear from successful Hawai‘i SBIR-funded companies about how they were able to win grants and take their products to market. Sessions include best practices for taking products from research to the market and beyond. They’ll also hear directly from investors who will talk about what it takes to get them to fund companies. This is an opportunity to showcase the incredible level of technical innovation that’s taking place right here in the islands.”

Keynote speakers include Carole Teolis, president and chief executive officer of TRX Systems, a developer of location-based technology for first responders. The company is a recipient of the prestigious Tibbetts Award, which recognizes the very best in SBIR achievements.

The event will include panel sessions with discussions on funding, best practices, and defense focused projects, as well as one-on-one meetings with representatives from more than a dozen federal agencies. The second day offers an opportunity to meet with investors. Among the presenters and speakers are:

Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Department of Commerce – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Department of Defense – Air Force (USAF)
Department of Defense – Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD)
Department of Defense – Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
Department of Defense – Navy
Department of Defense – Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
NAVSEA
Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Health and Human Services – National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Lockheed Martin
University of Montana/Miltech
RTI International
Canaan Partners
TRX Systems
Start up Capital Ventures
Makai Ocean Engineering
Referentia
Oceanit

This year’s SBIR Road Tour, Seeding America’s Future Innovations, is national outreach effort targeting advanced technology communities. Annually, the SBIR programs provide $2.5 billion in early stage funding to small businesses primarily in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.

Registration fees for the SBIR Road Tour Hawai‘i are $249 until Aug. 20 and then $325 until Sept. 11. Walk-in registration is $400.

For more information or to register, visit HDTC online.