Beyond grants: Resources and other support for small businesses addressing aging
Are you an innovator in the aging space looking for funding to further develop and advance your innovations toward commercialization? Did you know that NIA has funding opportunities specifically available to small businesses that are developing commercializable products to improve human health?
Through its Office of Small Business Research (OSBR), NIA funds small businesses and helps them reach investors and bring products to market. We understand that entrepreneurs face a variety of challenges during development, so we offer multiple programs and related support to complement Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding. We’re excited to share information about two new resources for awardees: Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) and the Entrepreneur Workshop Series.
Identifying needs and opportunities for startups
For grantees looking for business and commercialization support to bring innovations to market, the Technical and Business Assistance program is for you! TABA offers NIH-funded companies a free Needs Assessment Report, which is a third-party, unbiased assessment of a company’s progress in 10 technical and business areas critical to success in the competitive healthcare marketplace. This can be particularly helpful for startups without full-time business development teams. In addition, NIA SBIR/STTR awardees will receive one-on-one coaching from our Entrepreneurs-In-Residence (EIR) to review, prioritize, and implement key report findings. EIRs are experienced science and business professionals on staff at NIH who provide strategic guidance to SBIR/STTR grantees.
Companies with an active NIH SBIR or STTR Phase I or Phase I Fast-Track award within the past two years are eligible to apply for TABA support throughout the year. The OSBR team reviews requests monthly, and you will be notified of your status within 60 days of application submission.
Already an NIA SBIR/STTR awardee? Submit an online request form to receive a report. There is no cost for this report, and the time commitment for participation is minimal. The application process is simple, and the results are invaluable — apply today!
Entrepreneur Workshop Series
Led by NIA Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Don Rose, Ph.D., and co-hosted by NHLBI, this series focuses on delivering entrepreneurship insights on a variety of topics. Attendees will learn about key areas critical to startup success, such as market research, health care economics, and reimbursement. Session topics will include corporate governance, licensing agreements, investment funding, and more.
The EIR team is also available to NIA awardees as they encounter business development questions throughout their commercialization journey. One-on-one consultations with EIRs are a great, personalized complement to the workshop series.
Connect with the NIA small business team!
We encourage you to take advantage of these resources. While both TABA and the Entrepreneur Workshop Series are only available to current NIA grantees, fear not if you’re not an NIA SBIR/STTR awardee just yet! Check out the NIH Applicant Assistance Program, a 10-week coaching program designed to assist small businesses in preparing applications for NIH funding. Learn more in my colleague Joy’s blog post. For both awardees and potential awardees, NIA staff are here to connect with you and provide support.
If you have any questions about NIA small business program opportunities and initiatives or want to see if your research aligns with NIA’s priorities, connect with us by email. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more about upcoming events and funding opportunities.
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