#0108 - Startup Opportunities with America’s Seed Fund Featuring SBA’s Jennifer Shieh & Michele Schimpp and SBIR and STTR Program Special Guests

<p dir="ltr">On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear a panel discussion from SXSW with Jennifer Shieh and Michele Schimpp both from the U.S. Small Business Administration.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Jennifer Shieh is the Director of Ecosystem Development at the SBA, and Michele Schimpp is the Deputy Associate Administrator at the SBA. During the conversation, we discussed America's Seed Fund and SBIR and STTR programs. </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">We also had some of the leadership from various programs jump up to talk about their programs. The leaders included Jennifer Thabet, the Program Director for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Small Business Programs Office, Bob Smith from the Navy, and Mary Alice McMorrow representing the Air Force and Space Force. </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">We also mention an event that we have coming up on May 15 - 18, the SBA will host the second America’s Seed Fund Week. This series of virtual events connects startups and small businesses working on advanced technologies to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding. America’s Seed Fund serves as a springboard by providing over $4 billion in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses each year as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization. Check out more about the event and register today at: <a href= "https://www.americasseedfund.us">https://www.americasseedfund.us</a> </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">We also have another event happening on April 25th, and we invite the entire Startup of the Year community and extended Established network to attend this event in order to help support a vibrant startup ecosystem and get these great startups the attention they deserve! It's also a great way for other startups to be inspired by different customer acquisition strategies and learn about the types of questions investors will ask you. RSVP today at: <a href= "https://www.startupofyear.com/2023-pit