We’ve marched our way to double digits! Welcome to the tenth edition of Park Points, a quick recap of news, information and events relevant to the mission and vision of KU Innovation Park.
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Get fresh ideas at spring events
- March 26 at 6:30 p.m.: The KU School of Business will host a Startup Jayhawk keynote event with Steven Johnson at Capitol Federal Hall. Prospect magazine chose Johnson as one of the Top Ten Brains of the Digital Future, and The Wall Street Journal called him “one of the most persuasive advocates for the role of collaboration in innovation.” It’s free and open to the public, but registration is required.
- April 4 at 8 a.m.: The FBI & KU Cybersecurity Conference returns to KU Memorial Union. Hear from experts in the cybersecurity field representing the FBI, industry, workforce and research. Registration is $25, and attendees must pre-register here.
- April 5 at 9 a.m.: The Park is pleased to host and support the first-ever Lawrence Tech Conference, along with Park company Invary, and organized by the Lawrence Tech Guild. With great roots in innovative technology like the origin of Google Earth and the Django Framework, Lawrence is taking its famous origins and building towards the future. Speakers include Elizabeth Christensen, Taejoon Kim and Brian McClendon. Register for free here.
- April 25: The Douglas County CORE Pitch Competition is back for its second year. Fill out this interest form to let organizers know how you’d like to participate, from pitching your business and mentoring entrepreneurs to volunteering at the event.
March funding opportunities
- FedEx has opened applications for its Small Business Grants program. The grand prize is $50,000, and nine additional $20,000 prizes will also be awarded. The deadline is 12 pm ET on April 1.
- LegalZoom partnered with the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League to offer $3 million in grant funding and services to small business owners and emerging entrepreneurs. Grants are up to $10,000 and applications are due September 13.
- Women-owned businesses can apply for The Papaya Grant, a $10,000 award for one female entrepreneur.
SBIR vs. STTR: Understanding the basics
The National Institute of Health sets aside more than $1.3 billion from its research and development funding for small business programs, including the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. So what’s the difference?
- For SBIRs, research partnerships are allowed, and the principal investigator (PI) must be primarily employed by the business. Businesses can outsource 33% of Phase I research and 50% of Phase II research.
- Partnership with a non-profit research institution is required for STTRs. Both the business and the research institution have minimum work requirements, and the PI can work for either the company or the research institution.
- Check out these frequently asked questions for more details.
Quick Links
- Adam Courtney has been named the CEO of KU Innovation Park.
- The bipartisan Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act passed the House late last month, which would provide more funding and services for the Office of Native American Affairs at the Small Business Administration. Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids is a co-sponsor of the bill.
- The KU School of Business shared its Five Questions series featuring David Morris, professor of the practice and entrepreneur-in-residence.
ICYMI: Icorium Engineering Company, a sustainable engineering startup and spin-out company from the University of Kansas, is one of just 42 student-led startups from around the world selected for the prestigious Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC). Congrats to the Icorium team!
What we’re reading:
- Pitchbook: The VC investors leading the way in cybersecurity
- McKinsey: The CIO’s four-point guide to navigating technology trends
March Madness for KU Engineering student
Have news and notes to share? Let Lindsey Slater, vice president of strategic communications, know by clicking here.