Set! NSF SBIR/STTR Training Series - Summer 2025
To ensure full consideration, all application materials must be received by June 25, 2025.
DEADLINE TO RECEIVE REFERENCE RESPONSE: June 25, 2025.
WANT TO VIEW APPLICATION CONTENT BEFORE PROCEEDING?
- View Example for Illinois-based Teams
- View Example for Non-Illinois Teams
READ and FOLLOW GUIDANCE that is provided below and for questions within the application.
Thank you for your interest in applying to participate in the Set! NSF SBIR/STTR Training series of proposal development workshops. The series begins on July 23, 2025 and includes four bi-weekly workshops. Participants will join via Zoom on Tuesdays from Noon to 1:30 PM/CT.
Illinois-based Teams will be asked to select one of two participation options - the full program (limited # of teams) or the audit-only program.
By default, all other Teams will be applying for the audit-only program. Non-Illinois teams will be asked if they want to be considered for the full program waitlist.
ALL TEAMS invited to join the Set! NSF SBIR/STTR Training Series will have access to bi-weekly Zoom sessions, recorded session archives, and all course materials.
Teams selected to participate in the full program will have the opportunity to receive review/feedback of proposal development tasks submitted to their assigned SBIR/STTR training instructor. Timely submission of tasks is required in order to receive and benefit from the 1:1 feedback and support.
Teams selected to participate in the audit-only program will not be required to submit development tasks to the training team and will not receive 1:1 feedback and training support during the program.
Teams applying for the FULL PROGRAM OR REQUESTING FULL PROGRAM WAITLIST will be required to provide the following ADDITIONAL ITEMS with this application submission:
Reference Contact: name and contact information for a reference that can speak to the team's work ethic and coachability, team structure or formation, and the status (or stage) of their technology.
Examples: representatives from incubator or accelerator program, business mentors or advisors with direct knowledge of your company, board members or key strategic partners, professional advocates who support early-stage ventures (SBDC consultants, economic development officers), investors or funding partners familiar with your growth trajectory, industry experts or consultants who have advised your business.
IMPORTANT: the applicant is responsible for ensuring that the reference contact responds to our request for information and by the application deadline.
NSF Project Pitch: a PDF document that includes the team's NSF Project Pitch. This can be a project pitch that resulted in an NSF invitation to apply, was submitted and awaiting a response, was submitted but did not receive an invitation to apply (also include any feedback provided by NSF), or a complete draft that has not yet been submitted.
Readiness Portfolio: a PDF copy of your Readiness Portfolio. This helps us assess which applicants have laid a strong foundation and are prepared to advance to the next phase of the training series, where we focus on developing a competitive NSF SBIR/STTR application. If you were unable to attend our READY! session, don't worry. Recorded webinars, readiness exercises, and templates are available to help you get up to speed and to complete your portfolio for this application.
Demographic information related to the Founder or Owner of Intellectual Property.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND COMMITMENT FOR FULL PROGRAM TEAMS
Development tasks are not optional for participation in the full program and must be submitted on-time. All development tasks are designed to result in progress toward SBIR/STTR proposal preparation. Expect that it may take as much as 12-20 hours to complete and submit your tasks for each session. Timely submission of development tasks will also receive an extensive review and valuable feedback from an assigned instructor.
Full program teams may be asked to submit a development task PRIOR to the start of the training series. More details will be provided with the invitation email.
Teams that are not able or willing to honor the expectations and commitment required of the full training program are strongly encouraged to choose the audit-only program option.
NOTIFICATIONS: We anticipate reaching out in mid-June 2025 regarding application status. In order to secure participation, invited teams will be required to submit a registration form for EACH participating team member within 1-3 days of notification. Course access information will be provided to invited team members upon successful online registration.
Questions? Send email to il-fast-training@lists.illinois.edu.