SBA Seed Fund Tour in Atlanta Boosts Technology Start-ups with Crucial Funding
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced a significant move that aims to connect promising technology and innovation start-ups in Atlanta with critical contract funding. This is part of the SBA’s Seed Fund Road Tour, which targets Southeastern states in an effort to foster innovation and the commercialization of new ideas.
The initiative, America’s Seed Fund Road Tour, offers more than $4 billion annually in non-dilutive funding stemming from the contributed efforts of 11 federal agencies. The goal of this funding program is to support the research & development (R&D) initiatives of the future and to move innovation from mere concepts to market-ready realities.
“America relies on ingenuity to develop critical technologies and create the industries of the future, and we need all great ideas and inventions to propel our global leadership,” underlines SBA Administrator Isabel C. Guzman. According to Guzman, the current timing is perfect for the start-up culture in America. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the focus is on investing in America, particularly in fields like research, development, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy.
Partnerships play a crucial role in the effective distribution of the Seed Fund. The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partners, who co-organize the Road Tour visits, act as crucial navigators linking entrepreneurs with potential funding opportunities within their regions. During these visits, start-ups get the rare chance to network one-on-one with nearly two dozen federal agency representatives. Additionally, they can participate in educational programs designed to guide them on their funding journey.
Southeastern Stopovers of the America’s Seed Fund Road Tour
The Southeastern leg of the tour is slated for May 13-17, with the following stops planned:
- Monday, May 13: Columbia, SC – Hosted by the University of South Carolina
- Tuesday, May 14: Atlanta, GA – Hosted by Innovation Gateway – University of Georgia, Center for Black Entrepreneurship, and Small Business Development Center at Morehouse.
- Wednesday, May 15: Knoxville, TN – Hosted by Launch Tennessee
- Thursday, May 16: Lexington, KY – Hosted by the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation
- Friday, May 17: Huntington, WV – Hosted by TechConnect West Virginia and Marshall University
While the Southeast is getting ready for its tour, there’s another in-person tour slated for July in the Great Lakes regions.
The America’s Seed Fund Road Tour offers an unparalleled platform for technological innovation and signifies a thriving American economy. With the emphasis placed on not just the creation of new technologies, but also on the commercialization of these innovations, the tour is expected to stimulate growth and progress in the Southeast and eventually, the rest of the nation. Atlanta’s vibrant start-up scene will particularly benefit from this initiative, potentially triggering a new wave of tech and innovation breakthroughs in the city.