Colorado SBDC kicks off Virtual Tech Venture Accelerator for women-owned science and technology ventures

The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network’s statewide TechSource program has opened applications for its virtual Tech Venture Accelerator for Women (TVX-W). There are ten spots available in the cohort for Colorado-based, women-owned science and technology businesses that have the potential for submitting Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposals. This will be the ninth TVX program that SBDC has produced, but the first time TVX is produced solely for females. The cohort will be held online. 

This highly-focused 10-part cohort series is designed to help emerging companies in Colorado's Advanced Industries (AI) overcome hurdles to accelerate growth and development. TVX-W focuses on growth through non-dilutive capital sources and technology commercialization.

Unique to this accelerator program is the assistance provided on federal and state innovation grants as a source of non-dilutive capital. Specialized expertise is provided to each business in critical areas, including identifying relevant SBIR agencies and topics, understanding the proposal process and applying research and market data to develop technology commercialization plans that will support grant submissions.

The weekly two-hour virtual sessions will be held on Tuesday mornings from January 26 through March 31 and are facilitated discussions with founders/C-level executives and subject matter experts. These executives and SMEs will share challenges and successes and help to find constructive solutions. Outside of the cohort group, each participating business receives extensive consulting customized to the specific needs and stage of their venture. 

Some of the topics include market research/customer discovery, Federal R&D tax credits, SBIR and Advanced Industries grants, marketing & business model strategies, protecting and marking IP, legal matters and non-dilutive sources of funding. 

“In the changing landscape that COVID-19 has created, we have adapted our programming to match safety guidelines. Businesses have been grateful to receive assistance virtually and during our fall TVX cohort, we were able to successfully simulate the in-person feeling of the past eight cohorts,” said Sharon King, program lead for the Colorado SBDC TechSource program. “So far, 79 technology ventures have completed the program and as the tech landscape in the State of Colorado continues to expand and change, we’re excited to specifically focus on helping female-owned ventures reach their goals through the TVX-W program.”

Because of the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) grant, the cost to participate in the TVX-X cohort will be fully offset for accepted businesses. To learn more and apply for TVX-W, visit sbdc-techsource.org/tvxw.