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MEET THE TEAM

We are passionate about driving innovation forward throughout the heartland.
The OK Catalyst team comes from a variety of backgrounds including new product development, technology commercialization, business development, marketing and communications, and project management.

 

Tom 

Wavering

Executive Director,

Tom Love Innovation Hub

Sarah Hamby

Director

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Obum Ukabam

Associate Director

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Maya Nkouka

Program Manager

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Andrew 

Aston

Program Manager

 

FAST PARTNERSHIP

The Small Business Administration’s Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) Program is a competitive program designed to strengthen the technological competitiveness of small businesses. It improves the participation of small technology firms in the innovation and commercialization of new technology, thereby helping keep the United States on the cutting edge of research and development in science and technology.

 

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa may receive funding for an array of services (e.g., outreach and technical assistance) in support of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Purpose

The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program provides funding to organizations to execute state/regional programs that increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals leading to an increase in the number of SBIR/STTR awards from women, socially/economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses in underrepresented areas - typically rural states. 

FAST awards build the SBIR/STTR ecosystem through: 

Outreach: increase the pipeline of SBIR/STTR applicants through training and outreach; and build the capacity of partner organizations and individuals to support SBIR/STTR applicants and existing awardees. 

Technical and business assistance: support entrepreneurs and startups through programs or services that improve proposal development and team creation; provide assistance that leads to the commercialization of technology developed through SBIR/STTR program funding; and form or encourage relevant mentoring networks to provide business advice and counseling.  

Financial support: make grants or loans to applicants to pay a portion or all the cost of developing SBIR/STTR proposals (Phase 0), attending relevant conferences, and bridging gaps between phases.

Current FAST Awardees

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Alaska

Arkansas

Arizona

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Jersey

New Hampshire

New Mexico

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Alaska Center for Innovation Commercialization and Entrepreneurship 

Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center

Arizona Commerce Authority

Colorado SBDC Techsource

Connecticut Innovations, Inc.

University of Delaware

Florida High Tech Corridor

Innovation Gateway-University of Georgia

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation 

Idaho State University

EnterpriseWorks at the University of Illinois

Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Iowa Small Business Development Center

Wichita State University

Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation

Louisiana Business and Technology Center

Maine Technology Institute

Maryland Technology Development Corporation

Michigan Catalyst Advantage Network 

MNSBIR, Inc.

Innovate Mississippi

Missouri Small Business Development Center

Montana State University TechLink Center

Nebraska Business Development Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha

New Jersey Small Business Development Centers

University of New Hampshire

Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University

First Flight Venture Center, Inc.

UND Center for Innovation

Ohio Aerospace Institute

VertueLab

Ben Franklin Technology Partners Corporation

Puerto Rico Small Business and Technology Development Centers

University of South Carolina

South Dakota Biotechnology Council

Launch Tennessee

SWTXB SBDC Technology Commercialization Center

Utah Innovation Center

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation

Life Science Washington Institute

TechConnect West Virginia

Center for Technology Commercialization

University of Wyoming Small Business Development Center

FY 2021 FAST Competition

In FY 2021, FAST was appropriated $4,000,000 in total funding. Of this funding, $3,000,000 is allocated for the continuation of awards made in FY 2020 (also known as the 2021 Cohort). The remaining $1,000,000 will fund new awards under the following funding opportunity (up to $125,000 per applicant).

 

Eligible applicants include state and local economic development agencies, colleges and universities, accelerators, incubators, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), and other technology-based economic development entities. Only one proposal is allowed per state, with an accompanying letter from a state’s governor or equivalent. Varying levels of matching funds are required from each participating state or territory.

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For more information visit sbir.gov

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