CTNext

The last day to apply for the first cohort is tomorrow!!

Our partners at BBCetc proposed Stage 2 funding to the SBA's Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) to sustain the Women's Catalyst Advantage Network (Women-CAN). This program is tailored to support women innovators in navigating and succeeding in the SBIR/STTR funding process.

If you're keen on joining, participants gain access to:

👉 Outreach webinars covering the basics of SBIR/STTR programs
👉 Personalized consulting with BBCetc staff
👉 Scholarships to attend the Leader Launch program with Capita3

Apply for Women-CAN here: bit.ly/Women-can

We're always looking to "forge" new pathways to support innovators and entrepreneurs in the state.

That's why in February of this year we were proud to announce our new partnership with FORGE and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Connecticut’s manufacturing sector.

We know you can . Thanks to the expertise of FORGE is helping innovators with physical products navigate the journey from prototype to commercialization, getting an idea to market has gotten a whole lot easier.

With over $4 billion in non-dilutive federal research and development funding available through the nation’s Small Business Innovation Research ( ) and Small Business Technology Transfer ( ) program, CTNext is focused on increasing the number of competitive proposals from Connecticut-based technology companies - specifically targeting underrepresented businesses and entrepreneurs.

How do we do this? Through:
✅ Free grant writing assistance
✅ Proposal development and review
✅ University designated office hours
✅ Complimentary workshops and events

In 2023, we’ve served 55 applicants, had 15 applicants awarded, and a total of $19.6MM in federal funds awarded to our applicants to date. 🎉

Learn more about SBIR/STTR support at ctnext.com/startups/ct-sbir-sttr-support-services/

Looking back and looking ahead 👀

This year, we had the pleasure of hosting our talented and ambitious cohorts at Half Full Third Place in Stamford, CT.

Our goal is to create opportunities for fellows to develop both personally and professionally while building a cohort of talent, camaraderie, and growth within our state.

This year, we’ve recruited our largest cohort to date of 39 fellows, with an average income of $70K+, and $2.25MM of total income to date.

Learn more about the program at ctnext.com/startups/governors-innovation-fellowship/

And get ready! We'll be formally announcing our new cohort soon!

Listen Up 🎧

Our ED Onyeka Obiocha recently sat down on Teresa Chahine's Impact and Innovation series to discuss the work of CTNext and what it means to build an innovation ecosystem for the state of CT.

Here's a little teaser: It's about who you include and invest in, how they play together, and what kind of place you're creating for them to live and thrive in.

Check out the full conversation here: https://bit.ly/46QThhr

Earlier this year, our partners at BBCetc proposed Stage 2 funding to the SBA's Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) to sustain the Women's Catalyst Advantage Network (Women-CAN). This program is tailored to support women innovators in navigating and succeeding in the SBIR/STTR funding process.

We're thrilled to announce that they've secured funding to continue this crucial initiative! If you're keen on joining, participants gain access to:

👉 Outreach webinars covering the basics of SBIR/STTR programs
👉 Personalized consulting with BBCetc staff
👉 Scholarships to attend the Leader Launch program with Capita3

Apply for Women-CAN here: bit.ly/Women-can

"Venture capital firms dominate the section of the investment community that focuses on startups — but women are starkly underrepresented at VC firms and among the recipients of their funding."

Check out this piece in the Register Citizen to learn more about the work CTNext and other organizations statewide, like our friends at the Tidal River Fund, are doing to get more dollars into the hands of founders with groundbreaking ideas. 💡

https://bit.ly/3Nc3HBe

How CT angel investors are helping to grow women-led companies Angel investing groups such as the Connecticut-based Tidal River Network are helping to...

Looking to tap into the nation's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program?

We're here to help CT-based technology companies and entrepreneurs draft and create competitive proposals! 🙌💡

Take advantage of one of our complimentary university office hours with Michael A. Invernale, PhD, an entrepreneur and SBIR/STTR expert, who will help advise you on SBIR/STTR resources, training, and assistance.

Thursday, December 7, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. – Yale University (https://bit.ly/3T1TlaM)

Thursday, December 7, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. – Fairfield University (https://bit.ly/3RotkBf )

Wednesday, December 13, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. – University of Connecticut: Storrs (https://bit.ly/46IKYnH )

Wednesday, December 13, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. – Albertus Magnus College (https://bit.ly/3T8goRo )

Wednesday, December 13, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. – Quinnipiac University (https://bit.ly/3R2QsUE )

Thursday, December 21, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. – University of Connecticut: Stamford (https://bit.ly/3T5p1vM )

Thursday, December 21, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. – University of Bridgeport (https://bit.ly/482Et09)

If you have any questions or do not attend these institutions but would like to book a separate call to explore SBIR or CTNext, please reach out to Michael at [email protected].

Next Week: Get your tickets for the Well4Tech Health Equity Pitch Event on December 4, 2023! 👏 👏 👏

Come through to hear from fantastic health equity-focused startups, BLOOM, Lessonbee, BEHR Health, and Webquity.

Register at: rb.gy/jvk8uq

What exactly do we do here at CTNext? In a nutshell, we help startups thrive by giving them the resources and connections they need.

We do this by focusing on three core strategies to build an ecosystem innovators can actually access and navigate:
⬆️ Startup Support
䷴ Sector Development
💡 Innovation Communities

Learn more about our work and mission on ctnext.com

Unlock the secrets to SBIR Grant Programs and Non-Dilutive Funding in an upcoming Ask Me Anything series with TEN Capital Network! 🙌

Dive deep into the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a competitive initiative boosting small businesses in the U.S. to lead federal research and development. Discover how grants and contracts can fuel technological innovation and meet government needs.

Join Earle Hager, Managing Partner at The Neutrino Donut, LLC and CTNext SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Consultant, for an in-depth exploration of the SBIR process from the applicant's perspective. Gain insights on navigating the process, identifying optimal application opportunities, and crafting a winning grant proposal outline.

🗓️ Save the Date:
📅 Tuesday, December 5th
🕓 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT

Secure your spot now: https://bit.ly/40Z4NWN