Tech Portal

The Kansas SBDC Tech Innovation Center breaks down the complexity of commercialization and walk you through all of the steps using the Goldsmith Model. They help innovators interested in working with the US Government and private enterprises by connecting them to the right people that need the ideas. Utilize their training videos focused on:  

• Creating Opportunity through SBIR & Encountering Innovation 
• Lunch and Learns

Participants who are accepted to pitch at the Encountering Innovation event will have the opportunity to practice their pitch to Kansas SBDC advisors at no cost. Each session is 30 minutes in length, which provides enough time to pitch and receive feedback from the Kansas SBDC advisors. If you are not within traveling distance to the Kansas SBDC advisors, video conference is acceptable too. Contact 316-290-9434 or badgley@ksbdc.net for more information.    

Do you have a BLUF developed for your innovation? A BLUF is a Bottom Line, Up Front one paragraph description about your innovation. This is used to draw the attention of the tech scouts and public audience to help them learn a little more about your idea without giving too many details away. Kansas SBDC advisors will help you prepare your BLUF, pitch, poster board display and other information for the Encountering Innovation event.    

Applying for a patent for your technology can be a long and detailed process. In the files below, you can find an example of a patent timeline, along with the approximate costs and where/what you have to file.    

Performing prior art research will help you determine if there are patented technologies that are similar to yours. You can perform this search through Google Patents or have the KSU Technology Development Institute assist in the process.   

A disclosure form is an important source of information that provides investors, partners, and other entities with technical details about your innovation. Below, you will find an example of a disclosure form for your own use.  

The Kansas SBDC Tech Advisors receive significant training on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs so that they can effectively work with innovators to search solicitations and develop proposals.     

The Tech Center also provides a SBIR STTR Grants Resource guide that provides additional information about agencies that participate in these grant programs, legal advice, links to more resources.    

The resource guide can be found at https://www.kansassbdc.net/sbir-resource-guide

Kansas Department of Commerce's "Kansas Innovation and Technology Enterprise" (KITE) program exists to cultivate and support innovation in Kansas.  A program within KITE, Proof of Concept (POC) Fund is designed to fill a need for support where typical funding mechanisms are not available, acting as a bridge between federal funding for basic research and commercial seed funding by angel or venture investors. POC will aim to assist the:  

• establishment of promising new technology-based entrepreneurial ventures in the state 
• commercialization of inventions resulting from research conducted at Kansas public universities

The Great Plains TMC has additional partners that can assist with funding and/or finding funding for your projects. Some of these partners include  

• NetWork Kansas  
• SBA 
• Great Plains Development Inc 
• Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission 
• Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center 
• North Central Regional Planning Commission 
• USDA - RD 
• KCSourceLINK 
• Kansas Dept. of Commerce 
• Kansas SBDC Capital Access Center