General
Applicant Assistance Program (AAP) – An NIH program, AAP helps small businesses write Phase I grant proposals by providing coaching on writing the application and helping with submission. The aim is to help under-represented groups, which are women, minorities, and certain states, achieve SBIR/STTR funding. To qualify, applicants must be established as a business at the time of submission and never had previous funding. Only 4 NIH institutes have AAPs: NCI, NINDS, NHLBI, NIA.
AUTM – A non-profit engaged in supporting professionals in the developing academic research “that changes the world and drives innovation forward.” (Formerly known as the Association of University Technology Managers)
I-Corps™ – NIH program that “provides funding, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help commercialize” biomedical technology. Program lasts 8 weeks and is comprised of 24 teams.
NHLBI Small Biz Hangouts – Small Biz Hangouts are a series of 20 videos relevant to the starting biotech business. In depth video topics include “Navigating the FDA Website,” “Writing Your Phase II Commercialization Plan,” “Intellectual Property of the New Biological Innovator,” and “Biologics Regulation Overview.”
Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs – REACH “speed(s) up the translation of biomedical discoveries into commercially viable diagnostics, devices, therapeutics, and tools to improve patient care and enhance health.”
Small Business Administration – The SBA has many resources for starting a business, such as a learning center, acquiring SBA loans and grants, information on government contracts,resources by business type and locations, and the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) – Grant Solicitations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Note that STTR is only available at NIH.
Women, Science, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering – Search NCSES data on the number of of individuals in these three groups in regards to education and employment.
Women
National Women’s Business Council Resources – NWBC ‘Grow Her Business’ Resources is a collection that supports women entrepreneurs’ commitment to growing their businesses.
Support for Women Entrepreneurship – SheEO allows women entrepreneurs to pitch their idea for potential funding. Selected entrepreneurs spend the weekend together and get to know one another before dividing up the capital they have been given.
Girls in Tech – This organization is an accelerator for all women in tech-related fields which provides networking meetings, trainings, competitions, funding, and opportunities for community involvement.
Successful Women Entrepreneurs in Biotech – These selected webpages feature top women entrepreneurs and business leaders in biotech.
Minorities
Minority Business Development Agency – MBDA is a government agency for growth of U.S. minority businesses via educational and business resources, including financial and globalization information.
The Marathon Foundation (TMF) – TMF hosts regional and national networking events to connect minorities to networks of professionals and maintains a database of deal opportunities for its members. Also sponsors entrepreneur education programs.
Minority Chambers of Commerce – Advocacy groups for entrepreneurs, also offering networking opportunities and resources for growth and local and national chapters for African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians.
National Minority Business Council (NMBC) – The NMBC is a non-profit corporation that provides educational assistance, training, and networking opportunities for minority-owned businesses.
Minority Postdoc – This resource is a “web portal on the minority postdoctoral experience especially in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines.”
National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering & Science, Inc. – GEM seeks to increase minority population participation in engineering and science at both the master’s and doctoral levels.
Great Minds in STEM – GMiS “is a non-profit organization that focuses on STEM educational awareness programs for students from kindergarten to career.” (Formerly known as the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC))
National Research Mentoring Network – NRMN is part of the NIH’s Diversity Program Consortium (DPC) and seeks “to enhance the participation and persistence of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical research careers.”
Career Development
AAAS Career Development – AAAS Career Development offers courses to purchase for STEM scientists to advance their careers. Most popular courses include “Career Pathways Program” and “Best Practices for NSF Grant Proposals” and other courses on networking, communications, and grants and proposals.
My IDP Science Careers Individual Development Plan – My IDP Science Careers is a free, web-based career planning tool to help you achieve your career goals. Created by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), AAAS Science, and experts from several universities
Continuing Education – Life Science and Entrepreneurship – A number of universities provide Entrepreneurship focus within their life science-related Masters programs. This paired learning allows life scientists to get a deeper understanding of the entrepreneurial process.
Early Business Development
Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) – RESI is “an ongoing conference series establishing a global circuit for early stage life science companies, active investors, and various service providers to meet, create dialogues and start relationships – ultimately moving science and technology forward.”