KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) America’s Seed Fund Road Tour comes to Kansas City on July 19 as part of a five-stop Midwest tour to connect entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding.

Also known as the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs, America’s Seed Fund focuses on next-generation research and development through 11 participating federal agencies.

The stop in Kansas City will be hosted by the Missouri Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), the only statewide technical assistance provider for Missouri small-business owners and entrepreneurs working on next-generation R&D. Program managers from the participating federal agencies will conduct one-on-one meetings with small businesses, take part in targeted panels, discuss technology areas and share insights into how the agencies make funding decisions.

“This is a can’t-miss opportunity,” said Sherry Noller, Missouri SBDC associate state director. “Innovators interested in working with federal agencies will learn about requirements and information from the panel discussions. Businesses and innovators that are ready to move forward can schedule one-on-one meetings with program managers from various federal agencies.”

America’s Seed Fund is coordinated by SBA and provides more than $4 billion in early-stage funding to small businesses each year in a variety of technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity and defense. The program executes more than 6,000 new funding awards annually, allowing innovators to advance new technologies and contributing to the creation of thousands of jobs.

Register by July 12 at sbdc.missouri.edu/events/america-s-seed-fund-road-tour-midwest-2023 (registration is closed).

Learn more at www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour. For more information about America’s Seed Fund, visit www.sbir.gov.

About the Missouri SBDC

The Missouri SBDC is here to help business owners and entrepreneurs get the information needed to make confident decisions and help Missouri businesses succeed. The business experts of the Missouri SBDC are your neighbors, dedicated to helping businesses grow. Learn more at missourisbdc.org.

The Missouri SBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a partner of University of Missouri Extension’s Business Development Program.