Championing Innovative Tech Ideas at BioConnect Iowa

At BioConnect Iowa, Anne McMahon works to help bioscience startups succeed. As the SBIR/STTR statewide program coordinator, she helps Iowa entrepreneurs apply to an SBIR/STTR Outreach Program, which awards funds to startups and small businesses who can help develop and research innovative solutions.

About BioConnect Iowa

BioConnect Iowa is a nonprofit, public-private partnership. The company seeks to uncover bio-based products, fuels and companies within the state of Iowa. Previously known as Iowa Innovation Corporation, BioConnect Iowa has been rebranded and now has four core platforms, including medical devices at University of Iowa and within Iowa State University, precision and digital agriculture, immunotherapeutics and vaccines, and bio-based chemicals and products.

Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program

McMahon runs the SBIR/STTR Outreach Program, which works with the Small Business Administration's small business innovation research (SBIR) and small business technology transfer (STTR) programs. Phase one is about feasibility study. Businesses that receive a phase one award, which ranges from $100,000 to $275,000, are provided with $25,000 in financial assistance.

Those businesses that progress to submission of phase two application are given an additional $25,000, and awards can range from $600,000 up to $1,000,000 in non-dilutive funding depending on the federal agency. Phase two is an aggressive two-year project that includes fuel testing, scaling and prototyping.

The program is backed through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and technologies funded through 11 different federal agencies that each works as their own small business. BioConnect Iowa applies for grants through the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Health (NIH) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). There are also contracts through which the program can get funding, including through the Department of Defense, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Department of Energy.

Success for McMahon and the SBIR/STTR Outreach Program lies in the quality of applications to the program. For every dollar the state spends, she needs to show an impact of at least $10 back of federal funding. McMahon has shifted recently to focus on quality over quantity, looking at 50-55 applications per year.

Secrets to Success for Entrepreneurs

McMahon shared her own secrets to ensuring success in the SBIR/STTR Outreach Program. These included:

Time – having the time to apply and a timeline that supports a longer schedule to receive funding
Coachability – being open to reviews via peer-reviewers and from the outreach team
Team – need to have a strong team with credentials and the Principal Investigator (PI) needs to be a W-2 employee of the company or startup founder

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Greater Des Moines Partnership

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the largest regional business, economic development and talent development organization in Iowa and the second-largest regional chamber of commerce in the country, serving 12 counties in Greater Des Moines: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren. Together with more than 400 Investors and an Affiliate Chamber of Commerce network of more than 7,200 Regional Business Members, The Partnership helps businesses grow and advances quality of life in Greater Des Moines with one voice, one mission and as one region, contributing to a vibrant regional economy. 