1. SBIR USDA SBIR Program National Institute of Food And Agriculture

2. SBIR Phase I Grants = 8 Months/$100,000 Phase II Grants = 2 Years/$600,000 Ten topic areas that cover broad areas of Research in Agriculture, Rural Development and Farm Management. Innovations are investigator initiated with the hopes of entering into a market to capitalize on the Federal Investment. Features of USDA SBIR Program

3. SBIR Technical Assistance Programs Phase I Commercialization Assistance Program Phase II Commercialization Assistance Training Program Larta Institute provides the services for both programs. Resources for USDA SBIR Awarded Companies

4. SBIR Goals Provide support services to Phase I USDA SBIR Grantees to initiate their Commercialization Plan (CP). CP is part of the Phase II application. Phase I Commercialization Assistance Program

5. SBIR Services Provided Phase I companies are assigned to a Principle Advisor (PA) who has entrepreneur knowledge and experience in the agricultural sector of the innovation being developed. PA works with company over 8 months to develop, review and help modify the CP in preparation for Phase II application submission. Phase I Commercialization Assistance Program

6. SBIR Services Provided Monthly webinars on specific topics of interest to early stage development companies. Examples Market Research Intellectual Property Financial Modeling Marketing & Branding Other relevant topics Phase I Commercialization Assistance Program

7. SBIR Phase I Commercialization Assistance Program

8. SBIR Goals Provide support services to Phase II USDA SBIR Grantees to understand market entry and opportunities. Phase II Commercialization Assistance Program

9. SBIR Services Provided 18 Month Program Two tracks in the program Emerging Track (ET): This track is designed for emerging companies in need of basic, though customized, business assistance and commercialization guidance. Advanced Track (AT): The companies in this track are typically looking for assistance to overcome specific, identified barriers to their commercialization success. Companies in this track have a good foundation in commercialization issues but have critical issue(s), which they must resolve to increase their opportunity in successfully commercializing their innovation. Phase II Commercialization Assistance Program

10. SBIR Services Provided Phase II companies are assigned to a Principle Advisor (PA) who has entrepreneur experience and knowledge in the agricultural sector of the innovation being developed. Phase II companies attend the USDA Phase II Commercialization Training workshop in DC (Mandatory). PA works with company to develop a company specific (customized) commercialization strategy. Program provides opportunity to connect company to potential partners and/or investors. Webinars on specific topics of interest to both advanced and early Phase II companies. Phase II Commercialization Assistance Program

11. SBIR Assisted over 200 agritech-related projects (including many research/university-affiliated and research/university-based spinouts) in commercialization strategy and planning across a variety of agricultural based topic areas. USDA Phase II companies afforded opportunities at: Ag Innovation Showcase (www.agshowcase.com): a leading global partnering and investment forum for early stage agricultural technology ventures.www.agshowcase.com Access to the Global Ag Innovation Network: A Larta managed “network” of key players in the Agritech community including investors, strategists, stakeholders, and innovative startups to catalyze investment, collaborations (scientific and business), and deal making in agricultural innovations. Phase II Commercialization Assistance Program

12. SBIR Commercialization Success Just four months after the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) virus broke out in the United States and affected 50% of the swine population, Harrisvaccines commercialized a vaccine that prevented this deadly disease. Went from selling 1 million doses of vaccines in 2012 to selling 5-7 million doses a year currently November 12, 2015, Merck Animal Health Acquired Harrisvaccines for a undisclosed amount. Harrisvaccines, Inc. Technology Developed Developed new custom, life-saving vaccines that responds to new diseases as they emerge for livestock. Developed a rapid 4-6 week production time for each new vaccine. SBIR History Phase I in 2009 ($100K); Phase II in 2009($346K); 8.3 Animal Production and Protection

13. SBIR Whole Trees, LLC Technology Developed Structural Testing of Branched Timber and Truss Assemblies Round timber can substitute for steel and concrete in medium and large scale construction under Type IV: "Heavy Timber Framing." SBIR History Phase I – 2011 ($99K) Phase II – 2012 ($362K) 8.1 Forests and Related Resources Commercialization Success The company will provide the ceiling joists of the 57,000-square-foot Festival Foods grocery store which will include ash trees being removed from the city of Madison due to emerald ash borer infestation. Raised $1.6M in private equity funding since the initial SBIR grant. Pending investments from at multiple investor meetings and the Ag Showcase.

14. SBIR U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Business Innovation Research Program Scott Dockum – Program Coordinator Waterfront Centre 800 9th Street, SW Washington, DC 20024 Phone: (202) 720-6346 Fax: (202) 401-6070 E-mail: sdockum@nifa.usda.gov Web Site: www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/sbir

15. SBIR ANY QUESTIONS?