Are you working on an innovation you think should be spun out into a startup? What resources are available to help? How can you become involved in the innovation ecosystem in St. Louis?

Join us for “OTM Office Hours”, a program series from the Washington University Office of Technology Management covering the latest topics in tech transfer and innovation.

The OTM Office Hours series is kicking off 2024 with “Introduction to Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)  Grants”.    Why should a startup consider a SBIR and STTR?  What’s the difference between SBIR and STTR?  What are the phases and funding?  Who qualifies?

For our January 11th Office Hours, OTM welcomes two outstanding speakers from our ecosystem, who have years of experience in SBIR/STTR:

Ed Lahue is the Innovation & Technology Counselor with the University of Missouri Extension where they host the Missouri Small Business Development Center in St. Louis. Ed helps technology start-ups and established businesses expand their innovation efforts. He counsels on new business modeling, identifying viable target markets, revenue generation and go-to-market branding/marketing. In addition, he is helping start-up companies obtain grants through Small Business Innovation Research Program. With 40 years of experience, he has an extensive background in innovation, strategic marketing and branding. His industry experience includes consumer products, healthcare and various industrial sectors. He holds an MBA in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.

Veronika Redmann, PhD, is an entrepreneur and scientist who has founded and leads two companies. At Veronika Redmann Medical Writing, she works with scientists, clinicians, engineers and a grant administrator to assist technology start-ups with commercialization services and pursing non-equity based fundraising through private and federal sources, particularly the SBIR/STTR programs at NIH and NSF. She has advised over 50 companies developing products across the gamut from medical devices, biologics, digital healthcare and energy applications to cancer and cardiovascular drugs. She has served as a past Entrepreneur in Residence at the Skandalaris Center at Washington University in St. Louis. She currently serves as an Expert in Residence for Arch Grants, teaches workshops on SBIR/STTR preparation and grant-writing, and reviews NSF SBIR/STTR grants. Prior to her work as an entrepreneur, Dr. Redmann worked for 10 years as a bench scientist in the areas of molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, genetics and virology.