Get Research and Innovation Funding from the Feds

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will launch a campaign to award nearly $80 million in grants to small technology companies in the coming weeks. It’s all part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The annual Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) usually consists of three SBIR and two STTR opportunities. The next Department of Defense SBIR, the first of fiscal 2010, will be posted Nov. 12.

Unsolicited proposals are accepted at anytime. For a list of what your proposal should include click here. 

Projects funded through the small-business office go through three phases. Under Phase I, DARPA provides up to $99,000 for a six- to 12-month experimental period to test the feasibility of the idea. If Phase I proves successful, DARPA may invite the company to submit a Phase II Proposal, which affords the business two years and up to $750,000 to further develop the concept and actually build something. The ultimate goal of both programs is to reach Phase III, in which companies must obtain funding outside of DARPA to transform the concept into a marketable product, process or service.

Don’t Let Sales Pass You By: Get Your Website Ready for the Holidays

The National Retail Federation is projecting holiday spending to be down this year by about one percent. Meanwhile a new survey of shoppers from Burst Media finds that less than three quarters (62.8%) of shoppers will spend the same or less this holiday season. But where they will spend their money is the key. According to this survey of 2,300 adults 85 percent say that they will do their shopping online. 

Experts say that September and October is the ideal time for online retailers to organize their promotions, revamp their website and stock up before the November and December glut. According to a recent SmartCompany article, entrepreneurs can help increase their sales during this Christmas shopping season by:

·         Offering a freebie

·         Tweak SEO to include holiday jargon

·         Use a social media strategy

·         Stock up on inventory

·         Increase email marketing

·         Prepare for additional traffic (work with your hosting provider)

·         Decorate the site

·         Offer online gift certificates

·         Test it all out