OEN NewsOregon Entrepreneurs Network Receives SBA FAST Grant to Expand Support for Oregon Innovators
The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) has been awarded nearly $172,000 through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program to expand support for Oregon small businesses developing and commercializing emerging technologies. With nearly $130,000 in matching funds from Business Oregon, the total project budget is more than $301,000.
Business Oregon selected OEN as Oregon’s designated FAST applicant through its SBIR Support Program, FAST Match, and is providing the required non-federal match. OEN’s federal application was also endorsed by Governor Tina Kotek.
Through FAST, OEN will provide outreach, training, technical assistance, mentorship, and other resources to help Oregon entrepreneurs pursue Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding. The program aims to increase the number of Oregon companies applying for and receiving federal research and development funding while preparing participants for commercialization success. OEN will work with partners across the state, including research universities, Oregon’s Centers of Innovation Excellence, and regional economic development organizations, to reach innovators in both urban and rural communities.
“SBIR and STTR funding can be a critical source of non-dilutive capital for entrepreneurs developing innovative technologies, but navigating the federal funding process can be challenging,” said Cara Turano, President and Executive Director of OEN. “This grant gives OEN an opportunity to help more Oregon entrepreneurs understand the process, strengthen their proposals, connect with the right resources, and move their technologies closer to market. We are grateful to Business Oregon for making this opportunity possible and for its continued commitment to supporting innovators across our state.”
“Oregon small businesses are developing technologies that can grow new industries and create good jobs in every corner of the state, but many never tap into the federal research funding that could help them get there,” said Business Oregon Director Sophorn Cheang. “OEN has spent more than 35 years helping Oregon entrepreneurs start up and scale up, and we’re proud to partner with them to help more innovators compete for SBIR and STTR awards and bring their ideas to market.”
“Small businesses and technology startups are the beating heart of Oregon’s innovation economy,” said Bryan Zulko, SBA Portland District Director. “Through the FAST Partnership Program, we are proud to build on our strong collaboration with OEN, alongside Business
Oregon, to ensure our state’s entrepreneurs, from urban hubs to rural communities, have the hands-on mentorship and resources they need to secure federal R&D funding and bring cutting-edge solutions to market.”
OEN will begin delivering FAST-supported programming this fall, with opportunities for Oregon entrepreneurs to access education, technical assistance, mentorship, and federal grant application support. Entrepreneurs interested in participating can find out more under the tab Programs at oen.org.
The FAST program will complement OEN’s broader work supporting entrepreneurs across Oregon and Southwest Washington through education, connections, mentorship, and access to capital. FAST-funded services are available to Oregon small businesses.
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About Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start up and scale up. For more than 35 years, OEN has hosted a mix of sector-specific Angel Oregon entrepreneur education and angel investment programs, including Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO), Angel Oregon Tech (AOTech), and Angel Oregon Consumer Packaged Goods (AOCPG), as well as the annual OEN Entrepreneurship Awards. Learn more at www.oen.org.
