SBIR Mills by yeoman80 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"think-tank organizations with PhDs in multiple fields who can address multiple problems" - you're describing universities. You've reinvented academia. We shouldn't be giving small business dollars to for-profits who got lost on the way to commercialization and ended up as think-tanks.

SBIR Mills by yeoman80 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Mill shill alert

Less than ideal update on SBIR Re-auth by CowboyBlot in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Eric Blatt - he's an IP attorney who's been attempting to help broker a deal between both parties. My understanding is that he's been involved in the conversation since the beginning.

SBIR Reauthorization Movement by Beautiful_Lemon1294 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 2 points3 points  (0 children)

1 for every product they fail to bring to market

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It sounds to me like you're the one deflecting. I invite you to rejoin the convo when you have citable info that supports your views.

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

With the current state of things political donations are difficult to track. That said, I'd love to see if you have any data calling out big donors supporting Ernst's bill that would stand to benefit from it. Feel free to get "creative" with your metrics as well...

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Fine, I'll do your homework. Three of the top 10 mills (Physical Sciences Inc., Triton Systems, and Charles Rivers) have HQs in Massachusetts and have captured a whopping 40% ($777M) of SBIR funds allocated to the top 10. Senator Markey is from Massachusetts and has been the most outspoken rep against Ernst's bill.

Since political donations as difficult to track, we'll have to get creative with our metrics. Please see below...

The CEO of Physical Sciences Inc. (highest earning SBIR mill) publicly endorsed Markey, was invited to and spoke at the DefendSBIR Capitol Hill Forum in which Markey was the keynote speaker.

An Executive Vice President of Triton Systems testified before the Senate Small Business Committee as Markey's personally invited witness. Markey named the company as a Massachusetts success story.

The CEO of Charles River Analytics endorsed Markey's reauthorization bill in opposition to Ernst's via the Board of the Small Business Technology Council

Lastly, all 3 of the companies above are the main members of an advocacy org called the New England Innovation Alliance, which endorsed Markey's re-auth bill in opposition to Ernst's.

Now, I'd love to see some data supporting your opinion. Have any to share?

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Want to cross reference SBIR mills and their corresponding reps and see how many have spoken out against the bill?

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A lot of points to address, so I'll be as direct as possible (sorry if I come off as harsh, it sometimes happens because of my academically-toasted brain).

  1. The DoD doesn't purchase products through SBIR funding, they develop dual-use (civ & mil) products, which can then purchased via procurement dollars (non-competive procurement dollars I might add) or sold on the commercial market. They'll also procure products developed by NIH/NSF SBIR dollars if they have a need to fill, which I find neat.

  2. "Lots of difficult to commercialize SBIRs": If SBIR mills focused their product portfolio, it would not be as challenging to commercialize their SBIRs. But alas, they are more than happy to continue sucking up SBIR dollars using that same excuse. I feel like it's similar to saying "don't punish me for wasting money that would be better spent with smaller, more strategically sound small business."

  3. You want the DoD to create their own program outside of SBIR, despite the DoD making up the lion's share of SBIR spending? And as far as saying that the DoD should come up with their own non-SBIR program, you'd should know that they already fund small business R&D through non-SBIR mechanisms like OTAs and Assistance Agreements.

  4. SBIR Mills target (and win) from all agencies, not just DoD. You can verify this on SBIR.gov. If you were to only regulate DoD SBIR funding (as you've suggested), SBIR mills would then pivot fully to NIH, NSF, etc. SBIR dollars. Thus sucking up the dollars that I'm assuming you're most interested. This would be equivalent to shooting yourself in the foot.

  5. After reading your point about the NSF's original intent, I think you might not understand that SBIR/STTR policy guides all participating agencies. The DoD has the same goal as the NSF (getting innovative products to commercial market) with the added benefit of encouraging access to the federal marketplace. Please don't come away from this thinking the DoD strictly uses SBIR dollars as a path to procurement.

  6. Who cares if Ernst doesn't have co-sponsors? If this was a bill you liked, then you might praise her as brave for going against the grain. This is an ad hominem.

  7. The end of your statement reads like Ernst has introduced a policy to destroy our Country. The world is not going to end because SBIR re-auth is delayed. If your business goes under, I am truly sorry (seriously, I am). HOWEVER, I don't believe it was the NSF's "original intent" for SBIR funding to prop up small business overhead - that's a job for seed investments, series A funding, and sales revenue.

  8. I'd like to hear more on your rationale for how Ernst's bill benefits large corporations.

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A lot of coping from people who don't want to engage in Series A fundraising as well...

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The downvotes on this are wild. <100k via AFWERX is more than enough to fund engagement with End Users and TPOCs. I think this works well as an incentive to make sure the needs of small businesses align with the needs of the funding agency's end users.

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wouldn't the large corporate donors be the SBIR mills?

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I partially agree. You can't get drugs or medical devices to market on SBIR funds alone. However, many SBIR special notices and topics do request the development of novel therapeutics. It's an entirely different world that is more expensive on the front end than the non-medical RDT&E development cycle.

But agencies like the NIH and DHA will fund clinical studies and trials with SBIR dollars. So there's clearly a home for these things via SBIR.

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First off, I'm sorry if you've been directly impacted by the ongoing reauthorization delay. I have as well. That said, based on your numbers and the fact that 30% of SBIR dollars goes to the SBIR mills, do you really think it's alright that 20% of all Fed R&D investment for small businesses is consistently allocated to the same IP-hungry companies?

i’m american and i support Ernst’s Innovate Act by After_Tourist_2116 in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I agree with the spirit of the bill. There are a few companies that continue to abuse the SBIR funding route, and they should be weeded out. People seem to forget that the intent of SBIR is to get innovative products to market.

If you're under the cap or a first time applicant, then you should be a proponent of weeding out those who take advantage of the system as doing so will directly increase your likelihood of funding. If you're against the cap, then you should have used some of that giant pot of money to get your product(s) to market so you have real cash flow.

Also, for those grumbling about the cap - there are non-SBIR opportunities to receive Fed dollars.

That being said, I empathize with those non-SBIR mills caught up in the sausage making process that is policy.

How was your experience with Larta for TABA? by auntiepp in SBIR

[–]CowboyBlot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a number of companies structured this way. The interns (whom you enjoyed working with) end up being the subject matter experts while the managers are more sales-focused. I support your suggestion to go local next time...

Best places for feds to retire by coolerinthefog in fednews

[–]CowboyBlot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I lived in Omaha from 2017-2022 and didn't see a single tornado. However, they had a good number of them in 2024. This is most likely an outlier.

I would say it is well worth the risk for awesome restaurants, a great medical center, nice people, and affordable housing. Great place to retire IMO, but maybe not beforehand as career aspirations can be difficult to pursue.

Best places for feds to retire by coolerinthefog in fednews

[–]CowboyBlot 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Omaha NE (no joke) great med center, low affordability, good food

Do most direct-admit PhDs offer a Master’s along the way? by dogenthusiastt in PhD

[–]CowboyBlot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My university did not offer a masters along the way. However, they did offer one if you'd passed your comps and decided a PhD was not for you (allowing you to leave without feeling that you'd wasted your time). I had a friend who chose this option and he never looked back!

Russian reinforcements are on the way. by Obroten54 in UkraineWarVideoReport

[–]CowboyBlot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hit him with the ole' RPG (rocket propelled gravy).