Four New Mexico entrepreneurs received a travel stipend from the New Mexico Federal and State Technology partnership program, or NM FAST, to attend this year's TechConnect World Innovation Conference in Washington, D.C., which took place last month.
Dustin Webb with Absolute Concept Designs, and Peter Evans with Xairgen, hosted expo booths to showcase their technologies alongside defense contractors and research institutions. Luis Cordova with WANDR and John Hernandez with Dash2 Labs attended TechConnect to learn about Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer opportunities, and to connect with service providers to move their technologies forward.
The annual TechConnect conference serves as a nexus for knowledge exchange, collaboration and networking opportunities across various technological sectors. Attendees have the chance to learn from technical panels, to demonstrate their innovations, and to connect with federal SBIR/STTR program managers to discuss research and development funding mechanisms.
NM FAST, which is housed at New Mexico State University's Arrowhead Center, supports New Mexico entrepreneurs to access SBIR/STTR funding opportunities. NM FAST awards travel stipends for small businesses to attend the national TechConnect conference each spring.
Webb and Evans displayed a hybrid unmanned aerial underwater vehicle and a patented air powered electric generator. Evans said he attended the conference to share his technology to the thousands of attendees, and have the opportunity for networking opportunities, business development prospects, financial support, talent acquisition avenues and continuous learning.
WANDR provides end-to-end design services that drive business and organizational success outcomes. Dash2 Labs applies augmented intelligence to project and manufacturing management.
"Attending TechConnect offered invaluable insight into the SBIR ecosystem directly from the source and facilitate meaningful interaction with SBIR Program Managers, providing a deep understanding of the specific needs of each entity," Hernandez said.
NM FAST team members attended the conference to seek out collaboration opportunities that leverage small business support services in different states and to recruit for the annual New Mexico Innovation Summit, which is planned for December 2023 in Albuquerque.
"Economic support organizations from across the country attend TechConnect, and it is a perfect opportunity to make strategic connections to lift New Mexico's entrepreneurial ecosystem," said Milica Tenic, NM FAST program manager.
In addition to providing travel stipends, NM FAST holds self-paced and multi-week accelerators covering SBIR and STTR programs. NM FAST provides one-on-one coaching and proposal package review. To learn more about NM FAST's services and explore online material, visit https://arrowheadcenter.org/program/nm-fast/ .
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/new-mexico-entrepreneurs-attend-techconnect-with-nm-fast/s/7a7f64b1-e517-488e-a2b1-131a67eb279f