The Sacramento Region is home to a vibrant medical startup ecosystem. To support its growth, we are reintroducing MedStart, a program dedicated to fostering innovation in medical and life sciences.

This month, we are hosting an NIH Grant Workshop led by Benjamin Cadranel, founder of Advocacy Chiefs. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a federal grant initiative, invested over $4.3 billion in small business research and development in 2023. It represents the pinnacle of federal investment for early-stage startups, with 11 agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, providing up to $2 million to small businesses without taking equity.

Advocacy Chiefs raises awareness, provides education, and offers direct grant writing support to local small businesses for this unique grant program. Recently, with the backing of the City of Sacramento’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development, Advocacy Chiefs launched a new program. This initiative is also supported by the Sacramento Entrepreneurial Growth Alliance, designated as an Accelerate CA Hub and funded by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate.

The goal of the program is to assist up to 10 local small business entrepreneurs in applying for the SBIR grant. Participants will receive vital resources such as direct grant writing support and technical and agency-like reviews prior to submission.

The workshop will cover the NIH’s solicitation process, including required registrations, timelines, and topics. It will also provide insights on SBIR readiness and strategies to increase success rates for the next round of SBIR grants.

MedStart is supported by ReadyStart Cleanroom, Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the 50 Economic Alliance, and Startup Folsom.

Please note that this event is in-person at the ReadyStart CleanRooms.