TCVN Forum to Teach Entrepreneurs How to Receive Government Funding.

Business Editors

TUSTIN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2003

Veteran Agency Panelists Will Cover SBIR/STTR Grants, SBA Loans,

Research, Marketing and Commercialization Grants and Programs

The Tech Coast Venture Network today announced that this month's forum will discuss methods of government funding for start up and developing businesses, including SBIR/STTRs Grants, SBA Loans, BAA Grants, Plus-Ups, CalTip and other commercialization grants and programs offered by the government.

Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to learn how to obtain information about the U.S. Government-funded Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business Technology Transfer program and solicitation cycle.

Participating agencies contributing to the program, types of technology and other supporting commercialization grant programs will be discussed on Thursday, March 27, 2003 from 6-9 p.m. at the University of California at Irvine's Beckman Center, 100 Academy Drive in Irvine, Calif.

Forum panelists include Julie Holland, Director of the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona's incubation program; Linda Whittinton, Program Manager for the Navy SBIR program; Michael Lee, Assistant District Director, Economic Development, U.S. Small Business Administration; and Greg Bolcer, co-founder, Endeavors Technology. The panel moderator is Michael Zani, vice president of marketing for Irvine Sensors, and the event sponsor is Daly-Swartz Public Relations, a San Clemente, Calif.-based marketing communications firm.

According to TCVN Chairman Patrick McCormick, SBIR, STTR, CalTip and other commercialization financing resources have always played an important role in start up businesses in Orange County. "Entrepreneurs focusing on growth or start up capital from angel and venture sources should consider all possible components of their present near-term and future capital needs," McCormick advised.

The SBIR program funds early-stage R&D projects at small technology companies -- projects which serve a need to several U.S. Government agencies and have the potential for commercialization in the private sector. The program, funded at approximately $1.5 billion in FY 2002.

In 1992, Congress established the STTR pilot program. STTR is similar in structure to SBIR but funds cooperative R&D projects involving a small business and a research institute, i.e., university, federally funded R&D center, or nonprofit research institution.

CalTIP is a state matching cost reimbursement grant for companies that win federal technology awards or contracts. CalTIP funds pay for basic business activities to bring your product to market. This includes legal services, market research, business development activities and auditing services. A portion of CalTIP funds may also be used for product development.

Entrepreneur Quest expands Cal Poly Pomona's technology commercialization service program with a formal training component. Entrepreneur Quest is a program of the Pomona Technology Center, one of two business incubators that operate in the College of the Extended University's Center for Training Technology and Incubation on the Cal Poly Pomona campus. Entrepreneur Quest receives 100 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, totaling $1.059 million during a two-year period.

Admission to the Forum program is $35 prepaid by March 25 and $45 at the door. For further information, contact Gayle Stewart, executive director, Tech Coast Venture Network, via e-mail at [e-mail], by phone at 714/505-6493, by fax at 714/669-9341, or on the Web at www.tcvn.org. TCVN is located at 195 South C St., Suite 250, Tustin, CA 92780.

TCVN Corporate Mentors include Daly-Swartz PR and MyWebteam.com. Benefactors include Business Wire; Jackson DeMarco & Peckenpaugh; Preston, Gates & Ellis, LLP; PricewaterhouseCoopers; Riordan & McKinzie and Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth. Sponsors include Camel Financial Inc.; Corbin & Wertz; Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear; Levin & Hawes, Mission Ventures and TriNet Group Inc.

The Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) is dedicated to assisting, educating and connecting early stage growth companies with information and advisors for the purpose of raising money. TCVN has been directly or indirectly responsible for the establishment and growth of a significant number of new and early stage businesses.

Through its major program, the Venture Forum, TCVN has had more than 150 programs on topics to assist and educate the entrepreneurs attending these programs. More than 400 CEOs, entrepreneurs and other presenters have shared their professional business knowledge and experiences.

TCVN is a not-for-profit corporation that was founded in 1984. It has continuously been actively involved in the Orange County/Southern California business community ever since.