NMSDC-certified minority business enterprise (MBE), The Learning Bridge has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $1,000,000 to conduct research and development (R&D) work on an edtech solution for college entrance and persistence in underserved populations.
This Project applies a creative, original, and transformative process to adapt the behavior of students and impact the college-going culture through mobile applications. The outcomes of the project to:
1)Assist students, particularly underrepresented students, to learn about the college-going culture and
2)Increase the admissions and enrollment of underrepresented students in college, particularly in STEM fields.
Laura Hayes, CEO of The Learning Bridge offered, “ We are excited about this opportunity with the National Science Foundation and cannot wait to make our prototype available to further democratize access to higher education and meet global changes in workforce demand.”
Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $275,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1,000,000). Small businesses with Phase II funding are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales for a total investment of up to $2,000,000.
Entrepreneurs who submit a written Project Pitch will know within about a month if they meet the program’s objectives to support innovative technologies that show promise of commercial and/or societal impact and involve an appropriate level of technical risk. Startups and small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. To learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, visit https://seedfund.nsf.gov/.
About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs
America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.
