UW SBDC Webinar to Help Small Businesses with Proprietary Data

When applying for federal SBIR/STTR funds to develop new, high-value ideas, applicants often struggle with how much information to include in their applications. An SBIR/STTR webinar is scheduled to assist small-business owners with their proprietary data.

The webinar, titled “Proprietary Data – Do I Have to Disclose It and How Do I Protect It,” is scheduled Tuesday, May 9, 2-3 p.m., so businesses can receive a professional perspective on this “Catch-22” situation.

The SBDC is a partnership among the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Business Council and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBDC focuses on educating small-business owners and potential owners on how to successfully start and operate small businesses. The SBDC’s main office is located at UW.

Because intellectual property adds financial value and provides a competitive advantage, small business needs to take measures to protect this asset. Protecting company secrets leads to difficulties discussing new ideas with potential investors or funding agencies. Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) applicants need to explain their research projects in enough detail that reviewers understand the technology and will recommend funding, while still ensuring that their proprietary data remains confidential.

This webinar will cover what information is considered “proprietary data”; who has access to the data in funded and unfunded SBIR/STTR proposals; what are government’s “inherent data rights” when it funds a project; what type of information and levels of detail to include in SBIR/STTR proposals; and how to protect the data you disclose to each agency.

Mark Henry, of Grow Emerging Companies LLC, will present the webinar. He has 37 years of SBIR/STTR experience, having worked on more than 3,000 proposals. Known as the “Vince Lombardi” of the SBIR program, he has worked with Wyoming companies for nearly two decades.

“This should be a really good one, as understanding the line between what to disclose to whom and what not to disclose is always an issue,” says Cindy Beth Unger, business adviser for the Wyoming SBDC. “Mark Henry is the presenter, and he knows as much about these federal programs as anyone.”

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance. For more information, call Kelly Haigler Cornish at (307) 766-2904.

The Wyoming SBDC Network is a business advising group of the Wyoming SBDC, Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Market Research Center and SBIR/STTR Initiative. The network’s mission is to help Wyoming entrepreneurs succeed. Advising and most market research activities are free of charge to Wyoming residents.

The SBDC is funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. SBA. Additional support is provided by the Wyoming Business Council and UW.

For more information, go to www.wyomingsbdc.org or call 1-800-348-5194.