Feedback Survey Regarding NSF SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Proposal Submission

Feedback Survey Regarding NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposal Submission
Process

Welcome and Thank You
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs help innovative entrepreneurs bring technology
from the lab to the marketplace via grant funding. We are continually looking to improve the
application process for these grants. Because you recently applied to the program, we would greatly
appreciate your participation in this 9-question survey to help us improve our proposal submission
process and proposal preparation aids/activities.
This survey is anonymous and will in no way affect the outcome of any current, pending or future
NSF SBIR/STTR grant proposal.
*If another individual was more closely involved with the proposal preparation and submission
process, please forward this survey link to that individual!*
Thank you for your time and consideration.

*1. Was your company formed in the last 3 years?
Yes
No

*2. In the submission window that recently closed, were you a first-time applicant to the
NSF SBIR/STTR Program?
Yes
No

3. Please indicate the experience that you/your company has had with the following
funding opportunities.
Applied
SBIR/STTR Funding- Department of Defense

SBIR/STTR Funding- Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health)
SBIR/STTR Funding- Department of Energy
SBIR/STTR Funding- Department of Education
SBIR/STTR Funding- Another Agency Not Listed Here

Received

Neither
Applied nor
Received

Fundamental Research Funding (non-SBIR/STTR)- NSF
Fundamental Research Funding (non-SBIR/STTR)- Non-NSF Federal Agency
State or Local Government Funding
Venture Capital Funding
Angel Capital Funding
Business Plan Competition / Accelerator Contest (or similar contest) Funding
Other (please specify)

4. How did you hear about the NSF SBIR/STTR Program? Check all that apply.
Personal network

Consultant or service provider

Professional network

Angel investor

Web search

Venture capitalist

Grants.gov

United States Patent and Trademark Office

NSF.gov website

The Small Business Administration

University technology transfer office

Twitter

University business incubator/accelerator

Facebook

Non-University business incubator/accelerator

LinkedIn

State economic development office

NSF SBIR/STTR Quarterly Update

Other (please specify)

5. Please suggest any channels, platforms, networks, etc. that you think the NSF
SBIR/STTR program should use or expand its use of to connect with potential proposers.
Some examples are shown in Question 3.

*6. Please rate each aspect of the NSF SBIR/STTR proposal submission process.
1- Very
Challenging
Registration- Non-NSF (DUNS, SAM, SBIR.gov)
Registration- FastLane
Understanding which parts of the proposal are most important to
reviewers
Conveying the market/commercialization details
Conveying the technical details

2- Somewhat
Challenging

3- Reasonable

4- Valuable in
and of itself

Conveying a compelling story within the requested Project
Description format
Producing a well-written, "polished" proposal
Determining how much proprietary information should be included
Constructing a budget
Constructing a budget justification
Obtaining letters of support
Ensuring that all components are present and correct
FastLane- Understanding what goes where
FastLane- Technical / system glitches
You may provide additional comments and suggestions here.

*7. Please rate the following NSF SBIR/STTR proposal submission aides.
Very Helpful
Advice from NSF SBIR/STTR Program Director- via Phone
Advice from NSF SBIR/STTR Program Director- via Email
Advice from NSF Staff (Non-Program Director) - via Phone
Advice from NSF Staff (Non-Program Director) - via Email
Advice from your personal network
Advice from your professional network
NSF SBIR/STTR Website- general
NSF SBIR/STTR Website- budget template
NSF SBIR/STTR Website- FastLane Step-by-Step Guide
NSF SBIR/STTR Website- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
YouTube instructional videos from NSF SBIR/STTR
(youtube.com/user/NSFInnovationIIP)
YouTube instructional videos from other organizations
Live webinar / Q&A from NSF
Live webinar / Q&A from other organizations
NSF SBIR/STTR Twitter Handle (@NSFInnovateSBIR)
NSF SBIR/STTR Quarterly Update

Somewhat
Helpful

Not Helpful

Didn't Know It
Was Available

Professional consultant services
You may provide additional comments or details from your answers above.

8. Do you use assistance from a party outside your company to aid in the NSF SBIR/STTR
proposal preparation/submission process?
Yes
No
You may indicated which service or agent below.

9. Do you have additional suggestions for improving the Phase I proposal submission
process?

Done