Those looking to take the crucial first step toward National Science Foundation research funding can learn valuable tips through an upcoming set of online workshops.
The NSF Project Pitch Workshop Series is a four-part, virtual deep drive into starting on the path to winning competitive non-dilutive grants from the NSF. The sessions will cover the key elements of a Project Pitch, the agency’s required starting point to apply for SBIR/STTR funding.
Hosted by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and Science Venture Studio, the one-hour sessions begin Thursday, Sept. 17, and continue Sept. 24, Oct. 1, and Oct. 8.
The Center, which is based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, teamed up with Science Venture Studio on similar training last year, and the series is returning due to its value not only to campus researchers, but the entire Arkansas community of innovators, said Gwen Green, marketing and communications manager for ASBTDC. “The project pitch is an important step; you can’t send a proposal to NSF until your pitch is accepted, and we want to set people up for success.”
That pitch “has to be compelling — NSF wants groundbreaking innovations” — with a strong chance for long-term scale and success, said Jeff Martin, innovation specialist at the UA Little Rock Center.
A Project Pitch addresses four key areas: the innovation and its potential impact; technical objectives and challenges; the market opportunity; and the team.
The marketplace section of a pitch is where many attempts fail, so it’s imperative to “do the legwork,” and anyone serious about commercializing research must show they understand their market, said Martin, who has extensive experience with various startups. “They want to see you did that work,” but too many pitches lack “the necessary perspective — there’s no proof.”
Workshop attendees will receive step-by-step guidance on crafting each section of a competitive Project Pitch.
The workshops are supported by the NSF through a subaward under the AR-NETWORK project, and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. There’s no cost to attend, but those interested are asked to register online. Space is limited, and responding to a short email survey registrants will receive is required.
Both Martin and Green encourage the UA Little Rock community and others to take advantage of free resources through ASBTDC, including these pitch workshops.
The center assists new, existing, and innovation-based small businesses across Arkansas. To learn more, visit asbtdc.org.
For questions about the NSF Project Pitch Workshop Series, contact Martin at [email protected].
The post Online Workshops to Provide Tips for Research Funding Pitches appeared first on News.
Source: https://ualr.edu/news/2026/09/14/online-workshops-to-provide-tips-for-research-funding-pitches