FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2026
QEM Network Announces TEC-HEROES Initiative to Strengthen NSF SBIR/STTR Participation in EPSCoR States
Two-year initiative will provide entrepreneurial training, proposal development support, negotiation capacity building, and national storytelling focused on America’s Seed Fund
WASHINGTON, D.C. — QEM Network is advancing TEC-HEROES, a two-year initiative designed to increase the number and competitiveness of proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs from entrepreneurs in EPSCoR states.
TEC-HEROES will focus on strengthening participation throughout the NSF SBIR/STTR pipeline by providing entrepreneurs with targeted training, individualized coaching, proposal development assistance, and other resources designed to help translate innovative ideas into competitive proposals for America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF.
The initiative will serve entrepreneurs across the EPSCoR states of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
A central component of TEC-HEROES will be intensive support for entrepreneurs developing their initial NSF Project Pitch. Over the two-year project period, QEM Network will coordinate in-person entrepreneurial training opportunities across 16 targeted EPSCoR states, providing participants with practical guidance for communicating the technological innovation, market opportunity, competitive advantage, and potential impact of their ideas.
These in-person activities will be complemented by a national webinar series offering extended training on the individual components required for a strong Project Pitch.
Entrepreneurs who successfully advance from the Project Pitch stage and receive an invitation to submit a full NSF SBIR/STTR proposal will have access to an expanded level of support. TEC-HEROES will connect participants with experienced coaches who will assist with proposal development through virtual training sessions, individualized one-on-one meetings, and proposal review support.
The initiative is designed to address more than proposal writing. TEC-HEROES will help entrepreneurs build the broader skills necessary to successfully navigate the commercialization and innovation ecosystem.
During the project’s first year, entrepreneurs participating in Phase II of the SBIR pipeline will work with Scotwork to strengthen their capacity in negotiation. The specialized training will help participating innovators develop skills that can support partnerships, commercialization agreements, business relationships, and other negotiations associated with moving emerging technologies toward the marketplace.
TEC-HEROES will also highlight the broader national impact of federally supported innovation through a three-part research documentary series produced by GDavis Productions and Films. The documentary series will capture stories from across the country demonstrating how America’s Seed Fund supports technological advancement, entrepreneurship, economic competitiveness, and innovation within communities throughout the United States.
By combining entrepreneurial development, proposal assistance, individualized coaching, negotiation training, and national storytelling, TEC-HEROES seeks to strengthen pathways into the NSF SBIR/STTR ecosystem while expanding opportunities for innovators in states that have historically received a smaller share of federal research and development investment.
Through the initiative, QEM Network will continue its longstanding commitment to expanding access to federal research, innovation, and economic development opportunities and strengthening the capacity of individuals, institutions, and communities to participate competitively in the nation’s science and technology enterprise.
About the NSF’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 $9 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit seedfund.nsf.gov.
About the QEM Network
The QEM Network is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving educational systems and increasing participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through technical assistance, research capacity development, workforce initiatives, partnerships, and program implementation, QEM works with institutions and communities across the United States to broaden participation and strengthen the nation’s STEM research and innovation ecosystem.
Media Contact:
QEM Network HQ
Shaunette Bishop
sbishop@qem.org
202-659-1818