2023 NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator pre-submission seminar

For the second year, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Office of Strategic Extramural Programs (OSEP) and Office of Special Populations (OSP) has launched an exciting challenge prize competition, the 2023 NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator, and strongly encourages submissions from individuals who are from groups underrepresented in the U.S. health sciences. Submissions are due April 20, 2023.

You are invited to join the NIA OSEP team for a pre-submission webinar on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. ET, which will offer information on the program and guidance on the submission process, as well as a Q&A with NIA program staff.

Out of the pool of submitters, up to 20 finalists will be selected to participate in a five-month

accelerator program. Finalists are expected to commit four to six hours per week from approximately July to December 2023. To provide maximum flexibility for participants, the five-month accelerator program will be mostly virtual except for one or two in-person networking events (travel costs will be paid by NIH for at least one finalist per team).

The program will offer strategic resources to help accelerate the diverse entrepreneurs and their technologies. These resources include:

• Access to industry networks
• Mentorship from experts in relevant fields
• Entrepreneurial coaching and workshops
• Grant submission skill building
• Peer-to-peer networking

At the conclusion of the program, up to six finalists will be selected as winners to each receive a $60,000 cash prize. This prize is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. The cash prize and resources accessed through the accelerator program may be vital to launch or grow the participant’s start-up and execute activities that may improve a future NIA SBIR or STTR research proposal; for example, testing the premise of the research idea, generating preliminary data, developing or improving a prototype, or building an experienced team.

Register Today!

Webinar: Pre-Submission Webinar: 2023 NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator Program for Fostering Entrepreneurial Diversity

Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023

Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

Speakers:

Joy Toliver, M.P.H.

Program Coordinator, Office of Strategic Extramural Programs

National Institute on Aging

National Institutes of Health

Joshua Hooks, Ph.D.

AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Office of Strategic Extramural Programs

National Institute on Aging

National Institutes of Health

Jamie Lahvic, Ph.D.

Program Officer, Office of Strategic Extramural Programs

National Institute on Aging

National Institutes of Health

About the Pre-Submission Webinar

The webinar will feature:

• An overview of the challenge and accelerator program
• Tips for submitting a competitive submission
• Guidance on eligibility, submission requirements, and technical details of submission
• A Q&A regarding this program and submission

Who Should Attend?

Individuals and teams who have a demonstrated need for entrepreneurial resources and support and have an innovative idea for a science-driven technology or product that aligns with the NIA small business research priorities are strongly encouraged to attend:

• Submitters from racial and ethnic groups who have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Submitters who are developing a product or technology to address the unique needs of older adults from minority and/or medically underserved populations or to eliminate health disparities in aging adults from marginalized groups
• Submitters with research experience, training, or unique life experiences that bring a diverse perspective to aging-related research and development

Prospective submitters are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the webinar via the registration form or by email to the NIA Challenge Team at NIAstartupchallenge@mail.nih.gov.