Overview
This event is a two-part line-up:
- Thought leadership webinar; Q&A
- Confidential office hours with your Subject Matter Expert
The federal funding environment is evolving rapidly. With a new administration in place, the rules of the game are changing, and companies must act with precision and a new plan to remain competitive. In this dynamic 30-minute session, Grant Engine will outline what’s new, what’s uncertain, and what winning teams are doing right now to secure non-dilutive funding and, crucially, what leading companies are doing now for their medium- and long-term funding future.
We will start with an update on the current funding environment under the new administration and effective strategies to navigate that environment based on our experience and recent success. As regulations evolve and the funding landscape is redefined, understanding how to navigate your path with the government is more essential than ever.
Next, learn what makes your content “win” and how AI (when used smartly) can improve both quality and speed. At the NIH, submission volume increased significantly in 2024, driven by AI. Concurrently, approval rates were down even more on a percentage basis. Understanding how AI can be used effectively to help you win, while avoiding the pitfalls that AI naturally provides.
Lastly, we will cover a crucial aspect to “Winning” funding opportunities: self-renewing strategies for securing long-term funding. By pursuing strategies like virtuous circle; snowball; and platform among others we will define reliable strategies that serve your short- and long-term interests to win more funding.
Join the Office Hours Session (Optional but Valuable!)
After the webinar, continue the conversation during our interactive Office Hours session.
This is your opportunity to:
- Confidentially discuss your specific company and project.
- Ask questions sparked by the webinar
- Gain additional insights from our experts
- Learn through shared Q&A and discussions with other participants
Office Hours are held after the webinar and require a separate registration.
Meet Your Speakers
Sam Tetlow is Founder & CEO of Grant Engine. Grant Engine has a proven model of delivering funding to leading life science companies through the NIH SBIR program as well as DARPA, BARDA and other DoD sources. Sam has successful experience as an entrepreneur and investor in life sciences companies such as EpiCypher (named best University Startup of 2016 by U.S. Congress), ILS Genomics, Immunologix, Gentris Corporation, and Tranzyme Pharma (IPO April, 2011) among others.
As a leader within companies Sam has a functional focus on product development, sales, finance and corporate development. Sam continues to build on his venture capital experience by investing into compelling companies as an Angel. Sam seeks results and has a proven track record. Sam has generated a 5.8x return on invested capital, with 76% cash realization in his last 14 years of investing.
Sam holds a MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (Beta Gamma Sigma, 2003) and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Honors, 1993). He has been on Mt. Everest, is a former competitive triathlete, and an avid proponent of doing good while doing well.
Brian Bender, SME and Lead Writer at Grant Engine, is an experienced engineer, entrepreneur, and grant writer, helping startups and small business secure non-dilutive grant funding. With a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from UCLA and BS in Materials Science and Engineering, he primarily supports companies within the areas of medical devices and diagnostics, digital health and AI, and hardware technologies outside the scope of healthcare.
Brian cofounded Intake Health, securing I-Corps, NSF, and NIH SBIR funding while helping design and bring their wellness product from concept to elite sports, military, and workplace safety markets. Previously, Brian worked at UCLA’s Technology Development Group, supporting the licensing of university IP and LA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Brian is also an ultra-trail runner, completing his first 100-miler in the San Gabriel mountains last year.