Join our team of SBIR experts and the FAST (Federal and State Technology) Center of Illinois for an SBIR/STTR webinar event from 2:00-3:00pm on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
This webinar focuses on the structure, content, and writing strategies that make SBIR and STTR proposals stand out—especially from the perspective of reviewers. This builds on our first session, Best Practices: Tips and Tricks for SBIR and other R&D Proposals, presented on July 16, 2025. We'll take a section-by-section look at how to craft a compelling proposal package, with practical examples. We will focus on the proposal elements that that entrepreneurs struggle with most often. These include (i) the project plan with milestones, deliverables, and risks, (ii) the budget explanation, (iii) the commercialization potential, (iv) the technical innovation, and (v) the team’s qualifications. We will consider agency-specific criteria and share tips for effective writing that aligns with reviewer expectations. Whether you're preparing your first submission or looking to improve your success rate, this session will help you write with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Daniel J. Gisser, Tillerline Associates LLC
Dan Gisser helps technologists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and university researchers unlock non-dilutive R&D funding, navigate complex government grant programs, and develop strategic partnerships. This includes identifying the right funding opportunity, developing and sharpening proposals, and managing the entire grants process from pitch to postmortem. Dan brings deep experience and broad technical knowledge to the table. As a frequent NSF and DOE SBIR reviewer, he sees proposals through the evaluator’s eyes.
Dan’s professional journey combines 25+ years spanning leadership in Fortune 100 corporations, nonprofit research institutes, consulting, and non-profit boards. Across all these roles, Dan’s work empowered innovators to bridge technical brilliance with commercial impact. Dan earned his PhD in polymer physical chemistry and his MBA in marketing, entrepreneurship, and strategy.
This is a free, virtual event, but registration is required. The link to the webinar will be emailed to you upon completion of your registration. Recording Notice: By registering for this webinar, you acknowledge and agree that it will be recorded and shared online for public viewing.
For more information and how to access more resources, visit the FAST Center at Illinois website.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR and STTR enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated, and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.