In accordance with the SBA STTR eligibility Criteria, as the Research Institute ( RI )CCTI must perform 30% of the R&D under the project.  For more information about the SBA RI eligibility criteria, please click HERE.

For Phase 1 open topic proposals fill out the application form HERE. If funded, you will be a Catalyst STTR Bootcamp Participant.

For Phase II Proposals and Phase I STTR proposals with more specific needs (beyond bootcamp programming) that that Catalyst Campus can support, please contact Abigail Steen at Abigail.steen@catalystcampus.org  to set up a conversation on how CCTI can best support your project.

See the SBA’s STTR/SBIR eligibility Criteria for small businesses HERE.

CCTI is best equipped to support the following Critical Technology areas:

• Trusted AI and Autonomy
• Space Technology
• Advanced Computing and Technology
• Integrated Sensing and Cyber

For definitions of each of these critical technology areas, click HERE. For further context, access the 2023 National Defense Science and Technology Strategy HERE.

Small Businesses with technology capabilities that are applicable to Air Force and Space Force use cases, who are interested in expanding their market footprint to the Government sector. These businesses must also be willing and able to submit a STTR proposal in partnership with CCTI (as the Research Institute).

• Participate in curated Customer Discovery and business development educational programming and support
• Access to a wide network of subject matter experts (SMEs)
• Work hand-in-hand in a collaborative environment where participants will have access to Government and Commercial Stakeholders in the Aerospace and Defense sector.
• No Equity Requirements and we take no IP.

The Catalyst Boot Camp team is looking for small businesses and startups that would like to extend their market footprint to the Government, specifically to the Department of Defense. Eligibility requirements are listed below. Small, independent US business

• 51% or more ownership by US citizens or permanent residents
• No foreign investment
• Not more than 51% owned by single VC organization
• Available, willing, and financially able to travel to Colorado Springs for the Boot Camp
• Companies with the desire to apply for an Open Topic Phase I STTR in partnership with CCTI.
• Available, willing, and able to commit 30% of SBIR or STTR Award to CCTI as Research Institute (RI) partner
• Available, willing, and able to execute relevant contracts (NDA, IP, MOA and Partnership Agreement) with CCTI for the Duration of the project

For all STTR Bootcamp cohorts consisting of 6-8 companies, all programming is in-person at Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Founders and/or c-suite individuals are able to gain the most out of the Bootcamp while also pulling in key members from their team for specific topics.

While in Colorado Springs consecutively for two weeks, participants will attend customer discovery and business development briefings will take place from 8:00 -12:00PM Tuesday -Friday with focused one -on-one sessions Tuesday- Thursday afternoons. Occasional evening programming and networking sessions take place Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Small businesses who have utilized CCTI as a Research Institute Partner for Phase I STTR proposals and have been funded pay CCTI 30% of their funded amount in accordance with the Research Institute STTR requirements and participate in the Bootcamp. All Bootcamp costs aside from travel and lodging are covered by CCTI’s allocation of the STTR Award.

We aim for a cohort size is 6-8 Companies for the ideal collaborative programming size.

For all STTR Partnerships during the Pre-Proposal onboarding process, CCTI signs an MOA, NDA and IP Agreement with each Small Business looking to partner with CCTI as an RI.

The Catalyst Bootcamp team recommends that all companies keep what they share during the Bootcamp at a public level.  With that said, NDAs are signed between cohort companies and individuals in the program with which company success depends on sharing sensitive information in order to participate in the program (e.g. the Catalyst Bootcamp management team and the Bootcamps’s primary subject matter experts).  Government employees are automatically under an NDA with all commercial companies they talk with, but industry participants are not.  Companies will most likely feel the necessity to enter into an NDA with their Commercial Sherpas; however, it is up to each individual cohort company to decide with whom they wish to enter into an NDA.

Catalyst STTR Bootcamp uses SurveyMonkey’s Apply platform to manage our application, evaluation, and feedback processes. To view the SurveyMonkey Apply Data and Privacy information, please visit click HERE.

Information provided to STTR Program management is protected under NDA between STTR Client Companies and CCTI. This NDA is signed at the time of the formalization of the RI partnership however companies may request the execution of an NDA earlier in the process as needed.

Yes!  If your company or project is not a good fit for the Bootcamp offering but would still like to partner with CCTI as a Research Institute, please reach out to Abigail Steen at Abigail.steen@catalystcampus.org to discuss how CCTI can support your project through other value-add activities.

The Catalyst STTR BootCamp is a condensed 2-week program where participating companies have access to:

• potential users, stakeholders, and decision makers from the U.S. DoD, Government entities of Allied Partners and Industry
• training workshops that serve to accelerate a company’s business development
• networking opportunities
• mentorship from U.S. DoD, experts from Allied Partners and industry experts alike

At the culmination of the program, we will facilitate a Demo Day and invite Government and Commercial investors, technology champions, industry experts, venture capitalists, and other stakeholders.

Apply HERE to partner with CCTI on the February 2024 AFWerx Open topic Phase I STTR Solicitation.