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SBIR / STTR
DCN offers commercializationNSF planning to SBIR/STTR National Science Foundation grantees.

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DCN Technology Commercialization

DCN Technology Commercialization enables entrepreneurs to tell a great story…their story. Our mission is to help entrepreneurs develop a commercialization plan that:
  • Tells a great story
  • Describes a compelling market opportunity or serious problem
  • Provides a solution
  • Creates a rational, achievable business model
  • Builds for the long-term
  • Is clear, concise, professional, and most of all, passionate
Highlights from the DCN NSF SBIR/STTR Technical Assistance Program:
  • Over 400 NSF SBIR/STTR grantees are successfully utilizing DCN's Commercialization Program
  • Over 200 companies have successfully completed the program
  • Over 300 mentors from DCN's network currently advise NSF SBIR/STTR grantees
  • Over 18,000 MBAs constitute DCN's potential mentor network via our affiliation with MBAGlobalNet

e-Learning

DCN's commercialization planning programs utlilize our specially-developed e-learning tool accessed right here on this website. This planning tool is self-paced and provides entrepreneurs with numerous examples of excellent commercialization planning writing.

DCN Technical Assistance Advisors work with each entrepreneur along the way to ensure they understand the tool, to schedule their 5 week planning session, to assign mentors (see below), and to help ready each plan ready for mentor review.

One-on-one Expert Mentoring

DCN assigns each entrepreneur two expert commercialization planning mentors and one reviewer. Mentors assume an advocate role with entrepreneurs, reviewing plans section-by-section, while a reviewer addresses issues such as how closely the planning tool was followed and how convincingly each entrepreneur has demonstrated and communicated an ability to commercialize their technology.

When commercialization plans are in final draft form, entrepreneurs receive a final, rigorous review that must convince the reviewer that the company has the resources, talent and skill to commercialize the proposed technology.

Unique Seminars and Workshops

DCN design and facilitates unique training seminars and workshops for entrepreneurs (depending on sponsoring institutions). These seminars treat subjects including business planning, capital markets strategies, investor presentations, and licensing strategies.

DCN's Global Networks

Entrepreneurs participating in DCN's commercialization planning programs have access to numerous other helpful resources from our extensive networks, including partnerships with leaders in technology commercialization and innovation capital, links to helpful websites, and targeted tools of use now and in the future.