Structuring Investment in SBIR Funded Companies: New Opportunities for Venture Capital

After years of uncertainty over the future of the federal government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the FY12 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has finally reauthorized the SBIR program for six years. As part of this reauthorization, the NDAA also authorized changes to SBIR rules to allow small firms that are majority-owned by venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms to receive SBIR grants. Regulatory conditions imposed upon such investors will affect the structure of investments in SBIR funded companies.
 
This webinar will focus on what changes are likely to be adopted in the SBIR program, and how investments in or acquisitions of SBIR funded companies may be affected by regulations being finalized at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
 
Our panel of top legal, legislative, and industry professionals will offer practical advice and address such questions as:

• How is the SBA implementing the NDAA’s requirements to open up SBIR-funded companies to larger private equity investment?
• How are comments on the proposed rules likely to be reflected in the final rules?
• How will the new rules affect who will be eligible to receive SBIR funding from federal agencies?
• How will the increased flexibility in private equity investment alter the structure of investments in SBIR funded companies?
• How and to what extent will foreign investors participate in investments in an SBIR funded company
• What will an SBIR funded company be required to do to maintain its eligibility for future awards?

Panelists
- Jonathan Cain, Member, Mintz Levin
- Alexander Hecht, Vice President of Government Relations, ML Strategies
- Cartier Esham, Senior Director Emerging Company Health and Regulatory Affairs, Biotechnology Industry Organization
- Kelly Slone, Vice President of Federal Life Science Policy, National Venture Capital Association

Event Details
Structuring Investment in SBIR Funded Companies: New Opportunities for Venture Capital