EI Intake Survey
Complete the intake survey for defense readiness assessment.
Initial Client Intake
Provide contact details and basic information about your company.
Statement of Understanding
Please review and acknowledge the EI program terms.
Encountering Innovation (EI) is a team-driven initiative supported by multiple statewide SBDC and APEX Accelerator programs, with Kansas serving as the central coordination point. EI bridges Small Business Innovators with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Combatant Command Tech Scouts and other federal agencies. Established in 2017, EI is partially funded through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Kansas.
EI Team Responsibilities:
- Maintain confidentiality of client communications and information unless authorized.
- Provide courteous and professional service to clients and SBDC / APEX advisors (Tech Coaches).
- Provide training and one-to-one advising at no cost leading up to and as part of EI programming.
- Disclose any fees for services outside EI-funded activities prior to providing such services.
- Facilitate communication between clients and DoD Tech Scouts.
Client Responsibilities:
- Provide accurate and complete information necessary for EI assistance, including information required by SBA.
- Disclose any federal disbarment status.
- Provide financial, operational, and business planning information necessary for assessing business readiness.
- Provide access to initial and revised Heilmeier Catechism videos when requested for DoD relevance review.
- Cooperate with advisors and consider recommendations for business and innovation development.
- Complete requested evaluations and provide quarterly updates on awards, funding, licensing, joint ventures, and commercialization outcomes.
- Respond in a timely manner to documentation and communication requests.
Authorization to Release Information:
I authorize EI to communicate on my behalf with appropriate resource partners, including but not limited to the DoD, DOE, DHS, NASA, Department of Commerce, federal labs, demonstration programs, SBIR/STTR programs, TechConnect, DEFENSEWERX, and related entities, for the purpose of commercialization and innovation engagement.
I understand that my information will be shared with Tech Scouts prior to, during, and after EI Tech Showcases to support commercialization opportunities for my benefit.
Program Selection
Select which activities you are applying to participate in.
Technology Detail Section
Please fill this out the best you can. You will get draft documents generated from this information needed for the Tech Showcase. You will work with a Tech Coach to edit the drafts into final versions.
Limit to 10 words. Example: Flexible Feedstock Waste-to-Energy Conversion System
Summary for PUBLIC dissemination. Focus on what your technology can accomplish, not how it works. Use 8th grade English, simple terms. Limit to 100 words or 5-7 sentences.
Summarize your Public BLUF into one sentence. Limit to 30 words.
List tasks your innovation can perform or unique capabilities. Up to 7 items, one per line.
Prototype test results, expected outcomes, or outstanding product development accomplishments. Up to 7 items, one per line.
Select up to two secondary environments.
In 3-5 sentences, explain how your technology supports the selected DIU Area of Focus and mission environment. Describe the operational problem addressed and the intended end user. (150-250 words)
Explain why you chose the above maturity level. (50 words max)
What characteristics of your technology might be of interest to the DoD? Can your innovation enhance or replace a legacy military system? (Up to 9 items, one per line)
How many can be produced and in what time frame? Is it feasible to mass produce? (2 items max)
Describe your potential market, proof of market validation, testimonials, and competitor overview. (50 words max)
How fast can you produce under current plans? Plans for building faster, bigger, smaller? (2 items max)
What are your funding plans and approximate time to market? (50 words max)
If someone needed a reduced timeline and was willing to pay, how fast and how much? (50 words max)
Company Detail Section
Tell us about your company, team, and acknowledgments.
Describe the status of the technology, demonstrations, pilots, and anticipated path to market sales. (50 words max)
Describe your team, backgrounds, and accomplishments related to your innovation. Can include public partners. (50 words max)
Acknowledge programs, funding awards, important people (especially DoD personnel), or support received. (50 words max)
Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
A SPOC is required by DoD to be available for questions and discussions, not to transfer to someone else. This person is the sole communication point between the company and the Tech Scout.
Technology Commercialization Preparedness & Client Information
IP protection, federal experience, classifications, and past performance.
Separate each keyword by a comma. (10 words or less)
Past Performance
100 words max
List POCs and contact info along with organization and location. Note award types: SBIR, STTR, Space Act Agreement, CAN, LOS, MOU, etc.
300 words max
Review & Submit
Review your responses before submitting. You can go back to any section to make changes.
Company name, address, contacts
Terms, authorization, signature
Tech Transfer, Matchmaking, or Both
BLUF, TRL, DIU focus, mission environment, capabilities
Performance, team, acknowledgments
Single Point of Contact for Tech Scout
IP, SBIR/STTR, classifications, manufacturing