Home

Your partner in
technology commercialization

See what Dawnbreaker® can do for you

Click on a box below

From stoplight assessments, to customized market research reports, to in-depth competitor analyses and so much more, the highly skilled team at Dawnbreaker is here to help you understand all the nuances on your way to commercialization.

Whether you need trade show booth designs, marketing materials with pizzazz, an eye-catching website, or you want to build a new and exciting brand from scratch, our team of designers and programmers can expertly craft your new image with style.

Selecting and submitting an application to hire your own vendor through TABA is a choice many companies make. Dawnbreaker will provide you with everything you need in order to request a TABA as part of your proposal submission package.

  • Dawnbreaker has been monumental in the development of unique commercialization services that are
    responsive to each agency’s unique needs; provide effective business mentoring for the widest array of
    SBIR/STTR awardees and provides lasting business lessons that extend beyond the SBIR/STTR program.
  • X

    The SBIR program was introduced via
    the Small Business Innovation Development
    Act of 1982, an amendment to the Small
    Business Act. No administrative funds were
    made available for Agencies to implement
    the program, nor were funds made available
    to provide commercialization assistance.

  • X

    The Department of Energy was the first agency
    to provide commercialization assistance to SBIR
    awardees (1990). Dr. Sam Barish and Mr. Ron
    Toms were the programs’ champions. Using a
    “tin cup” approach they gathered funds for the
    first Phase II CAP.

  • X

    Having been part of the intrapreneurial
    experiment at a Fortune 500 company,
    Dr. Servo knew the importance of having
    metrics to demonstrate the impact of a
    program. The metric selected was
    Phase III $$$ secured within 18 months
    of CAP completion.

  • X

    The first CAP was small and focused on
    assisting companies develop business plans
    and bringing them together with potential
    partners/investors. Dawnbreaker showcased
    the companies at an Opportunity Forum®
    and took the financial risk to cover venue
    costs. On average 40% of program
    participants secured Phase III funding
    within 18 months.

  • X

    The Small Business Research and Development
    Enhancement Act of 1992 drew attention to
    commercial potential, and allowed agencies
    to spend no more than $4,000 per company
    for commercialization assistance during
    Phase I. The Small Business Technology
    Transfer program was introduced in the
    same year via the Small Business Technology
    Transfer Act of 1992.

  • X

    Dr. Kesh Narayanan and Mr. Joe Hennessey
    were the champions for the NSF Phase I
    Commercialization Planning Program which
    began at NSF in 2000 with a focus on both
    commercialization and training.

  • X

    As NSF modified its requirements for the Phase II
    Commercialization Plans that companies were to
    include in their proposals, Dawnbreaker
    continually modified its program to provide best
    value. Innovations included the Virtual Strategic
    Partner Introduction (VSPI), various market
    research initiatives and webinars.

  • X

    The Committee of Visitors noted
    an improvement in the quality of
    Phase II proposals submitted.

  • X

    The Committee of Visitors noted
    an improvement in the quality of
    Phase II proposals submitted.

  • X

    The commercialization process within
    mission agencies is different than in the
    private sector. This process referred to
    as “transition” within DoD and “infusion”
    within NASA requires an understanding
    of the manner in which technology is
    acquired, technology readiness levels,
    test and evaluation, risk assessment
    and protocols.

  • X

    Mr. Vinnie Schaper, John Williams and
    Steve Sullivan were the champions for
    the Navy Transition Assistance Program,
    while Gynelle Steele was the champion for
    pilot program at NASA Glenn. This Phase II
    program included the development of
    Quad charts, narrative briefings, Phase III
    Transition Plans, market research,
    PowerPoint presentations and
    participation in the Navy Opportunity
    Forum.® In addition, Dawnbreaker
    developed the newsletter referred to
    as Transitions and developed
    success stories.

  • X

    The primary metric for success was Phase III
    funding secured within 18 months. Other
    metrics included the number of attendees at
    the Navy Opportunity Forum and their ratings
    of the event. Dr. Servo received a Tibbetts award
    in 2002 based on work done with the Navy.

  • X

    Long term, clear differences were noted
    in the rate of commercialization between
    those that participated in the TAP and those
    that didn’t. Those that participated in the
    TAP were 30% more likely to be successful
    in transition to Phase III.

  • X

    The Small Business Innovation Research
    Program Reauthorization Act of 2000
    allowed companies to select their own
    vendor to provide technical assistance
    which could include access to a network
    of scientists and engineers. This option
    when selected by a company was referred
    to as Discretionary Technical Assistance
    and was an alternative to the agency
    provided vendor.

  • X

    In response to a 2015 solicitation from the
    Department of Energy, Dawnbreaker
    developed an extensive menu of services
    for Phase I and Phase 2 awardees. The
    menu of services was designed to provide
    numerous alternatives to companies of
    varying degree of sophistication.

  • X

    With a shift to providing many service
    options, concurrent with the move away
    from the government sponsored events
    where one could bring partners/investors
    and companies together – process metrics
    were collected, which indicated the degree
    of satisfaction the small business had with
    the services provided

  • X

    The SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011
    drew attention to the need to improve the
    efforts to engage women, minorities and
    companies in underrepresented states in
    the SBIR/STTR program.

  • X

    Mr. Manny Oliver and Christopher O’Gwin
    from the Department of Energy were the
    champions for this initiative.

  • X

    Metrics include the number of participants
    that submit proposals developed with
    Dawnbreaker’s assistance and the
    percentage of those that win an award.
    Variations on this program have been
    piloted with NIH and USDA.

  • X

    To increase the reach of the SBIR/STTR
    programs, Train the Trainer (TTT) services
    were developed and provided to the
    networks of service providers including
    Small Business Development Centers
    (SBDC), Procurement Technical Assistance
    Centers (PTAC) and incubators.

Dawnbreaker’s Contributions to SBIR/STTR Commercialization Assistance
A Legacy of Firsts