Established

🍾Six years ago today, Established was born!🍾

Thank you to every client, partner, and team member who has been part of this incredible journey. Here's to six years of , & - cheers to many more!

We hope you enjoy our 6-year reflection: https://est.us/turnssix

Entrepreneur Ecosystem Building presented by Ecomap is kicking off at the Established House with a panel: Beyond the Buzzwords: How AI Can Be Leveraged to Support Entrepreneurial Ecosystems.

Starting in one hour at the Established House (300 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX)!

9 - 10 AM CT | Brewing Innovation & the Non-Obvious 7-Minute Meetup, including a 1:1 interview between Frank Gruber, Established and Rohit Bhargava, Non-Obvious Company

Enjoy donuts, coffee, and conversation!

Don't miss the 1:1 conversation between Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital and Frank Gruber of Established and Established Ventures!

Sunday, March 10
12:00 - 2:00 PM CT
The Established House (300 E. 6th St., Austin, TX)
Official SXSW event

RSVP: https://est.us/FLL
Make sure to check out our full day of programming!

🎉 Brewing Innovation at the Established House in Austin, TX on March 10 (9-10 AM CT)

9 AM | ☕ 🍩
9:18 AM | Non-Obvious Company 7-Minute Meetup
9:40 AM | Fireside Chat with Rohit Bhargava & Frank Gruber

RSVP: https://est.us/7MM
For the full schedule of events: https://house.established.us/

Taking place at the Established House in Austin, TX

March 10, 12 - 2 PM CT
Founders Lounge and Lunch
SXSW (official)

12 PM | Fireside Chat with Arlan Hamilton, Backstage Capital, and Frank Gruber, Established and Established Ventures

12:30 - 2 PM | Founders Lounge and Lunch

RSVP: https://est.us/FLL
For the complete schedule of events: https://house.established.us/

Exciting news! We are headed back to Austin, TX for our 13th year!

Join us on March 10 at the Established® House presented by Established, EcoMap Technologies, Established Ventures, and Startup of the Year.

Who should attend? , , support organizations ( ), and enthusiasts

Programming includes a fast-pitch competition, fireside chats with industry experts, networking, and more!

Learn more and register 🔜 https://house.established.us/

✨A special holiday note from our team to you and yours...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzhij4YKBDI

Startup of the Year

Established 2023 End of Year Recap Thank you to our community for being a part of our 2023 successes. We look forward to 2024. Wishing you a great holiday season.

Funding opportunity for game developers

AFWERX is looking to invest in new approaches to wargaming and is searching for startup game developers.

Interested in learning more? RSVP for the free Ask Me Anything (AMA) virtual session:

December 12, 3 PM ET
REGISTER: https://www.est.us/gaming

This 45-minute event will provide an introduction to the program opportunity followed by an open Q&A session where attendees can ask questions pertaining to specific details and criteria the Air Force considers when providing federal funding.

Exciting Opportunity for North Carolina

On December 5, the AFWERX HBCU Talent Tour is stopping at North Carolina A&T State University for . Don't miss this valuable event where attendees will have the opportunity to experience real-world technology problem-solving by Airmen and Guardian innovators.

This is a great way to grow your skill set and gain knowledge directly from AFWERX representatives.

Date: Tuesday, December 5
Time: 10 am - 3 pm
Location: Student Center, Deese Ballroom
Lunch will be provided by NCAT!

To learn more and register for this free, in-person event, please head here: https://est.us/AFWERXHBCU1205

Entrepreneur ecosystem builders, this summit is for you!

The 3rd Annual Innovation Ecosystem Summit will take place virtually December 13-14 and is tailored to connect ecosystem leaders throughout the country.

- Two days of collaboration with fellow organizations from across the country

- Opportunities to learn about best practices and initiatives from other organizations

- Learn about federal funding opportunities for your organization

- Leave with ideas to help your entrepreneurs access government funding and other sources of capital

- Gain creative and actionable ways to build a network that is inclusive of underrepresented communities

Register to join a great gathering of thought leaders in this space! https://bit.ly/ESOSummit2023

Established will host our 10th Annual Startup of the Year Summit next year (more details coming soon!)...

Apply by 1/31/24 for your chance to become the next . The Top 100 companies will connect with investors, mentors, and other innovators.

https://est.us/SOTYSummit10

Does your startup have what it takes to become the 10th Annual Startup of the Year?

Our will take place in 2024 - stay tuned for details. , learn more and apply before 1/31/24 for your chance to take home the title!

https://est.us/SOTYSummit10

TODAY (8/20) is the LAST DAY to vote for the SXSW 2024 !

UPVOTE ➡️ What's In a Name? How to Build & Protect Your Brand

, this panel is for YOU!

- How do you transform a budding idea into a global brand?
- How can you identify which elements of your brand might be intellectual property assets and how best to protect them?
- How do you plan to pitch your idea, secure capital, and scale manufacturing and distribution?

Join Shark Tank & Startup of the Year alumi Robbie Cabral, founder, CEO, and owner of BenjiLock, along with experts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Copyright Office, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to learn how you can build a valuable brand and better protect your products and services through intellectual property

VOTE!

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

Thank you to the fantastic Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partners hosting America's Seed Fund Road Tour next week!

7/17 - OK Catalyst, Tom Love Innovation Hub
7/18 - Wichita State University
7/19 - Missouri SBDC
7/20 - Nebraska Business Development Center
7/21 - America's SBDC Iowa

There is still time to join us in person!

Learn more, and register today for the opportunity to connect with Federal Agency representatives: https://www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour

Meet the Federal Agencies with representatives onsite during America's Seed Fund Road Tour - Midwest 2023 (July 17 - 21):

DOD SBIR STTR Programs:
- U.S. Navy
- AFWERX
- JSTO-CBD - The Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense
- United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Federal Laboratory Consortium
- US Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

More information on the agencies and, if applicable, their SBIR/STTR programs can be found here: https://www.americasseedfund.us/resources

There is still time to register for the in-person Road Tour Midwest! Learn more and sign-up here: https://www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour

In-Person Opportunity!

Learn how to navigate over $4 billion in early-stage funding through America’s Seed Fund - Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs during America's Seed Fund Road Tour - Midwest 2023!

Who: Small businesses, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, small technology firms and beyond who would like to learn about America’s Seed Fund and connect with the local innovation ecosystem

What: Each Road Tour stop facilitates programming and 1:1 in-person meetings between innovators and federal agency representatives

Where: 5 Midwest States - Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa

When: July 17-21

Information and Registration: https://www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour

🚌 Road Tour Stops 🚌
7/17 - Oklahoma City, OK
7/18 - Wichita, KS
7/19 - Kansas City, MO
7/20 - Lincoln, NE
7/21 - Des Moines, IA

For the first time since 2019, America's Seed Fund Road Tour will take to the road, stopping in five Midwest states to connect entrepreneurs with our country's largest source of .

Guess what?! Established will be on the bus! We are thrilled to support this valuable opportunity and help build a more inclusive innovation ecosystem.

, this is an opportunity to connect 1:1 with federal agencies.

Whether you are in the Midwest or just interested in learning more, please visit: https://www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour

America's Seed Fund Road Tour America’s Seed Fund Road Tour is a national outreach effort to connect innovators and entrepreneurs to non-dilutive, technology funding opportunities provided through America’s Seed Fund.

In just two weeks, America’s Seed Fund will host the SBIR/STTR Spring Conference at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to dive deep into the SBIR/STTR programs - take advantage of the discounted registration codes listed below.

June 20 - 21, Washington DC
1. SBIR/STTR Track - Panel sessions and Expo SBIR Pavilion
(Reg Code: 23SBIRREG - 25% discount)

2. Expo Only - Meet with agency representatives
(Reg Code: 23SBIREXPO)

Register: https://techconnectworld.com/World2023/register.html

Join us virtually on 5/15 to hear from emerging tech startups!

Kicking off America’s Seed Fund Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration will host its 2nd annual Startup Expo – showcasing innovative ventures that define the cutting-edge of technologies critical for our nation’s economic prosperity, global competitiveness, and national security.

For more information on America’s Seed Fund Week (5/15 - 5/18), including Startup Expo 2023, and to register: https://bit.ly/ASFweekexpo23

America's Seed Fund Week - America's Seed Fund America's Seed Fund Week will provide attendees with an opportunity to hear directly from the participating federal agency program managers that administer over 7,000 new awards annually and to meet virtually one-on-one with program decision makers.

🤔 What is America's Seed Fund? How can it help grow my startup?

On 5/16 at 2 PM ET, the second day of America's Seed Fund Week begins with a valuable 'SBIR 101' session. Register to learn more about what it takes to receive federal R&D funding.

https://bit.ly/ASFweekexpo23

⭐ ICYMI ⭐

Check out our latest Startup of the Year Podcast featuring Kathryn Finney, Founder and Managing General Partner of Genius Guild, a Chicago-based venture fund that invests in scalable businesses led by Black founders using innovation to build and promote healthy communities.

Enjoy this lively conversation with Frank Gruber (Co-CEO, Established) that was recorded live during SXSW 2023 at the Established Lounge. The two dive into her new book, "Build the Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy," which made the Wall Street Journal bestseller list in its first week of release!

Listen & subscribe: https://soty.link/Pod110

🗳️ Cast your vote! Support these startups!

These five rising companies will compete virtually on 4.25.23 during our next Startup of the Year pitch event. The event winner will receive one of our Top 100 semifinalists spots to participate at our 10th Annual Startup of the Year Summit!

The public's votes select the People's Choice Award winner!
- Card.io (Austin, TX)
- Humantelligence (Coral Gables, FL)
- Keepers (Lafayette, LA)
- Making Baby Connection (Alhambra, CA)
- Sm24 (Paradise Valley, AZ)

Learn more about each of these companies & cast your vote: https://soty.link/AprilPCA (Poll closes on 4.21)
RSVP: https://est.us/april25

Interested in funding for R&D? Join us at America’s Seed Fund Week (5.15 - 5.18) to virtually meet with federal agencies and decision-makers awarding $4B annually to ! Register today!


Register: https://www.americasseedfund.us

Investor friends, one of the best ways to increase your deal flow is by attending pitch competitions featuring top-notch .

Our next Startup of the Year virtual pitch event is just around the corner, and we have some stellar companies you should see.

April 25, 3 - 5 PM ET
Sign-up here: https://est.us/april25

Startups will be announced soon!

Streaming now - LIFT Labs season 2!

Our friend, Rodney Williams, Co-Founder & CEO, SoLo Funds (2020 Startup of the Year Winner; Established VC Portfolio) is a featured founder in the 3-part docuseries. Congrats!

Trailer: https://lift.comcast.com/founding-in-color/

Reminder - tomorrow (3/24) is the last day to submit your application for the chance to pitch at our Startup of the Year April Pitch Event on 4/25 (virtual)!

will pitch, connect w/ expert judges, and one will win a Top 100 spot in our 10th Startup of the Year Summit!

Apply: https://est.us/april25