For life science startups, two of the primary sources of non-dilutive funding are federal grants and the Startup Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credit, which allows startups to offset payroll taxes before they become profitable. Both programs are intended to spur innovation and accelerate growth in the USA. Sometimes, it is difficult for startups to determine if they should pursue one or both of these non-dilutive sources.
In this workshop, HIREtech (experts in small business grants and R&D Tax Credits) will provide guidance to startups by comparing and contrasting the merits of these two programs. The grants portion will focus on what qualifies for small business grants (SBIR/STTRs), and the R&D Tax Credit portion will overview what qualifies as R&D expenses. Overall, this workshop will help entrepreneurs better focus their efforts to fund their R&D programs.
Speakers:
Jim Foster | National Tax Director, HIREtech read bio»
Jacob Setterbo | Director of Grants, HIREtech read bio»
Amanda Chandee | Grants Specialist HIREtech read bio»
Agenda:
11:30 AM | Registration Opens, Networking and Lunch
12:00 PM | Presentation
12:45 PM | Q&A
1:30 PM | Program Close
About the "How to... Workshop" series:
The "How to... Workshop" series is dedicated to giving you the keys to a successful business, from creation to exit. As with all our events, the "How to... Workshop" is interactive and informal so bring your questions with you!
Fees:
Free | General Public
Speakers' Biographies: 
Jim Foster, J.D. | National Tax Director, HIREtech
Jim Foster is the National Tax Director at HIREtech, headquartered in Houston, Texas. Jim currently specializes in the R&D tax credit, the IC-DISC export incentive, and the Section 199 Domestic Production Activities Deduction. Jim has been practicing in the general area of taxation and tax law for over a decade. In that time, he has become one of the leading producers of successful R&D tax credit cases for his corporate clients. Further, he has a proved record of successful tax cases that range from IRS audits and appeals to various state-level tax audits and appeals. Prior to HIREtech and after obtaining his J.D., Jim worked for a national tax consulting firm where he specialized in the R&D tax credit and the IC-DISC export incentive. While in law school, Jim worked at a public accounting office where he helped the firm advance in and maintain a double-digit growth. Jim received his B.S. in Political Science from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law. He is a licensed attorney in the state of Texas.
Jacob Setterbo, Ph.D. | Director of Grants, HIREtech
Dr. Jacob Setterbo is Director of Grants at HIREtech, where he helps life science companies obtain non-dilutive funding. Jacob focuses on small business grants (SBIR/STTRs) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has provided consultation and technical writing for various therapeutic areas across the spectrum of NIH’s interests, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, digital health, and health care delivery. Jacob assists with experimental design and commercialization components of each project. Jacob regularly vets early-stage companies with respect to innovation and commercial potential to determine their applicability for grants. As part of this process, Jacob evaluates business plans, market analyses, existing literature, patent portfolios, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) meeting minutes. Jacob also assists with Startup R&D Tax Credits at HIREtech. Jacob is a Founding Mentor for the Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) at Houston, an Advisor for the Texas Medical Center Accelerator (TMCx), and an Advisory Board Member for the Terry Foundation. Jacob also served as a reviewer for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund and as a due diligence team member for the Houston Angel Network. Jacob received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from University of California, Davis and his B.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
Amanda Chadee, Ph.D| Grants Specialist HIREtech 
Dr. Amanda Chadee is a Grants Specialist at HIREtech ,where she specializes in obtaining early-stage capital for small companies seeking to commercialize innovative biomedical technologies. Dr. Chadee conducts the full range of activities required to prepare, manage, and submit grant proposals to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. She has prepared grants for various agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and has consulted with clients in areas of digital health, medical devices, and biological technologies. Dr. Chadee also specializes in the R&D tax credit incentives for corporate clients in areas of manufacturing, health-care, pharmaceuticals and energy. She is currently a member of the Forbes Finance Council. Dr. Chadee received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from The University of Texas at Austin and her B.S. in Biochemistry from Claflin University in South Carolina.
Location:
JLABS @ TMC
John P. McGovern Campus
2450 Holcombe Blvd, Suite J
Houston, TX 77021
Parking Information:
Please park in the self parking areas of the McGovern Campus. Grab a Token at the gate and bring it to the event space. We encourage carpooling and using the TMC shuttles.
