Industry Education Day at Tech Grove helps small businesses navigate innovation, growth

By Cassidy Mills, Senior Staff Writer

July 6, 2026

Small businesses looking to maximize the long-term value of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program gathered on June 16 at Central Florida Tech Grove for the latest Industry Education Day, “Beyond Revenue: SBIR as a Strategic Advantage.”

The session explored how companies can move beyond viewing SBIR as a source of research funding and instead leverage it as a catalyst for commercialization, technology transition and sustainable business growth.

The event reflects Team Orlando’s commitment to fostering collaboration among government, industry and academia to accelerate innovation and strengthen the defense industrial base.

By connecting small businesses with practical strategies for navigating the SBIR program and positioning their technologies for operational success, Tech Grove equips innovators with the knowledge and partnerships needed to move emerging capabilities from concept to deployment.

The presentation was led by Luke DeVore, managing partner of The Voltron Group, a government business development consultancy that helps innovators navigate SBIR strategy, commercialization and technology transition.

Rather than focusing solely on securing research funding, DeVore encouraged companies to develop a long-term strategy that aligns every proposal with a technology roadmap and positions innovative technologies for transition into government and commercial markets.

One of the session’s central themes was the importance of viewing SBIR funding as strategic capital rather than operating revenue. While pursuing every available solicitation may provide short-term funding, DeVore explained that it can also pull companies away from their core mission.

“Think about SBIR as strategic capital — not as operating revenue,” DeVore said. “Every opportunity should answer one question: How does this advance your technology roadmap?”

That strategy is increasingly important as the recently reauthorized SBIR program places greater emphasis on commercialization, transition planning, cybersecurity and measurable outcomes. According to DeVore, agencies are looking beyond innovative ideas — they want technologies that can be adopted by end users and ultimately solve real operational challenges.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on Phase III, which DeVore described as the program’s greatest strategic opportunity. Unlike Phases I and II, Phase III uses non-SBIR funding to continue developing or deploying SBIR-derived technologies, often through sole-source contracts.

By planning for Phase III from the beginning and building relationships with government stakeholders and industry partners, companies can create a pathway from research to real-world implementation.

He also encouraged attendees to use artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to strengthen proposal development by organizing requirements, conducting research and improving compliance.

At the same time, DeVore emphasized AI shouldn’t be relied on too heavily, as the most compelling proposals are built on original thinking and a deep understanding of the customer’s mission — not AI-generated content.

“AI is an excellent tool for organizing information, summarizing requirements and helping you work more efficiently,” DeVore said. “But it shouldn’t replace your expertise. The innovation, the technical approach and the understanding of your customer’s problem still have to come from you because that’s what ultimately makes a proposal compelling.”

The session concluded with a discussion on how small businesses can approach the SBIR program with a long-term perspective, emphasizing commercialization, technology transition and strategic planning alongside research and development.

Through examples and practical guidance, DeVore encouraged attendees to consider how each SBIR opportunity can support broader business objectives and position innovative technologies for future government and commercial applications.