Profile
Brittany Coleman
She, her, hers
Contact:
Oakton College
1600 E Golf Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60016
1600 E Golf Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 635-1632
SBIR/STTR Programs – America's Seed Fund
The SBIR Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are often called America’s Seed Fund. They give out billions of dollars every year in grant money (not loans, not equity) to small U.S. businesses that are working on new inventions, technology, or research that could become real products or services.
Why It’s Valuable
- You don’t give up ownership of your business (no investors taking a piece of your company).
- You don’t pay the money back (it’s not a loan).
- You get to keep your intellectual property (your ideas).
- The government is basically paying you to develop and test your innovation.
Who Can Apply
- Any small, for-profit business in the U.S. with fewer than 500 employees.
- SBIR: You can do all the work yourself as a business.
- STTR: You partner with a university or nonprofit research lab.
How to Apply
- Pick an agency (like NIH for health, DoD for defense, NASA for space, USDA for agriculture).
- Look for open “solicitations” (funding opportunities) on SBIR.gov.
- Register your business on Grants.gov.
- Write a proposal explaining your idea, why it’s innovative, and how you’ll use the money.
Where to Get Help
- Local SBDC (Small Business Development Center) – free one-on-one advising.
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Illinois I-Corps
-
Federal agencies – many (like NIH or DOE) offer webinars, tutorials, and even sample applications.
Funding Opportunities
Starting or growing a business often requires financial support, mentorship, and access to networks. Below are a variety of programs designed to help small business owners—from loans and equity investments to grants and free business education. Whether you are just launching, expanding, or looking for specialized support (such as women-owned or veteran-owned business programs), these resources provide capital, training, and tools to strengthen and sustain your business.
-
Accion Illinois Loan ProgramThe Accion loan is crafted to empower small businesses—especially those in underserved communities—by offering accessible, transparent financing (with no collateral required for loans under $25,000), alongside coaching and resources to help them grow.
-
Advantage IllinoisThe Advantage Illinois program helps small businesses in Illinois overcome financing challenges by sharing risk with participating lenders—either through partial loan participation or guarantees—so businesses that struggle to secure capital through traditional means can access affordable funding, often supported by free business advising from the state.
-
Amber GrantThe Amber Grant was founded by WomensNet to honor Amber Wigdahl, a young woman who passed away before realizing her business dreams. Today, it supports women entrepreneurs by awarding at least $30,000 in grants each month to help them start or grow their businesses.
-
Antares Grant ProgramThe Antares REACH Grant Program provides $20,000 grants to historically underrepresented business owners, including those with military ties. It is designed to expand access to capital and help diverse entrepreneurs grow. To qualify, businesses must have earned at least $25,000 in revenue in 2022.
-
EmpowHer Grants, The Boundless Futures FoundationThe EmpowHer Grant, offered by the Boundless Futures Foundation, supports female founders (22+) in the U.S. who are building early-stage, revenue-generating businesses with a clear social impact. Eligible businesses must be for-profit, less than three years old, and applicants must self-report a credit score and complete a background check.
-
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small BusinessesA free, MBA-level business growth program, fully funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation, offering small business owners practical, hands-on education at zero cost. Offers classroom instruction, one-on-one advisory, and a powerful peer network. 66% of graduates increase revenue within 6 months and 44% create new jobs in that time. Program alumni may pursue capital through Goldman Sachs’ network of CDFI lending partners—loans available even for businesses that struggle with traditional credit.
-
Hello AliceHello Alice offers a free, personalized online platform that helps U.S. small business owners discover tailored grants, financing options, business coaching, and growth strategies.
-
Hivers & Strivers (Veteran Entrepreneurs)Hivers & Strivers is a venture capital fund that exclusively backs U.S. military veteran–led startups with high-growth potential. Since 2009, they’ve focused on empowering veteran founders through early-stage equity investments and hands-on support.
-
IFundWomenIFundWomen offers debt-free grants to help women entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Members can access a range of opportunities, from IFundWomen’s own monthly Pay-It-Forward crowdfunding grant to corporate-sponsored grants from partners like Visa, American Express, Unilever, and more.
-
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic DevelopmentThe Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) offers a wide portfolio of grant programs that support economic development across the state—including funding for workforce training, clean energy, grocery store equipment upgrades, community solar, and more.
-
Illinois INVENTThe Illinois Innovation Venture Fund (INVENT) is a $114 million equity investment program administered by Illinois DCEO and funded through the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). It's designed to boost access to capital for traditionally underserved and very small businesses by investing directly (in exchange for equity) alongside private capital in high-growth ventures aligned with Illinois’s key economic sectors.
-
ISTEP ProgramISTEP (Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion Program)
A DCEO initiative that delivers financial and technical assistance to help Illinois small businesses increase export sales. Funded in part by the SBA, it supports several export-focused activities, including trade missions, market readiness, product compliance, and online expansion. -
National Association for Self EmployedThe NASE Growth Grants program awards up to $4,000 to help small business owners fund specific business needs such as marketing, equipment, or expansion projects. Open to NASE members, these competitive grants are designed to support the growth and sustainability of micro and small businesses.