82 FR 28729 - Announcement of Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 120 (June 23, 2017)

Page Range		28729-28730
FR Document		2017-13074
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces the 2017 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, pursuant to the America Competes Act, to recognize the nation's most innovative accelerators and award them cash prizes they may use to fund their operations costs and allow them to bring startup companies to scale and new ideas to life.
Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 120 (Friday, June 23, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28729-28730]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13074]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Announcement of Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces the 
2017 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, pursuant to the America 
Competes Act, to recognize the nation's most innovative accelerators 
and award them cash prizes they may use to fund their operations costs 
and allow them to bring startup companies to scale and new ideas to 
life.

DATES: The submission period for entries begins 12:00 p.m. EDT, June 
23, 2017 and ends July 21, 2017 at 4:59 p.m. EDT. Winners will be 
announced no later than Fall 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nagesh Rao, Office of Investment and 
Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
6th Floor, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205-6565, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Competition Details

    1. Subject of Competition: The SBA is seeking to identify the 
nation's most innovative and promising small business accelerators and 
incubators in order to infuse them with additional resource capital 
that ultimately stimulates the growth and development of startups from 
within the entrepreneurial communities they serve. For the purposes of 
this Competition, Growth Accelerators include accelerators, incubators, 
co-working startup communities, shared tinker-spaces or other models to 
accomplish similar goals. Regardless of the specific model employed, 
Growth Accelerators focus on helping entrepreneurs and their startups 
speed the launch, growth and scale of their businesses. A broad set of 
models used to support start-ups will better serve the entire 
entrepreneurial ecosystem. Whether an accelerator is industry focused, 
technology focused, product centric, cohort based or more long term, 
all are valuable players in the nation's high-growth entrepreneurial 
ecosystem that ultimately creates jobs.
    2. Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition: This 
Competition is open only to previous Growth Accelerator Fund 
Competition Winners (2014-2016). Previous winners should be established 
private entities, such as corporations or non-profit organizations that 
are already incorporated and maintain a primary place of business and 
operation in the United States. Entities that have an outstanding, 
unresolved financial obligation to, or that are currently suspended or 
debarred by, the Federal Government are not eligible for this 
Competition. Federal, state, local and tribal agencies are also not 
eligible for this Competition.
    3. Registration and Entry Submission Process for Contestants: 
Contestants must submit their 2017 Growth Accelerator Fund applications 
online using the link designated for that purpose on www.sba.gov/accelerators, where the link will be posted. In addition to the basic 
details collected in that short application form, contestants must also 
complete and submit deck, similar to one that would be used in a pitch 
competition, which must address all of the items identified below:
Mission and Vision

     What is your accelerator's mission in one sentence?
     What specific elements make your accelerator model stand 
out?
     What experiences prepare your team for this?

Impact

     What gaps does or will your accelerator and/or thrust/
program fill?
     What are the specifics of your model and how it will 
accomplish the above?
     What has been your success/metrics so far?
     Please explain your overall statistics of the start-up 
life cycle?

Implementation

     What is your plan for the prize money if you win?
     Provide basics of business plan and phases for 
implementation.
     Aside from the founding team members, what do you look for 
in staff?
     What are the largest risk factors you see?

Metrics

     What are your fundraising goals or metrics? (aside from 
the 4-to-1 match)
     Is there a plan in place to secure/work to secure funds 
(cash, in-kind donations, or sponsorships) in a 4-to-1 proportion to 
the prize dollars received?
     Aside from metrics required by SBA, what are 5 key metrics 
you will use to self-evaluate?
     What does success look like?
    Additionally, participants in this Competition must utilize models 
of operation that include most, if not all, of the following elements:
     Selective process to choose participating startups.
     Regular networking opportunities offered to startups.
     Introductions to customers, partners, suppliers, advisory 
boards and other players.
     High-growth and tech-driven startup mentorship and 
commercialization assistance.
     Shared working environments focused on building a strong 
startup community.
     Resource sharing and co-working arrangements for startups.
     Opportunities to pitch ideas and startups to investors 
along with other capital formation avenues to startups.
     Small amounts of angel money, seed capital or structured 
loans to startups.
     Service to underserved communities, such as women, 
veterans, and economically disadvantaged individuals.
    4. Prizes for Winners: Prizes will be paid in lump sum via the 
Automated Clearing House (ACH). Winners will be required to create an 
account in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to receive an 
award, and should have their paperwork and system's credentials 
established prior to receipt of the award.
    5. Selection of Winners: Competition entries will be evaluated by a 
review committee that may be compromised of SBA officials, including 
District Office employees, other federal agencies, and/or private 
sector experts. Winners will be selected based upon how well they 
address the criteria identified in Items 2 and 3 of this Competition 
announcement. In judging entries, special consideration will be given 
to those accelerator models which support one or more of the following:

 STEM/Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
 Women-Owned or Minority-Owned Small Businesses (Underserved 
Communities)
 Rural Communities

[[Page 28730]]

 Veterans Focused Communities

In addition, in order to achieve nationwide distribution of prizes for 
the purpose of stimulating the growth and development of startups 
across the entire United States, SBA may take into account applicants' 
geographic locations and areas of service when selecting winners, 
including support to geographic regions that traditionally have limited 
access to capital, the underserved, women, the maker community, and 
American Indian, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian populations.
    6. Applicable Law: This Competition is being conducted by SBA 
pursuant to the government wide prize competition authority at 15 
U.S.C. 3719. By participating in this Competition, each contestant 
gives its full and unconditional agreement to the Official Rules and 
the related administrative decisions described in this notice, which 
are final and binding in all matters related to the Competition. 
Contestants remain solely responsible for complying with all applicable 
federal laws, including licensing, export control, and nonproliferation 
laws, and related regulations. A contestant's eligibility for a prize 
award is contingent upon their fulfilling all requirements identified 
in this notice. Publication of this notice is not an obligation of 
funds on the part of SBA. SBA reserves the right to modify or cancel 
this Competition, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the award 
of prizes.
    7. Conflicts of Interest: No individual acting as a judge at any 
stage of this Competition may have personal or financial interests in, 
or be an employee, officer, director, or agent of any contestant or 
have a familial or financial relationship with a contestant.
    8. Intellectual Property Rights: All entries submitted in response 
to this Competition will remain the sole intellectual property of the 
individuals or organizations that developed them. By registering and 
entering a submission, each contestant represents and warrants that it 
is the sole author and copyright owner of the submission, and that the 
submission is an original work of the contestant, or if the submission 
is a work based on an existing application, that the contestant has 
acquired sufficient rights to use and to authorize others to use the 
submission, and that the submission does not infringe upon any 
copyright or upon any other third party rights of which the contestant 
is aware. Additionally, by registering and entering a submission, each 
contestant agrees to grant SBA an irrevocable, non-exclusive, 
worldwide, royalty-free license to use materials, concepts, and other 
similar items of intellectual property proposed in, or developed during 
operations conducted pursuant to, its submission for purposes 
consistent with the Agency's mission.
    9. Publicity Rights: By registering and entering a submission, each 
contestant consents to SBA's and its agents' use, in perpetuity, of its 
name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, and/or hometown and state 
information for promotional or informational purposes through any form 
of media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.
    10. Liability and Insurance Requirements: By registering and 
entering a submission, each contestant agrees to assume any and all 
risks and waive claims against the Federal Government and its related 
entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, 
death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether 
direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from their participation in 
this Competition, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises 
through negligence or otherwise. Given this Competition does not 
involve potentially hazardous activities or the use of government 
property, contestants are not required to obtain liability insurance or 
demonstrate financial resources to cover claims by a third party for 
death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from any 
activity it carries out in connection with its participation in this 
Competition, or claims by the Federal Government for damage or loss to 
Government property resulting from such an activity.
    11. Record Retention and Disclosure: All submissions and related 
materials provided to SBA in the course of this Competition 
automatically become SBA records and cannot be returned. Contestants 
should identify any confidential commercial information contained in 
their entries at the time of their submission.
    Award Approving Official: John R. Williams, Director, Office of 
Innovation and Technology, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 
Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416.

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 3719

    Dated: June 15, 2017.
John R. Williams,
Director, Office of Innovation and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2017-13074 Filed 6-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8025-01-P
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 120 / Friday, June 23, 2017 / Notices 28729

Percent their startups speed the launch, growth Metrics
and scale of their businesses. A broad • What are your fundraising goals or
Non-Profit Organizations with- set of models used to support start-ups metrics? (aside from the 4-to-1 match)
out Credit Available Else- will better serve the entire • Is there a plan in place to secure/
where ..................................... 2.500 entrepreneurial ecosystem. Whether an
work to secure funds (cash, in-kind
accelerator is industry focused, donations, or sponsorships) in a 4-to-1
The number assigned to this disaster technology focused, product centric, proportion to the prize dollars received?
for physical damage is 15183B and for cohort based or more long term, all are • Aside from metrics required by
economic injury is 15184B. valuable players in the nation’s high- SBA, what are 5 key metrics you will
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance growth entrepreneurial ecosystem that use to self-evaluate?
Number 59008) ultimately creates jobs. • What does success look like?
James E. Rivera,
2. Eligibility Rules for Participating in Additionally, participants in this
the Competition: This Competition is Competition must utilize models of
Associate Administrator for Disaster
Assistance.
open only to previous Growth operation that include most, if not all,
Accelerator Fund Competition Winners of the following elements:
[FR Doc. 2017–13118 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025–01–P
(2014–2016). Previous winners should • Selective process to choose
be established private entities, such as participating startups.
corporations or non-profit organizations • Regular networking opportunities
that are already incorporated and offered to startups.
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
maintain a primary place of business • Introductions to customers,
Announcement of Growth Accelerator and operation in the United States. partners, suppliers, advisory boards and
Fund Competition Entities that have an outstanding, other players.
unresolved financial obligation to, or • High-growth and tech-driven
AGENCY: U.S. Small Business that are currently suspended or startup mentorship and
Administration. debarred by, the Federal Government commercialization assistance.
ACTION: Notice. are not eligible for this Competition. • Shared working environments
Federal, state, local and tribal agencies focused on building a strong startup
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business are also not eligible for this community.
Administration (SBA) announces the Competition. • Resource sharing and co-working
2017 Growth Accelerator Fund 3. Registration and Entry Submission arrangements for startups.
Competition, pursuant to the America Process for Contestants: Contestants • Opportunities to pitch ideas and
Competes Act, to recognize the nation’s must submit their 2017 Growth startups to investors along with other
most innovative accelerators and award Accelerator Fund applications online capital formation avenues to startups.
them cash prizes they may use to fund using the link designated for that • Small amounts of angel money,
their operations costs and allow them to purpose on www.sba.gov/accelerators, seed capital or structured loans to
bring startup companies to scale and where the link will be posted. In startups.
new ideas to life. addition to the basic details collected in • Service to underserved
DATES: The submission period for that short application form, contestants communities, such as women, veterans,
entries begins 12:00 p.m. EDT, June 23, must also complete and submit deck, and economically disadvantaged
2017 and ends July 21, 2017 at 4:59 p.m. similar to one that would be used in a individuals.
EDT. Winners will be announced no pitch competition, which must address 4. Prizes for Winners: Prizes will be
later than Fall 2017. all of the items identified below: paid in lump sum via the Automated
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mission and Vision Clearing House (ACH). Winners will be
Nagesh Rao, Office of Investment and • What is your accelerator’s mission required to create an account in the
Innovation, U.S. Small Business in one sentence? System for Award Management (SAM)
Administration, 409 Third Street SW., • What specific elements make your in order to receive an award, and should
6th Floor, Washington, DC 20416, (202) accelerator model stand out? have their paperwork and system’s
205–6565, accelerators@sba.gov. • What experiences prepare your credentials established prior to receipt
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
team for this? of the award.
Impact 5. Selection of Winners: Competition
Competition Details • What gaps does or will your entries will be evaluated by a review
1. Subject of Competition: The SBA is accelerator and/or thrust/program fill? committee that may be compromised of
seeking to identify the nation’s most • What are the specifics of your SBA officials, including District Office
innovative and promising small model and how it will accomplish the employees, other federal agencies, and/
business accelerators and incubators in above? or private sector experts. Winners will
order to infuse them with additional • What has been your success/metrics be selected based upon how well they
resource capital that ultimately so far? address the criteria identified in Items 2
stimulates the growth and development • Please explain your overall and 3 of this Competition
of startups from within the statistics of the start-up life cycle? announcement. In judging entries,
entrepreneurial communities they serve. Implementation special consideration will be given to
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

For the purposes of this Competition, • What is your plan for the prize those accelerator models which support
Growth Accelerators include money if you win? one or more of the following:
accelerators, incubators, co-working • Provide basics of business plan and • STEM/Small Business Innovation
startup communities, shared tinker- phases for implementation. Research (SBIR)
spaces or other models to accomplish • Aside from the founding team • Women-Owned or Minority-Owned
similar goals. Regardless of the specific members, what do you look for in staff? Small Businesses (Underserved
model employed, Growth Accelerators • What are the largest risk factors you Communities)
focus on helping entrepreneurs and see? • Rural Communities

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28730 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 120 / Friday, June 23, 2017 / Notices

• Veterans Focused Communities entering a submission, each contestant Dated: June 15, 2017.
In addition, in order to achieve agrees to grant SBA an irrevocable, non- John R. Williams,
nationwide distribution of prizes for the exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free Director, Office of Innovation and
purpose of stimulating the growth and license to use materials, concepts, and Technology.
development of startups across the other similar items of intellectual [FR Doc. 2017–13074 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am]
entire United States, SBA may take into property proposed in, or developed BILLING CODE 8025–01–P
account applicants’ geographic locations during operations conducted pursuant
and areas of service when selecting to, its submission for purposes
winners, including support to consistent with the Agency’s mission. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
geographic regions that traditionally
have limited access to capital, the 9. Publicity Rights: By registering and [Public Notice: 10043]
underserved, women, the maker entering a submission, each contestant
community, and American Indian, consents to SBA’s and its agents’ use, in In the Matter of the Amendment of the
Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian perpetuity, of its name, likeness, Designation of Hizballah (and Other
populations. photograph, voice, opinions, and/or Aliases) as a Foreign Terrorist
6. Applicable Law: This Competition hometown and state information for Organization Pursuant to Section 219
is being conducted by SBA pursuant to promotional or informational purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
the government wide prize competition through any form of media, worldwide, as Amended
authority at 15 U.S.C. 3719. By without further payment or Based upon a review of the
participating in this Competition, each consideration. Administrative Record assembled
contestant gives its full and 10. Liability and Insurance pursuant to Section 219 of the
unconditional agreement to the Official Immigration and Nationality Act, as
Requirements: By registering and
Rules and the related administrative amended (8 U.S.C. 1189) (‘‘INA’’), and
entering a submission, each contestant
decisions described in this notice, in consultation with the Attorney
which are final and binding in all agrees to assume any and all risks and
waive claims against the Federal General and the Secretary of the
matters related to the Competition. Treasury, I have concluded that there is
Contestants remain solely responsible Government and its related entities,
except in the case of willful misconduct, a sufficient factual basis to find that the
for complying with all applicable following are aliases of Hizballah (and
federal laws, including licensing, export for any injury, death, damage, or loss of
other aliases): Lebanese Hizballah, also
control, and nonproliferation laws, and property, revenue, or profits, whether
known as Lebanese Hezbollah, also
related regulations. A contestant’s direct, indirect, or consequential, arising
known as LH; Foreign Relations
eligibility for a prize award is from their participation in this
Department, also known as FRD; and
contingent upon their fulfilling all Competition, whether the injury, death, External Security Organization, also
requirements identified in this notice. damage, or loss arises through known as ESO, also known as Foreign
Publication of this notice is not an negligence or otherwise. Given this Action Unit, also known as Hizballah
obligation of funds on the part of SBA. Competition does not involve ESO, also known as Hizballah
SBA reserves the right to modify or potentially hazardous activities or the International, also known as Special
cancel this Competition, in whole or in use of government property, contestants Operations Branch, also known as
part, at any time prior to the award of are not required to obtain liability External Services Organization, also
prizes. insurance or demonstrate financial known as External Security
7. Conflicts of Interest: No individual resources to cover claims by a third Organization of Hezbollah.
acting as a judge at any stage of this party for death, bodily injury, or Therefore, pursuant to Section 219(b)
Competition may have personal or property damage or loss resulting from of the INA, as amended (8 U.S.C.
financial interests in, or be an employee, any activity it carries out in connection 1189(b), I hereby amend the designation
officer, director, or agent of any with its participation in this of Hizballah as a foreign terrorist
contestant or have a familial or financial organization to include the following
Competition, or claims by the Federal
relationship with a contestant. new aliases: Lebanese Hizballah, also
Government for damage or loss to
8. Intellectual Property Rights: All known as Lebanese Hezbollah, also
Government property resulting from
entries submitted in response to this known as LH; Foreign Relations
Competition will remain the sole such an activity.
Department, also known as FRD; and
intellectual property of the individuals 11. Record Retention and Disclosure: External Security Organization, also
or organizations that developed them. All submissions and related materials known as ESO, also known as Foreign
By registering and entering a provided to SBA in the course of this Action Unit, also known as Hizballah
submission, each contestant represents Competition automatically become SBA ESO, also known as Hizballah
and warrants that it is the sole author records and cannot be returned. International, also known as Special
and copyright owner of the submission, Contestants should identify any Operations Branch, also known as
and that the submission is an original confidential commercial information External Services Organization, also
work of the contestant, or if the contained in their entries at the time of known as External Security
submission is a work based on an
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

their submission. Organization of Hezbollah.
existing application, that the contestant This determination shall be published
has acquired sufficient rights to use and Award Approving Official: John R.
Williams, Director, Office of Innovation in the Federal Register.
to authorize others to use the
submission, and that the submission and Technology, U.S. Small Business Dated: May 16, 2017.
does not infringe upon any copyright or Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Rex W. Tillerson,
upon any other third party rights of Washington, DC 20416. Secretary of State.
which the contestant is aware. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719 [FR Doc. 2017–13325 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am]
Additionally, by registering and BILLING CODE 4710–10–P

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Document Created: 2017-06-23 03:37:16
Document Modified: 2017-06-23 03:37:16
Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		The submission period for entries begins 12:00 p.m. EDT, June 23, 2017 and ends July 21, 2017 at 4:59 p.m. EDT. Winners will be announced no later than Fall 2017.
Contact		Nagesh Rao, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205-6565, [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 28729