ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Most SBIR companies know how to win research funding. Far fewer know how to turn that success into a funded Phase III contract.
In a recent conversation with OrangeSlices Founder David Blackburn, Nicole Tripputi, Founder of Bidwell Solutions and former Air Force Contracting Officer with an unlimited warrant, pulled back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood challenges in the federal market: transitioning innovative technologies from SBIR success to operational adoption.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience across contracting, program offices, and industry, Nicole shares what she learned from sitting on the government side of the table, where promising technologies often stall, why contracting teams and industry frequently struggle to align, and what agencies risk when they wait too long to engage with innovative companies.
The discussion goes beyond theory, exploring the realities of Phase III execution, stakeholder engagement, acquisition strategy, and the decisions that ultimately determine whether a technology becomes a funded capability or remains a successful prototype.
For SBIR awardees, technology innovators, growth leaders, and companies trying to understand how government actually buys innovation, this conversation offers an inside look at the challenges and opportunities that exist between a successful Phase I or Phase II award and a signed Phase III contract.
If you've ever asked, "We have the technology, so why isn't this moving forward?" this is a podcast you'll want to hear.
To connect with Nicole, follow her on LinkedIn here.
Learn more about Bidwell Solutions by visiting their webpage here.
