Get Money for Your Ideas w/Dr. Idong Essiet-Gibson, PhD, MPH, PMP

Season 2 closes with this important funding discussion. Listen and take notes as we discuss Non-Dilutive Funding for Health & Biotech Innovators. Learn how to maximize your chances of success in accessing millions of dollars in federal grants for the development of health and biotech innovations.

Dr. Idong Essiet-Gibson, PhD, MPH, PMP, is the Founding Principal of The Idyeas Group, a global health and scientific management consultancy in Silver Spring, Maryland. Before founding The Idyeas Group, she served 26 years on active duty in the US Army, the US Public Health Service, and the US Army Reserves. She spent over two decades managing multimillion-dollar programs for the predecessor of the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Biomedical Research Development Authority (BARDA), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Prior to her time at HHS, she managed biomedical research programs at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and The George Washington University. She is married with one son.

 Follow her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/iegibson

Transcript

00:05.84
wearabletakeover
Hello hello hello it is the final episode not of the total podcast. No just the final episode of season 2 and guess what folks we have created a year's worth of content here on where it will take over and um. Super excited because when we started this platform at the suggestion of one of our advisors to educate all of our listeners and viewers about the wonderful ecosystem. The global ecosystem of wearable technology that we're building face out of all tomorrow Maryland but we have a global presence we have presence in four continents I'm so excited because. Our advisors say hey you need to share what it is that you're doing help people understand this because what you're doing is absolutely revolutionary and when we started we started with a live launch in Baltimore Maryland with 1 of our founder ambassadors Bianca and we're ending with a. Ecosystem partner here in Maryland another female. So you know what woman power I am so excited to share a true partner that's going to help our founders get some funding Everybody's talking about money. You know what. But again to everyone that has participated with us up until this point as a guest as a supporter as a sharer. Thank you. Thank you? Thank you now. Let me give you some instructions before I even introduce our guests for the day please make sure that you go back and listen to other episodes share these.

01:34.50
wearabletakeover
Give us some ratings and then if you aspire to be a guest on wearable takeover for season 3 or season 4 make sure you fill out the form to do so and if you don't know go to our Linkedin or go to our website. We're getting a new website too. Go and that you might want to go to just Linkedin and there's. A link there where you can register and I think it might even be in the show notes. Okay, so we have quite a few people that are already on the docket for season 3 as season 4 but if you are a wearable founder or researcher. We definitely want to know who you are okay so now getting into today i. Am super excited about today's guest then I gotta you know, be transparent. We met 1 another while we were partaking in a Ceo accelerator that was hosted by the small business development center here in Maryland and folks I am.

02:22.37
Idong
Um.

02:29.22
wearabletakeover
Incredibly honored to welcome today. Dr Idonng Eette Gibson the founding principal of the ideas group now who is Dr Edom who who is she well let me tell you she. Has a lot of education. She has a lot of credentials behind her name. Not only is she a ph d not only is she an mph masters of public health are those you that you that might be wondering. Not only is she a pmp that means that project management professional but she is the founding principal of the ideas group. A global health and scientific management consultancy in Silver Spring Maryland so before founding the ideas group she served 26 years on active duty in the us army who thank you so much for your service coming from army brett thank you so much. Um, also. Um, she served an active duty in the uarmy the us public health service and the us army reserves she spent over 2 decades managing multimillion dollar programs for the predecessor of the us department of healthy human services. biomedical research development authority which is barta. Okay, so we want to throw a lot of letters and acronyms out here during this episode folks the you us centers for disease control and prevention otherwise known as the cdc and the national institutes of health otherwise known as the and nih who is also one of our partners.

03:43.26
Idong
Yes, yes.

03:58.56
wearabletakeover
So prior to her time at Hhs she managed biomedical research programs at the Walter Reed Army Institute of research and the George Washington University Dr. Gibson is married with one son so wearable takeover give it up for Dr Gibson give it up. Give it up. How are you doing today.

04:19.60
Idong
I am doing excellent. It is such a pleasure to be a part of this vibrant community and really excited to talk with you and the audience today.

04:31.43
wearabletakeover
I'm so excited that you are here and when I met you I was like you got to go on the podcast and so folks this is a result of months of saying okay Dr Gibson I need you in a podcast I need you in the podcast I need you on a podcast. Let's figure out what you're doing and let's bring it to the to the world. So why don't you. A little bit more about the ideas group like how did that come about and and and why do you build the need to to like start. It.

04:57.37
Idong
So excellent question lacutia and and have to say it was really great meeting you at that Ceo Accelerator it's always great when you can you know meet with others who are building in this space. So with the ideas group. Um, it's an interesting story because i. Like as you know like you mentioned earlier after spending twenty plus years in uniform it was time to take the uniform off in 2019 and and I thought you know why not just go the complete opposite start a business so and but it really came from a passion. Um, for really seeing ah innovation in the health space. So for much of my career that you mentioned you know I managed a lot of biomedical research programs first for the army and then I went to do it for Hhs and then transitioning into actual public health program management. You know, getting electronic health record systems.

05:31.95
wearabletakeover
3

05:49.00
Idong
Implemented in different um scenarios and it just really made me realize that there was a lot of potential. Um for tech in our space when you think about the impacts that you know health interventions can have on the lives of millions of people around the world and even in our own communities and in our families. You know I thought it was a great opportunity through the ideas group to be able to work with innovators in this space. You know to help them engage around the federal opportunities that are available to them. You know I mean most people are ah familiar with the sbir and sttr grant. But there's a number of programs that are run by. All these agencies from the and Nih the Cdc to usai id like a lot of these agencies have really interesting opportunities for innovators to be able to mail and and really a lot of investments around that early product development when it's so hard to get the dollars I mean the current environment you already know it's tight. Startups trying to fundraise but even more so when you're in that biotech health space. It's even more challenging to get that initial funding when you're trying to develop a prototype or you have a very early prototype that you've not started testing yet. You know how do you get the funding to move that science to move that innovation. To it becomes a commercially viable product. So that's really at the heart of what we do. The ideas group is really working with founders working with innovators to help them figure how they can access this programs find that right fit so they can get this products out there.

07:23.60
wearabletakeover
And I love it. So folks Dr Gibson should be your best friend if you're listening to this and you're a founder. Um and we are proud to partner with her and you know we were one of the sponsors or one of the the groups that helped to initiate one of the programs at the Nih and we've got some. Where we'll take ventures founder ambassadors. They have graduated and we've got some that are applying there and so there are so many different programs and I know for some of you. You might be listening and saying this journey is hard or you know when we look at these government announcements. It seems like a totally different language so when considering that. Um, Dr Gibson what are some tips that you have for folks that might be saying hey I know I could probably qualify for some funding some federal funding. But how do I get around demystifying the language because it seems to be incredibly extensive requirements if you will.

08:13.10
Idong
You know.

08:15.57
wearabletakeover
Um, to even submit an application and see if you qualify so.

08:19.65
Idong
Absolutely yes and so you know part of what I say I I jokingly say it I'm the government whisperer because it does require like some level of deciphering. You know what is being said because um, despite all the. Simple language and clear language regulations that we have it is still challenging sometimes really figuring out what is it that the government wants versus what it is that you have so my first advice um for founders is typically you know look at the technology that you have developed or that you're working on and. Try to find a match of the agency that does that kind of work just first look at it just from a programmatic perspective. So let's say you ah you're working on a device for monitoring hard rhythms for people who are you know suffering from some form of cardiovascular disease right? The first thing would be just.

09:11.21
wearabletakeover
E he.

09:14.88
Idong
Ah, simple Google search of like which agency funds this kind of work. You know who's doing work on heart disease you know the Cdc does some work and it does some work but the thing that's the the subtlety is understanding that each agency has like a specific focus. Um that they're interested in.

09:29.60
wearabletakeover
E.

09:34.20
Idong
Based on their mission and so for founders. Ah, granted that the pro the the the whole thing can be very um, intimidating. But if you just wanted to start out on your own I would say first just doing that Google search but then also starting out with programs that are very well- known like the sbir sttr program. The and ni has done an excellent job. Um through the I think it's called the seed office I can't remember what the acronym stands for but they have you know some really helpful material that you can find online through Google simple Google search. They also have videos which I actually prefer.

09:55.57
wearabletakeover
Yes, yes, yes.

10:07.47
Idong
Um, they have recordings you know of trainings that they've done and with the way things are on Youtube you can skip to the sections that are critical. They actually have um videos that will walk you through how to do an application and kind of decide you know, kind of clarify some of that convoleted language that you can see in the announcements.

10:12.16
wearabletakeover
Yes, yes.

10:26.60
Idong
But the other thing that I think a lot of funders are not always aware of is once you find a program. So let's say you're interested in like we used that some example again, cardiovascular disease and you do the Google quick Google search and you see okay which institute of the Nih does work on cardiovascular disease. Have to go that far if you are as as a startup founder sbir sdtrs tend to be the most common funds that they go for I would say reach out to the program officer. You know you can Google and Nih Sdtr Sbi program contacts. It will come up. Reach out to them and say hey you know I'm interested in this program where do I start because they do have a lot of resources I mean the other alternative becomes you know for entities that already have some level of funding some organizations reach out to groups like us at the ideas group where we have done that walking founders through that process of figuring out. Okay, what is your technology. What is the angle to it are you are you going after you know is it just a monitoring thing is it ah something that you're expecting to have some kind of um curative you know component to it and then we work with you to kind of figure out. Okay, what's the best agencies to go after and and I was. Cell founders as well remember that it it might not only be just one. There could be 2 or 3 and it all has to do with what is it that your unique technology is going to do and then you know phrasing it in a way that fits with what those agencies are looking for.

11:40.98
wearabletakeover
Yes, yes.

11:52.68
wearabletakeover
Okay I love it So there were a lot of gyms in in in that in that answer and so I want to backtrack a little bit because for our wearable founders. There are a new number of tremendous funding opportunities opening up and whereas in the past people were saying what is wearables.

12:07.10
Idong
Yeah.

12:12.86
wearabletakeover
Dod I mean there are so many agencies specifically offering funding for our space which is great because we knew we were hot. We knew we were the future and when the government starts funding it. You know that's a big deal right? So we're here person. That's why we're glad to have these partners here. So.

12:19.50
Idong
Yes.

12:26.47
Idong
Yes, absolutely.

12:31.91
wearabletakeover
First of all, let's backtrack you said for those who are independent Google Google Baby Google so Dr Gibson said check and see number one. What agencies are funding. Whatever it is that you're doing or trying to create a simple search will help you with that right? number 2

12:38.90
Idong
Good places to.

12:51.39
wearabletakeover
Um, you were saying specifically about nihc they have videos people and guess what we are our partner so we during our hackathon which happens in July it was something that we did last year was we house a significant library from the seed office at and Nih in our online portal.

12:56.35
Idong
Yep.

13:06.80
Idong
We.

13:10.66
wearabletakeover
Um, so that everyone can access it including pitch materials So Chico go there and come here and you gotta participate in order to get access to those resources but they're free. It's just that fast forward they help and guide you through all of that right? all right? So um, then you were saying there are even videos on how to do the application wo.

13:12.26
Idong
Excellent.

13:28.46
Idong
Yes, yes.

13:30.13
wearabletakeover
Come on folks. This stuff is out there. But what I love most of all is that you don't have to do it alone because Dr Gibson is here and so Dr Gibson so when folks are working with you. Um, what? what state do they need to be in what do they need to bring what do they need to have to come to the table. You know if they're sitting here like oh I could really use her help what does that look like what do they need to bring to the table.

13:53.26
Idong
Yes, actually great question. Great question because I I do think you know with the phase. It's very important for you to understand what the phase is that you're in as you engage with this agencies. Um I can say that you know the range so depending on where what level your technology is so. You know you had the idea ideation stage where you just you have this idea right? Um, and you don't really have any data yet. You don't Well let me say it's time back it Up. You don't have a prototype yet right? because usually with a wearable you're going to have some kind of prototype so you may have um you know.

14:24.48
wearabletakeover
Um, yes.

14:29.74
Idong
Articles that haveve been written about something that you're going to do that I mean granted that all of you of course not going to be in the public Arena because it's something unique about your specific technology but is there is there any publication out there on a tech that's even related to what you're trying to do so if say you're monitoring. Um.

14:46.73
wearabletakeover
Um.

14:48.94
Idong
You're monitoring hard rhythms right? We know that there's some options that are out there already can you can you articulate where your technology is in comparison to what is already existing because it's very important for a lot of these agencies they're looking for innovative breakthrough ideas.

14:59.97
wearabletakeover
Yes.

15:08.90
Idong
So you you want to be able to show that what you have is different and the different doesn't have to be a 100000 different it could just be a different that so one functionality works a lot better. You know or you're solving a bit of a problem that the existing system does not solve and so having that information. Um.

15:17.74
wearabletakeover
Um, yes.

15:27.33
Idong
Usually it's great if you have a patent or at least a patent application that you filed it kind of puts you a little bit the outside of the pack because now you're beyond an idea to something that is actually being looked at as being unique by the patent and trademark office and so that kind of helps you stand out a bit.

15:30.30
wearabletakeover
Here.

15:46.61
Idong
Because I have to say you know we know that the the the um success rates can be pretty low on some of these opportunities so you want the things that are going to help you stand out So a technology. Yes yes.

15:54.80
wearabletakeover
So so wait Dr. Gibson is a provisional patent. Okay, if they come to you and say hey I found a provisional patent I have this idea I have these articles. This is what I'm thinking and they bring it to you that way. Okay.

16:06.30
Idong
Yes, exactly So it's beyond Just an idea. There's actually some concrete things around it. So the filing of the application or the actual publications that's okay, this technology is what we're leveraging in this wearable that you're working on right.

16:13.27
wearabletakeover
Okay.

16:24.16
wearabletakeover
Um.

16:25.14
Idong
The other big team thing that and the government really looks at is what is your capacity right? So I always remind people if you're going for an and nih grant remember that most of NNih and Nsf grants are research related grants so you have to have the capacity to be able to do the work because.

16:31.48
wearabletakeover
Um.

16:36.89
wearabletakeover
Who.

16:44.20
Idong
A lot of times remember that the focus of these funds is to commercialize this technology So the government wants to know that you have the capacity to commercialize the technology now what I always tell you please it doesn't you don't have to have everything. It's partnerships I think you alluded to this earlier its partnerships.

16:46.86
wearabletakeover
Yes.

16:55.40
wearabletakeover
Yes.

17:01.40
Idong
Can you partner with the University that's going to run your your animal studies or there's going to run your clinical studies or you know can you partner with a lot with another business that can do that work for you because it's really important when it comes to competitiveness the government wants to know you can do the work and so.

17:16.97
wearabletakeover
Okay, so put let's put a pause right there. So let me highlight highlight a good thing So I'm glad you said that because some folks might say well I'm out of the game. No, you're not if you're in our wearable tech ventures ecosystem because we have developed partnerships.

17:20.11
Idong
Yes, yes.

17:33.80
wearabletakeover
With research partners. Plus we have other established startups that have done the work and that's the beauty about our ecosystem. You will not be left behind but you got to come to the table correct right? and you got to make sure that you're following up but we have those things that are established and.

17:43.30
Idong
Is.

17:49.71
wearabletakeover
We have some other fellows that are going to be on board that are helping us with our research database. So that if you need some assistance before you go to Dr Gibson you're like hey um, hey coachel or you know ah wtv fellow. Do you have some other research that I can pull so that when I go to Dr Gibson I'm straight

17:53.50
Idong
Excellent.

18:08.31
wearabletakeover
So we're working on that as well. But ultimately we do have research partners in place and we're growing them and I'm excited to say that they are all over the country.

18:16.93
Idong
That's excellent, excellent because I think that's one of the challenges that you know first time applicants or even second time applicants face when they go after this funding opportunities is that you have to show that you've thought through and and the beautiful thing about a lot of this funding is that plus guy know like with the and Nih. You know they just want to know that you you have those agreements in place. You've had those discussions and so you know some people still formulating how everything is going to work by the time they do the applications. But at least they have an idea of who they're going to work with what the capacity of that entity is and how it fits with what your organization is bringing to the table.

18:35.50
wearabletakeover
If.

18:47.78
wearabletakeover
Here.

18:53.66
Idong
To be able to produce the deliverables. So the other big thing with applying for these opportunities is being clear on what that outcome is that you're trying to accomplish are you getting funding to ah, it's it's it's critical. Ah, ah so it's critical.

19:03.41
wearabletakeover
Woo say that again say that again say that again because you know we got to slow it down What does that mean, say it again and tell him what that means.

19:13.61
Idong
To be very clear on what it is that that outcome is going to be what is that? What is it that you're going to walk away with from this funding with right because when you're applying for the funding you're applying for a specific amount of funds. You have to be able to clearly articulate for X amount of dollars. I'm going to be able to move my prototype from an early prototype to completion of my animal studies or I'm going to move From. You know this data that I have early early data that I have um in the lab I'm going to move to animal studies or I'm going to do.

19:40.85
wearabletakeover
Um.

19:51.74
Idong
I don't have to do animal studies I'm going straight to my you know testing it out in in in the community right? If it's something that does not require in a formal clinical trials. So but having having that clarity of vision of where you want to go with the funding that you're being provided. It really helps the application process because now.

19:55.94
wearabletakeover
A.

20:11.33
Idong
You can really you know articulate this team This is why my team is the right team. This is why this partners this is why this partners are the right partners right? This is why this timeline is the right timeline because we know that we can get from point a to point B and these are the things that we're going to do to get us there. Like that is very very critical in the application because as somebody who sat on the other end of the table myself as a fed reviewing these applications. You always want to see that the applicant understands where they're going how they're going to get there and because then it gives you assurance. As the person that's approving that funding to say okay I know that I'm going to be able to monitor progress on this and there's a clear outcome.

20:55.27
wearabletakeover
I love it. So folks. Do not mess up your application and then go say oh yeah, I'm a part of the wearable tech ventures ecosystem no because we've told you on this episode and you can listen to it or you could watch it and again you could fast forward and. All of the resources are being listed here so you have no excuse to not be a success because we're telling you straight up right here. Okay so okay, so Dr Edog you said they have to tell the outcomes all right? and then what else do they need to bring to you.

21:25.23
Idong
So the other thing which some people already have or we help work them through is the registration processes. So with the fed these you know it's the government. There are certain types of registration that they expect you to have. So if you're a small business. They expect it to be an actual entity so you know some people have been working on an idea but they've never really set up their legal entity. You know you need to set up your legal entity. You need to get that federal ein number you need to get that ui number so you need to go on Sam Gov register your business.

21:51.42
wearabletakeover
Mm. M.

22:01.13
Idong
Takes a little take might take a few hours but if you put all your like I would say have your founding documents or all of your documents together by the time you log into Sam Gov set up your entity and once you provide the information that they need and and actually it works out when you're fairly early early. Because then you don't have too many documents that you need to upload but I always advise that people get this done earlier because it doesn't cost you anything and you might as well get that out of the way you know? So. Ah, once you have your entity formed you get in there. Get yourself officially registered in in Sam because that's going to give you the the.

22:20.11
wearabletakeover
Um.

22:38.98
Idong
Yeah uei number and it's also going to give you that um official like you know registration as an entity as a small business. Um, and those registrations are necessary for you to be able to apply so whether it's nih epa usai id they all want to see that you've gone through that that Sam Registration

22:44.51
wearabletakeover
Who.

22:58.18
Idong
And then depending on which oh sorry.

22:58.53
wearabletakeover
Okay, well hold a hold on hold on put a pause right there. So folks if you might be saying all right I have a business but is it registered in sam so if you're like I don't know how to do this? Um, if you've been listening to wearable takeover yes, you do because we had our accountant Eric discuss.

23:15.49
Idong
Excellent.

23:15.84
wearabletakeover
Whole registration process and he has a book and he can help you as well. So if you're saying I'm not ready to talk to Dr Gibson I want you to rewind go contact Eric okay, and so we were talking about funding and how to make sure your your business is ready Eric will assist you with that process. So that you're ready to go to Dr Gibson if you choose right? So and then if you decide that you want to be registered as a woman- ownned business or um, disadvantage et cetera. We do have another program within wearable tech ventures with one of our advisors um businesses that can help you. With that certification process so you don't have to have the full certification done when you go to Dr Gibson however make sure you get all that stuff done with Eric and then you have that set so when you go to Dr Gibson and then if you want those certifications contact us and we'll put you in touch. Um, with our partners over at certified access all right Dr Gibson so they got registered. They got their numbers now. What.

24:14.28
Idong
So okay now. So once you have that um I would say the next step is really thinking through what that team is gonna look like right? So for most for most entities you know yo you've you've come up with the idea maybe have 1 or 2 people from a lab used to work with that have that.

24:23.77
wearabletakeover
2

24:32.87
Idong
You know that I'm going to be working with you but it's It's really important to think through the work you're proposing to do on the grant who's going to do it. What are the worlds and responsibilities who's for for instance with the with the nih related ones. They always want a Pi which the Principal investigator and the pi.

24:48.15
wearabletakeover
Okay.

24:52.72
Idong
Most times it's not always the senior scientist. Um I mean it doesn't have to be I should say it doesn't have to be the senior scientist but it's really the person that ideally should be from the small business entity. Um, so says let's say. For instance, you're partnering with a university and you're going to s the Tr right? Um, you know you. It's still kind of nice to have the Pi come from the company because you're going to be the one that has the oversight for making sure that the deliverables that you've identified as part of your grants program are done are done on schedule. So you, you're basically like the task master that keeps everybody on track. The project manager.

25:14.31
wearabletakeover
Who.

25:29.83
wearabletakeover
Okay.

25:31.50
Idong
For the grant and so um, you know you want to make sure that you've thought through how you want to structure that work if you're going to have to send samples to so different places for processing you need to be able to articulate that like do your research figure out. Okay, at least narrow it down to 1 or 2 companies that you think you might use. Um.

25:47.15
wearabletakeover
Who.

25:51.29
Idong
But it's really important to to show that you've thought through how you're going to structure this work on this grant and and what those deliverable deliverables are going to be is it going to be Yes, yes.

26:01.20
wearabletakeover
Okay, Okay, so let's take it back so you brought up a good thing So you said the person from the company or the startups should ultimately be that Pi right? And when you were describing a team. What I heard is you say. Is that perhaps if you have to outsource you said from another company they could be a part of that team as Well. So and I'm saying this and I'm asking these questions specifically for our solo founders who may not have had the funding yet to build a team.

26:25.40
Idong
Yeah. Yes.

26:31.82
wearabletakeover
Or perhaps they have volunteers or perhaps they're just praying for T right? Let's just be real because there's folks are like oh my gosh. How am I Goingnna do this. So if they are a solo founder. No real team. Perhaps maybe they've just done had contractors. You know when they've got funding. They could contract folks out.

26:37.55
Idong
In.

26:48.48
wearabletakeover
Their team can be comprised of separate entities that work with them is that what you're saying.

26:55.30
Idong
Yes, so and so there's 2 ways to do this so the way some people do it is you can you can have consultants. Um as part of your team. You just have to articulate. You know how many hours what the fee is if it's a fee base or if it's hours how many hours you expect for them to put in. And you can have people who are on your team who are not on your team hundred percent I mean the the pi who's the lead is expected to put in close to not Necessari necessarily always 100 % but close to that. Um, because you want to show that this is something you're involved in this is you're actively engaged with this right.

27:13.61
wearabletakeover
Nice.

27:27.63
wearabletakeover
Who.

27:29.85
Idong
Sometimes depending on if it's a very technical. Um, if it's a very technical innovation where you need. You know it's like you need an orthopedic expert. So yes, you could put that person as a Pi and be a copi with the person. So the head of the of the small business becomes a copi with the technical expert.

27:40.76
wearabletakeover
Oh.

27:48.93
Idong
Um, to kind of strengthen your application but you can always bring in and like like for some people some of the stuff they're doing requires some really specific testing that they can do in-house so you can write that into the grant. You know we'll be working with Xx organization that has this many years of experience doing this kind of testing.

27:58.71
wearabletakeover
Um, yes.

28:07.59
Idong
And they will be doing this testing for a fee and if you have the fee you put it in if it's not determined you give a range but it's really around this whole concept of I have thought through all the steps I need to go through and I have thought to who's going to do the work along those steps.

28:20.72
wearabletakeover
Dr. Gibson I think you just took a £500 gorilla off of most of our founders backs because some of them might have been saying I don't have a team yet and there's one hurdle after another and I can never get this funding but what you just said. Was that they could put in their dream team and hopefully they've already had these discussions and talked about rate rangers or whatnot put that into the application to get that all of that funded within the application correct folks, you just.

28:42.62
Idong
Yes, thanks Yes, yes.

28:52.16
wearabletakeover
Got game right here. So what I want you to do is make sure you give a donation to wearable take ventures for giving you this game right here because I'm telling you. It is very difficult to get what Dr Gibson just gave you right now. It's hard to get that specific information right? there as plain as she just put it. Thank you Dr. Gibson keep going keep going so they got a team they could write in a team. They could be consultants. They could give rate raises and help to strengthen their application, especially if they're a first time founder or if they don't necessarily come from a technical background. They just might be a ideator and then you know what folks if you need a team.

29:25.10
Idong
S.

29:31.11
wearabletakeover
That's why you want to come to our events and our virtual hackathon and in person hackathon because we got everybody from the ecosystem there so you could recruit your team and add them to your application but they they might need letters as well. Right? letters of support.

29:38.67
Idong
Exactly Yes, Yes, and so that's that's where you show that you have this agreement. So If it's a so let's say you're using a ah contract. Um, let's say you're Using. Ah you have to do. You involve some kind of clinical trials. Are you not going to run the trials yourself. But you're going to partner with an organization that runs clinical trials you just need to prevent you know provide a copy of that contract where they have said you know we've agreed we are going to Run X many trials with X many patients and this is you know like they provide that information.

30:00.17
wearabletakeover
M.

30:12.51
wearabletakeover
Nice.

30:14.44
Idong
Um, which you include as a part of your application and then for the others. It's just a letter of support like sometimes people partner with most often a University um to do some of the work and the University just provides a letter of support that says you know we will be doing this activities and if there's a fee. You know this is what the fee is going to be.

30:21.84
wearabletakeover
Who.

30:33.00
Idong
And the thing that the founder just has to be aware of is you know with some of the grants a certain percentage of the work that has to be done by the small business. So just thinking through how you want to articulate that on your application and I mean these are the kind of things that we help our clients with ah the ideas group is really you know looking at what they are.

30:40.12
wearabletakeover
Here.

30:52.89
Idong
The proposed structure and making sure that they're staying within the rules of what percentage has to be done by the business and what percentage can be contracted out and the other thing that I really um, like now around the with with the sbr sdr programs is that you know when you do apply? um. You know we know that sometimes the the first time is not always It's like people don't always get it at the first time. Um your your chances of success are a little lower. However, people do get it at the first time if you follow these things that we're talking about of really thinking through and making sure you're putting in a really strong application. Um, but I always say that you know.

31:15.78
wearabletakeover
M.N.

31:30.57
Idong
1 of the benefits of doing this is that you now become part of a community as well because with the and Nih once you've applied with them if you do get the funding the opportunities to apply for item funding like 1 of the programs they're doing right now that I'm I'm really excited about is a program where they allow you.

31:33.19
wearabletakeover
Who.

31:48.40
Idong
Come back and apply for additional funding to be able to hire diverse. Um people from diverse communities to be a part of your team whether it be students as interns or you know, bringing on people full time that they actually have a supplemental grant that you know recipients can apply for.

31:54.69
wearabletakeover
Nice.

32:06.49
Idong
But then there's also other resources that you have access to like the Nih has like its ah own research support system that they have some services that they do offer to their grantees. Um, once you're you know you've become a ah grantee so it's kind of you know you now get access to additional resources even beyond the funding.

32:22.79
wearabletakeover
So get through the first hurdle and then ever and then there's prizes on the other side.

32:24.82
Idong
And I think that this is great and then there's yes, there's doors that open and and then you get to network with other companies who've been through this process too and and get access to these resources that you otherwise would not have been you know aware of or have been able to access.

32:39.63
wearabletakeover
I love it. So folks. Let me tell you something on our podcast. We've featured a number of people that have been recipients of and Nih funding. We've had folks here from the small business and seed office on this podcast. We've had people that have participated in this programs as well as Dr Gibson and can all attest that there are additional resources if you get over that first hurdle and if you're saying I don't know how to do this I don't know how to do that. Go back and listen to these episodes of where we'll take over or see where we were featured. You know with programs with the uspto everything is right here like literally.

33:16.49
Idong
Yeah.

33:17.38
wearabletakeover
Everything that you need to be successful and submit is right here within this ecosystem and even within this podcast all right? So you were saying Dr Gibson that they come to you with their idea. Um, they could file a provisional patent and folks there's videos on how to do that online as well. Right with our partner uspto.

33:37.10
wearabletakeover
Need to have their business registered and in Sam if you need assistance with that. Go to Eric before you come over to Dr Gibson right you need to know where you're trying to go and then have those partners outlined so that you have something to say hey I've thought this through. That way she and her team could go like hit and get started is there anything else that they need to bring.

34:00.85
Idong
Yeah, So we've talked about the team. Um, and then the other thing is and so this is going to be agency specific. So for instance with the do Od you know they have so some of their own kind of registrations that you have to do depending on which grant you're going for. So Let's say if it's The. Don't want say write things's like a cdr Mp I was the acronym mixed up but they um they have their own funding. There's the mittc that also works on you know, getting Prototypes developed for different mostly um interventions that are focused around the military Community. So Whether it's for the families or. You know the actual active duty soldiers themselves. Um, but they might have you know some unique registrations that you need to do or some systems that they want you to use as part of your application process because some of them will do grants gov others like the and ni has you know have their own systems as Well. Um, but so the key thing is.

34:50.50
wearabletakeover
Who.

34:55.63
Idong
Once you have those formation documents your Sam Gov registration documents. It's kind of having all those things in a place that's easy for you to get to so because you're going to be putting in those numbers the same numbers in multiple times but having that information in an easy to reach place that really helps. Um, with that application process and then of course you know the big thing now is laying out your plan your research plan of what is it exactly that you're going to do with this with the funds that you're requesting and so.

35:25.90
wearabletakeover
Okay, so what if they don't know. Can you help them with that whole research plan.

35:30.80
Idong
So yeah, so that's so absolutely. That's something that we can help them with that's something that their technical partners can also help with and thinking through you know what stage is this is is this innovation and what is required um subsequently and then even for the um. Entities that have to go through regulatory processes. They are also organizations that are really focused around that and we similar to you. We have some partners that we've worked with as well on the regulatory side that help companies that need to navigate Fda regulation. um fd um approvals and so they help them figure out. You know what to do around the studies and the filings and all of that kind of work which I'm sure you do have some in your ecosystem as well. But it's really thinking through that endpoint and working yourself working backwards. So if the goal of the of the grant is going to be to do your animal studies. So it's walking backwards from okay from this prototype. How do we get to the animal studies. What kind of animals. Do we need? what? Ah you know what numbers. How many groups are we going to do where are we going to do this test. What's the timeline that we're going to do this test and what do we expect to get out of that and how does that feed into the next stage. Because it's really important with most of these grants that the government wants to see how you're going to commercialize it like how is this going to be so whether even with the military if it's going to be for the military market. You still have to be able to articulate where you see it fit and so it's important. So I guess I should mention this as well.

36:48.46
wearabletakeover
Um.

36:55.59
wearabletakeover
Oh.

37:00.39
Idong
It's important for you to know where you stand in the market. Are you? you know? are you are you adding on a feature you know? are you solving something that's already in an existing system or you bringing in something that's completely brand new but you you have to be able to articulate.

37:02.26
wearabletakeover
Um, yes.

37:14.31
wearabletakeover
You here.

37:18.71
Idong
Where you are in the market because you you know, just like you do with the the pitch slides for the vcs you have to do something similar with the government to say you know we expect that the size of the market is this many this many people this many dollars and this is the portion that we think we can reach with our unique intervention.

37:21.87
wearabletakeover
Yes.

37:36.60
wearabletakeover
And your tam. Yep.

37:37.92
Idong
So kind of having some some thoughts around that early on is really important for making your application strong because you want to show the government that I have something that is commercially viable. You know or has commercial potential and so this is my research that shows you know this market is this big.

37:47.34
wearabletakeover
Yes.

37:56.55
Idong
And this is where I think we can fit in. So.

37:57.22
wearabletakeover
Okay I love it so that next component is is a research plan and then if they don't know how to do it. Don't have it mapped out. They can come to you and get that done what else might they need to bring to the table for their for that first meeting or intro with you.

38:15.30
Idong
So that's that's really I mean we've covered the we've covered the main points I mean I kind of maybe I should mention the budget again. So um, yeah, and so that of course is going to be dependent on which you know which agency we decide to go after um, but kind of having an idea.

38:22.89
wearabletakeover
Um, yes.

38:33.65
Idong
Ask the innovator what it is that you think in dollars that it's going to take to get to that next stage that you're trying to get to. It's important to have a sense of it because so let's say you're trying to do um work that involves your wearable is going to require clinical trials.

38:38.54
wearabletakeover
Yes, yes.

38:50.84
Idong
Now we know clinical trials is in the millions of dollars so you're not going to be applying for a $200000 grant um, or even a $500000 grant grant right? You're going to have to look for grants that and then with the agencies even for so let's take and ni works as an example, they have sbi or some. Institutes so their their sbir and s sttrs are institute based so some institutes like the institute of um, allery and infectious disease disease and I a id and nci they tend to fund the big dollar like they can go all the way to clinical trials they will fund um clinical trials for the target studies. Some institutes. Don't go that far some institutes only fund the early stage and maybe like animal studies but they don't fund clinical trials and this is why we say please very this is why that research part is very important of figuring out. What's the best fit for you because I mean I've had some clients where.

39:37.83
wearabletakeover
Here here.

39:44.67
Idong
They've applied for grants and they wondering know why did they't get it is like first of all, it wasn't even the right grants to apply for um so making sure that the grants you're applying for because some of them will actually say clinical trials not allowed or no clinical trials required so you have to make sure that you're picking the right one and um and that you know your plan.

39:48.61
wearabletakeover
Wow.

40:04.12
Idong
Matches with with the the requirements for that specific Grant. Um, and so just really thinking around that budget and what and and then sometimes some of them will actually allow you to do you can propose the work and so okay, this portion will be done with the grant but also have other funding that's going to do this other portion. And and that's allowed too. But it's just being able to articulate that clearly so the government understands what their money is going to be used for versus what the other pot of money is going to be used for. So.

40:32.54
wearabletakeover
Okay, so you just got the whole plan folks and so if you say oh my part of the ecosystem or listen to the podcasts and your stuff is not tight meaning I'm not saying it has to be you know, totally perfect. Where you totally know everything but at least having done the steps to make sure that you're registered to make sure that you have a budget et Cetera. That's what I mean by being tight. Okay, um, don't ever say that you came from us and your stuff is not tight because we we told you this podcast every.

40:58.92
Idong
No.

41:08.25
wearabletakeover
That you need and we broke it down in Layman's terms here. Okay, so let's let's transition a little bit to what is it like working with you on average. What is the timeframe that a client may be working with you is this a period of one month is this some six months what does that typically look like. And on average What's what's an investment that you know someone should have ready when working with you.

41:33.21
Idong
Yeah, so that's a great question. So once again, it's like the it's answer is it depends right? Um because it depends on what the time soing. So there's 2 sets of clients right? There's one set of clients who come and they already know like you know? Okay I'm going on nhbs b are and it's gonna be.

41:36.42
wearabletakeover
Right.

41:50.31
Idong
You know division of aids and I've already looked at this stuff you know and then it's so we can do that typically that at a minimum is a month because you need time to review what you already have make sure that we're compliant to all the requirements because you know with the government applications. It's things down to even the size fund. You can use.

41:57.60
wearabletakeover
Um, okay, yes.

42:07.91
wearabletakeover
Who who.

42:09.74
Idong
The type of font you can use a lot of these agencies have the mandated so we are going to go over that with you to make sure that what you have is compliant. But then you also have the clients who are much earlier on who they have the innovation but they don't know which agency they want to go for or they know the agency but they don't know which specific.

42:28.52
wearabletakeover
Moving.

42:29.27
Idong
Rent opportunity. So typically with that we say you know come out. We we need at least two months because you you have to you know account for the time for the search and then praying that the timing works out in terms of the due dates for the applications because some of these like with SbiSdTir it's 4 times a year. It's kind of prettyset.

42:33.67
wearabletakeover
Okay, that's fair.

42:41.53
wearabletakeover
Yes.

42:48.66
Idong
So we already know what the dates are for 2023 but then um, there are others where the dates might be once a year and so that timing becomes important so I would say if you're not clear on like which agency or which opportunity I would say a minimum of two months ideally 3

43:04.23
wearabletakeover
I Think that's really good and I think you've relieved a lot of people that may have some anxiety because some people might be saying hey I'm just creating that idea and I want I need help right? So when I say be tight at least have idea where you want to go what agency and then you can employ.

43:08.19
Idong
Yeah.

43:14.23
Idong
Yeah.

43:22.10
wearabletakeover
And invest in Dr. Gibson's the ideas group so that they can help you with the rest of it. So the main thing we're saying is please don't come empty handed come with some idea so that they know what direction to work in to help you. That's ultimately what we're saying you got to help us understand help us ah help help us identify.

43:32.87
Idong
To work. Yes.

43:41.94
wearabletakeover
Lisa Premier direction but then Dr Gibson and her team might be able to uncover other areas too right? And that's that's an added benefit there so we're saying at least a couple of months you know at least to get started to get ramped up right? and then um so I'm I'm asking these questions specifically Dr Gibson because

43:47.13
Idong
Yeah.

44:01.24
wearabletakeover
Again, Our our target group is underrepresented founders so we have a gamut of experiences a gamut of exposures and a gamut of budgets right? and just being incredibly transparent and so what I'd like to do is give our listeners an idea of how to be prepared because we want them to work with you as a trusted partner here within the ecosystem.

44:07.45
Idong
Yeah.

44:21.22
wearabletakeover
Um, because we don't want them missing out on opportunities. Yes, they might choose to go on their own. But if you have a resource here that is experiencing that knows we want to make sure that they come to the table correct right? So if they need to find another grant or whatever to come to you to fund these particular services. You know what should what should they be looking at is it like.

44:29.79
Idong
Tomorrow.

44:40.13
wearabletakeover
5 grand is it like 10 grand is it like 20 grand um, and then what what would that ultimately include you know for these services as ah as a partnership with getting this done.

44:41.85
Idong
Yeah.

44:47.60
Idong
Yeah, so and so basically we we have like 3 core services right? at the ideas group. Um, the first one is the matching the grants matching service. So like you know so you don't have have to know which specific agency if you are Claire. On what stage your wearable tech is at um, we can work with you to identify what agent what opportunities are available that you can that we believe that you can be very competitive for and so what we do is we talk with you get understanding of the technology get understanding of the stage of the technology. The team where the work where you're thinking about doing the work and then we go out and we do the research for you and what the the output days is we prepare a report for you that says here is the top 3 that we think and we rank them based on relevance like okay number 1 is going to be the one that we think is the the best fit for you.

45:44.11
wearabletakeover
M.

45:46.30
Idong
and then 2 and 3 and sometimes depending on what time of the year it is. It could be 1 2 and 3 but only 1 is open right now. 2 is going to be open next April you know, but but for that service we focus on giving you a nice um, ranking of here is the best.

45:52.50
wearabletakeover
M.

46:05.00
wearabletakeover
Nice.

46:05.20
Idong
Opportunities for you to go after specific grant opportunities to go after and we give you the agency contact so that you can have that much needed conversation with the project officer for that specific program to say this is my innovation. This is what I'm trying to do this is what we're going after because we find that clients are much more successful when they do have. Those conversations and that service normally ranges. It's not um so it's not the 200 and it's it's a couple it's a couple of thousands yes it's a couple yes it's a couple thousands yes yes yes

46:29.79
wearabletakeover
Right? What? what? But it's an investment. It's a couple thousand so it but it's worth it and and I say investment right? I say investment because folks like By. Give yourself some credit give you relieve yourself from some stress because founderhood is already Stressful. So if you can eliminate a lot of headache with going after the bigger money. This is an investment that's gonna be well worth it and it's gonna pay off right? and so depending I don't know what this is legal to say but.

46:58.15
Idong
Yes.

47:02.67
wearabletakeover
You can always get it on the back end folks if you do it right? with you. You know the other things that you apply for but a couple a couple of Grand All right? So what? what you? so that was program.

47:09.38
Idong
Yeah, but so to to the point you made earlier and I forgot to mention this I know that even the state of Maryland um, the mbi I forgot what it stands for I recently found out that they actually um for companies that are part of that belong to an incubator or an accelerator in the Maryland area. They're able to apply for grants to get support from somebody like me. Um, so I'm actually working with a client who ah received their grant and that grant is helping pay for my services to help them. Um with the application process so they are resources. Um, definitely at the state level that.

47:30.92
wearabletakeover
Nice.

47:47.58
wearabletakeover
Absolutely and so we'll be advocating for that as well and we're working.

47:47.69
Idong
Companies should be looking at um for this support. Yes and I will share that information I'll try to get that information. Um to you that you can show you with your with your audience. But so that's the matching. We also do the review where for clients who have.

48:00.43
wearabletakeover
M.

48:04.30
Idong
You know sometimes get people who've been you know they're researchers and they're taking a technology from their lab and they're now trying to commercialize it so they're fine with writing the grants. That's not the the challenge What we do for them. Is we provide a review service that leverages the experience of being you know, project officers and contracting officers representatives. Bring that expertise to looking at the application so we do a review of your entire package to tell you you know areas where you can strengthen areas where it needs more clarity areas where you could add a bit more data to strengthen your argument um ensuring that you're meeting the requirements whether it's the page limits whether it's the font sizes.

48:26.80
wearabletakeover
Nice.

48:41.10
Idong
You know whether it's are you addressing the question that they needed to answer in this section. Um, so we do that comprehensive review as a separate service and it's a fee-bis service and it's a few thousand dollars as well. It's nothing. You know it's under $5000 for both of those services that I just mentioned to you and then the third one is the.

48:43.87
wearabletakeover
M.

48:50.77
wearabletakeover
Who. Very nice.

49:00.99
Idong
Grant write the writing components where some clients are like you know we don't even know where to start you know we have this technology please just help us get this thing out and so we'll work with them on you know fighting the appropriate Grant opportunity you know, helping them um with with the writing process. So we create the templates you know.

49:07.21
wearabletakeover
Um.

49:20.82
Idong
Interview them to get the data and kind of get the writing um part done for them and also help them with the review like really making sure we've actually helped clients like like literally sat there with them helping them as they uploaded pieces into the into the application system to just make sure that you know they got it right? and.

49:32.82
wearabletakeover
Nice.

49:38.50
Idong
And so that that is the more comprehensive service and is usually around $10000 but um the other services like I mentioned are just a few thousand dollars to just work with you. Um to to target to match and to and to do your reviews.

49:42.69
wearabletakeover
I Love it.

49:54.48
wearabletakeover
I love it and this is reasonable folks so I want you to imagine as a startup founder as ah as as your Ceo right? You are Ceo this is minimal comparison to in comparison to hiring someone full time.

50:07.22
Idong
Time. Yeah.

50:09.78
wearabletakeover
And having to pay benefits et Cetera You have a partner right here that can assist you with these services for a fraction of the cost. Plus let's let's be real here. Most of you startup Founders. You may not only be focused on Federal Funding. You could be going for other grants and commercial type of activities and. You will be spitting your wheels trying to do all of this by yourself unless you have a team or family members or whatever. They're all going to pitch in this is a resource that can help you so that you are not dividing your time so much and and spreading yourself too thin Plus we know is viable right.

50:42.40
Idong
No.

50:45.88
wearabletakeover
So as far as like a win rate or acceptance rate you know or or success rate. Let's let's talk about that. What's what's what's the expected success rate. Um and and how do you guarantee or do you guarantee success for the clients that you work with.

51:02.64
Idong
So that's an excellent question that I get very often so we don't guarantee a success for the client. Um because it would be I mean people do but ethically for us We don't at the ideas group because we know that it's ah it's a number of factors that come to play.

51:13.20
wearabletakeover
Yes.

51:19.82
Idong
Ah, big part being the technology and whether the agency likes what you're telling them and does it fit with what they're trying to do at the time and so what we promise our clients is a stress-free application process we take that stress away from you.

51:23.65
wearabletakeover
Here who.

51:35.19
wearabletakeover
Yes.

51:38.30
Idong
Figuring out. Okay, you know which form do I need to do and and now and what sizes and like we will take that from you we work with you to make this process a smoother one. Um, we help you to think through the things that you don't have to. Worry about because we can read through the Legalese we can read through the fine prints um of those requirements and so that's what we promise our clients and that's what our clients come to us for is that ability to navigate this more smoothly and to and to make sure that they're bad what we promise you is that. You're going to be more competitive than you could be on your own with this and given that yes so that's that's that's what we we promise our clients.

52:17.63
wearabletakeover
I love it. You got the real deal here folks with Dr Gibson and you know Dr Gibson I'm glad we got to the meat of everything first because I know a lot of folks are like okay, how do I get this money cause there's all this money people are telling me. There's all this money out there and so we're definitely saying please you know consider Dr Gibson in the ideas group as. As a partner um on your journey and you know maybe you're ready today. Maybe you'll be ready in a few months but the good thing is that you don't have to go researching for that partner. We're giving it right here to you on a silver platter saying here's a resource a vetted resource, a trusted resource. A resource that has done this for years been on, you know both sides of the table. So okay, let's take it back a little bit because for those that maybe have just said hey I'm going to try listen through this thing there might be some things I totally don't understand and we do have quite a few people. That are doing the best they can understand the terminology that we're using we tend to throw around the term my biomedical around a lot. But what does that mean from your perspective right? because again some people might be saying I just wanted to create a duba.

53:22.30
Idong
Me.

53:30.85
wearabletakeover
I Just wanted to create you know so a solution to this problem and there could be some folks that may not have gone through extensive formal education and that's okay because that's the beauty of our ecosystem we have folks that are truly just talented in their own way and then we have folks that have gone to Postdocs right.

53:47.54
Idong
M.

53:49.30
wearabletakeover
So can you help just break it down so that they feel more confident as they're coming into physical rooms. You know with our ecosystem as well as in other rooms so that they can speak to what it means what biomedical means and what does that encompass.

54:05.94
Idong
Yeah, So so when I think of Biomedical. It's really anything that has to do with the human body right? So you know in your case with a way talk about the wearable Technologies you're talking about. Something that's going to have an impact on any of the body's Processes. So We talked about you know if you're Monitoring. You know the heart rates or you're monitoring blood pressure or you're monitoring even temperature like anything that has to do with a human being whether you're monitoring, you're collecting information Your um. Maybe modifying a process that's happening. Um, it's part of that Bahm medical sphere right? because it's you know, but we think book you think of a bio you think about life. You think about the medicals. Um Forum you think about what you think about? think if you if you really lay Man's terms medicine Right. What is Medicine. It's something that you put into the body to reverse a condition right? and so anything that in the case of wearables we have things that we can wear that can monitor what's happening in our body. We also have things that we can wear that can have an impact on what is happening on the inside whether it's in your blood Flow. Or whatever. But it's like think about anything that's impacting the human body that's going to be used on the human body that's going to be monitoring anything related to what's happening to the person that would fall into that sphere of a Biomedical. Um.

55:38.94
Idong
Ah, biomedical innovation a bimenical device.

55:39.92
wearabletakeover
Dr. Gibson hi 5 you you just explained that so that a kindergartenner could understand it. Thank you, thank you? and that's that's the beauty like we we know for those of you listening some of you might be saying Lakekeia coach el why would you say that diddada. But if you've listened since day one.

55:47.48
Idong
We try.

55:59.87
wearabletakeover
What we've done is almost every episode is to try to put this in Layman's terms because we don't want people being left behind. We want everyone coming to the table as educated as possible with the knowledge that we provide so we're 1 team 1 band 1 sound.

56:06.30
Idong
Yeah.

56:17.72
wearabletakeover
And winning together all around. Okay so I gotta take it back a little bit so that we can get to know you a little bit better. Dr Gibson in the time that we have left. Um, so what was that like being in the military being active active duty for. Almost thirty years right because I know I know it was over 25 almost thirty years and by the way. Thank you so much for your service to our country.

56:45.37
Idong
Thank you, thank you? It's it's an I always say it's been an honor um to serve in uniform I I kind of happened upon it. Um, because I have an interesting story so I didn't my I was born here but I didn't grow up here. Um I grew up in Nigeria and when I came back.

56:59.75
wearabletakeover
Um.

57:02.37
Idong
The us I had just finished my bachelor's in biochemistry and I really wanted to be a scientist and I had landed in Miami and there weren't a lot of options for me there and I remember um I used to. I worked at the ky jeweler store at the 1 sixth third street mall in Miami ah, ah, got that good discount and um and I remember this one day. My aunt um came home and she was like hey I talked to this army guy and he was telling me that the army.

57:22.30
wearabletakeover
K Jewelers You got that good discount.

57:36.61
Idong
You know, does biomedical research and you might want to go talk to them and I thought oh okay, that's interesting. So I went up to the recruiting station at the mall and I talked to the first it was the Navy guy and the guy the Navy was like oh yeah, you know we have this research institute you could do this great things but you have to be able to swim.

57:42.74
wearabletakeover
Um.

57:54.32
Idong
And I said oh I can't swim so he says well you might want to talk to a friend next door in the army because I don't think they require that you have to swim and believe it or not that's literally how I joined the army I went next door and I talked to the army recruiter and he said we will send you to Washington I was like really.

58:01.59
wearabletakeover
Um.

58:10.62
wearabletakeover
Oh my gosh.

58:13.65
Idong
Like in Washington d c and it says yes, we have a research institute there and if you sign up we can get you there and um, yeah, that's how I ended up in the army and did the first 2 of I on active duty for 5 years at Walter Reed as an active duty soldier.

58:16.26
wearabletakeover
Oh my gosh. Oh my god.

58:31.90
Idong
And then I got out at the end of my um contract I worked as a civilian ah contractor for a few months and then I got on back on active duty I got a commission as an environmental science officer and I was with the civil affairs unit out in Philadelphia for a bit and then back here in Maryland and then um. The iraq war happened I got activated and I got to spend a year in Iraq um, with the die civil affairs unit as an environmental health officer and after I got back from Iraq I decided that okay maybe I'll try a different branchnch of the military this time and um. Actually transred over to the the public us public health service and so I know like if we don't know about the public health service but is a uniform service. We're not considered military because they don't bear arms so they're not part the armed forces but they're one of the 7 um uniform services in the us and so I went on to work for as.

59:12.00
wearabletakeover
Who.

59:29.81
Idong
I got my commission as a US public health service officer and you know went on to serve another what 17 years in uniform and I retir as a public health service officer in 192 so but it was it was a great privilege I really enjoyed my time.

59:34.36
wearabletakeover
Wow. I Love it.

59:46.12
Idong
Um, working with the army. Um at Walter Reed and then going to Iraq and coming back working for the and Nih and the Cdc and barter and actually got to do my last store was an overseas tour working with the Cdc in Zambia um helping with the implementation of an electronic health record system for the country. So.

59:58.75
wearabletakeover
Wow. Oh My gosh.

01:00:05.48
Idong
That was a great assignment as well and came back to DC for a few months and after that became a civilian.

01:00:11.43
wearabletakeover
I love this so what's in the future because you've had an amazing career. You are providing a much neededed service and I know you're gonna be super busy because with all these other programs and you know with Marilyn putting a focus on innovation here. You're gonna be swamped pretty soon and I know you'll be adding to the team. But.

01:00:24.90
Idong
Yeah.

01:00:30.48
wearabletakeover
For the future. What what? what does a future look like for you.

01:00:33.41
Idong
So that's a great question. Um I would love to grow the ideas group um to where we're servicing a lot more clients I Really want to be a part of innovation in this space. Um I want to be able to look back and see companies that we've worked with.

01:00:48.29
wearabletakeover
Um.

01:00:52.24
Idong
I've gone on to develop some amazing you know innovations in this space. Whether it be new drugs or vaccines or wearables. Um, we want to be part of that story like that's where we want to be able to grow in this area and maybe grow beyond this area as well start to offer our services outside of the us as well.

01:00:58.14
wearabletakeover
Yes.

01:01:05.22
wearabletakeover
M.

01:01:10.30
Idong
Because I think there are also opportunities to partner with innovators outside of the Us especially on the African continent where the biomedical research you know ecosystem is still very nascent. Um so some pattern like my vision is that someday we'll be able to get innovators here partnering with innovators on the continent to.

01:01:14.82
wearabletakeover
Yes.

01:01:28.91
Idong
Bring solutions particularly for women of color. You know for the for the challenges that we face that are kind of unique to our population. Um, it would be great to be a part of you know, developing solutions there and maybe somewhere down the road um in the future. We also have become have the opportunity to become investors as well to be able to invest in startups and help them.

01:01:29.45
wearabletakeover
No.

01:01:46.38
wearabletakeover
Yes, well you know we do that here in our ecosystem. So you're in the right place and we're honored to have you as an official ecosystem partner. Um, so you know as far as growing. Of course we've already talked about how folks can work with you.

01:01:48.60
Idong
To grow. So.

01:01:55.51
Idong
Thank you.

01:02:03.15
wearabletakeover
Um, you know as far as a client but adding to your particular team. What are some characteristics of future team members that you might be looking for because there might be some folks that you know because we've we've been going around to a lot of conferences talking to people so they're picking up on this so they might say hey I want to work with Dr Gibson what are you looking for? What should they bring to the table to help you grow.

01:02:25.48
Idong
That's an excellent question. So as the team grows. We really want people who are passionate about being a part of the change that we want to see in the health right in the health system and that for me.

01:02:34.48
wearabletakeover
Visit.

01:02:42.66
Idong
You know I kind of lead on the tech side I Really think that there's so much potential that technology has to bring in the health space because I kind of feel like we're a little bit left behind with the advances that you see in other fields compared to what's happening in the health sector. Um, and I know we've been very successful with the big.

01:02:47.71
wearabletakeover
Yep. And who.

01:03:01.30
Idong
Machines So like you know with Ct scans like the scans those big things the robotics in Medicine. We're pretty. You know we're doing pretty well. But I think more on the personalized medicine side. How do we impact the health of individuals with Innovative technologies that can help them to live healthier lives longer lives. More productive lives and so we want team members who are passionate about seeing that happen as well and then this just bring I mean the skills sets are going to be. We're going to need many different kinds of skillsetss we need people who can Write. We need people who can who can design this research studies right.

01:03:23.63
wearabletakeover
Who who.

01:03:33.88
wearabletakeover
Um.

01:03:37.70
Idong
You know we need people who can um, articulate you know people who are good at telling the story in a way that you know is is compelling for for funders and so we're going to need all of that. But at the core we need people who want to be a part of change in in Health I Want to have an impact on the lives of people.

01:03:41.53
wearabletakeover
Here.

01:03:51.55
wearabletakeover
I Love it.

01:03:57.12
Idong
Because we think about it with health interventions. Whatever innovations we come up with they help people here at home but globally it can be very impactful So we I you know I really want people that will join us that want to move that mission forward.

01:04:12.78
wearabletakeover
I love it. I have no doubt Dr Gibson with the folks that we've been meeting that ah you, you might be getting some inquiries. The folks that have those skill sets they can add value to the team and overall to the overall ecosystem and I just ask that you keep track and and help report to us. Any impact that we've had you know on your business so that we know because again this is a cycle this it all works when we work together and we and we want to be able to measure that you know throughout the whole ecosystem. All right? So with that being said, we're almost getting ready for summer.

01:04:33.94
Idong
Yeah.

01:04:47.12
wearabletakeover
I know I talked about the long term future but any vacation play is anywhere that you hope to visit anything that you hope to do um even outside of the the hackathon because we're going to talk about you setting up some office hours for the hackathon. But let's talk about vacation First before we get to office hours.

01:05:01.89
Idong
Of no vocation. So funny enough I I just came back I just came off a Disney Cruise with my son first Disney Cruise um for for the easter break. It was without endorsing any 1 product.

01:05:11.71
wearabletakeover
I've heard those are amazing.

01:05:19.40
Idong
It was a great time I highly recommend it and I think I enjoyed it hey we could do. We could have a session for startups in this space and we do it on ah on a Disney Cruise

01:05:21.49
wearabletakeover
Really, we got a partner with Disney so we could all go to Disney crew.

01:05:37.11
Idong
It would be great. There are lots of opportunities for collaboration and there are lots of participants to do the deep thinking that's needed to think through the the strategic plans that they need to come up with for how to move their business forward. So yes.

01:05:47.73
wearabletakeover
Maybe maybe we could work on that Dr Gibson maybe we could work on that proposal. So you know that could be that could be your seat at the wtv we work on that proposal and get that funded by Disney. Okay, but the cruise was amazing. I've always heard they were great. So.

01:05:55.93
Idong
All right sounds good. Yes, yes.

01:06:04.40
wearabletakeover
Hopefully you got pictures somewhere that that can be shared but Dr Gibson we want folks to follow you on Linkedin right? Um, so Dr I dong e se at Gibson you'll see the link in the show notes. But also you can connect with Dr Gibson very soon. So I'm gonna ask you on the spot.

01:06:07.89
Idong
Yes, it's.

01:06:22.13
wearabletakeover
If you will consider having some office hours for our participants at the warbletec ventures hackathon it's happening this summer we just announced on a fellow podcast the big announcement that we partner with the state of Maryland library. So the libraries are going to be opening up sites to be partners with us.

01:06:36.64
Idong
Oh.

01:06:39.56
wearabletakeover
And then we also have some other cities that are partnering with us as well. So we'll have some additional announcements there but we would love if you and your team would consider having you know, maybe 2 to 3 different sets of office hours for our participants to drop in and get to know you ask questions and maybe see how you could take them further. But beyond that folks, you got to be registered for the hackathon to see you know how we make that happen. You have some standing office hours here in the state of Maryland that are virtual I believe right? Why don't you tell our listeners about that.

01:07:08.16
Idong
Yeah, so um so I'm part of a team called the rethink bio group. Um, just recently formed a couple of us who have expertise in different areas and we host the monthly office hours. Every third Wednesday of the month at two Zero p M Eastern and you can find the information on Linkedin if you just ah search Linkedin for rethink by a group because there is rethink by, but there's rethink by a group. Um and we meet ah once a month like I said and it's open office hours so people come on there with different questions. We try to have a theme. So for this month the theme is around fundraising given the current climate.

01:07:39.76
wearabletakeover
Nice.

01:07:43.37
Idong
And so we'll be taking questions on fundraising regarding both non-dalliative and and and delative funding. So um, so we do different topics. Usually this is its focus topic but people can come on there with any questions that they have anybody who's in this medical health tech space. You know is welcome to come on and register. You can also find a research on event bright as well. Um, we usually have the announcements for the monthly meetings and you can join us and then um, this is kind of like a 1 time thing. But next week I'm going to be at ah the make the Maryland innovation center in Howard County and we'll be doing a 1 hour session. Ah next Tuesday at Eleven o'clock it's going to be hybrid sessions. So if people are interested. They can also sign up but we'll also be talking about nondeative funding accessing, nondeative funding opportunities. So as you could see. It's always around that nonelative funding grant opportunities is where our focus is.

01:08:27.39
wearabletakeover
I Love it.

01:08:34.66
wearabletakeover
Bring the money on in and so Dr Gismon I'm going to ask Dr Gibson excuse me I'm going to ask that if you do post that on Linkedin that you tag us tag. Both wearable tech ventures and me personally so that we can repost that information and um I think we'll be able to get that link so that we also post it in the show notes.

01:08:45.39
Idong
All right.

01:08:52.40
wearabletakeover
That you can follow up with her the ideas group as well as making sure that you're following all entities on Linkedin. So I'm excited about what we're gonna do this is just the beginning but it's it's amazing. We've already gotten over a number of hurdles by having all the resources and the competent people with success records on our team and in our ecosystem. So before we sign up. Is there anything else you want to share with those that might be listening or watching.

01:09:22.12
Idong
So I guess I'll say my one takeaway is you know, don't let the don't let the obstacle stop you because like they are still I believe that there are even greater innovations out there than what we already have and so we need your ideas we need your solutions and you know so. Feel free to take part of you know, take advantage of the resources that you're being offered the wearable tech ecosystem. There's there's a lot of resources out there. You've met me today so please reach out and you know bring those ideas we want to see those ideas come to life. We want to see the health of our folks improved.

01:09:51.19
wearabletakeover
Yes.

01:10:01.20
wearabletakeover
The absolutely.

01:10:02.50
Idong
Including ours as well. So you know please come forth with those ideas and go help you to bring them to life.

01:10:06.30
wearabletakeover
I love it. You said it? best Dr Gibson there is still room for you all right folks, you've heard it here now. We're not ending the podcast this just brings season 2 to a close and it gives you an opportunity to ramp up take advantage of these resources.

01:10:11.30
Idong
Must.

01:10:24.69
wearabletakeover
And to make sure that you are registered for July for the wearable tech ventures hackathon where we're gonna be featuring all of our partners of some shape form capacity in-person virtual etc. We want you to be ready and excited share with somebody make sure you. Give that gift of love and share with somebody else and remember there is room for you. We'll make sure everything is posted in the show us have a good one.

01:10:43.98
Idong
Absolutely.