republic-os/legal/us/code/title-15/chapter-14a/section-657e.md

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LegalText	15 U.S.C. § 657e	Mentoring Networks	us	united_states_code	code_section	15	COMMERCE AND TRADE	14A	AID TO SMALL BUSINESS	657e	15 U.S.C. § 657e	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc15@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t15/s657e	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-15/usc15.xml	dc5fe417f76566fe395b524a4f0b1f77c4df5ddc14cfa6fa714ddb05ca8dbe31	6982338d990ef19d6b52bff6825089bdd6d0ee1233d9382673faf533decd5059	469e95e3794968e1dff01ddcb3419cc350bb94c0709be59576943561ae6054c5	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

15 U.S.C. § 657e - Mentoring Networks

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(a) Findings Congress finds that—

(1) the SBIR and STTR programs create jobs, increase capacity for technological innovation, and boost international competitiveness;

(2) increasing the quantity of applications from all States to the SBIR and STTR programs would enhance competition for such awards and the quality of the completed projects; and

(3) mentoring is a natural complement to the FAST program of reaching out to new companies regarding the SBIR and STTR programs as an effective and low-cost way to improve the likelihood that such companies will succeed in such programs in developing and commercializing their research.

(b) Authorization for Mentoring Networks The recipient of an award or participant in a cooperative agreement under section 657d of this title may use a reasonable amount of such assistance for the establishment of a Mentoring Network under this section.

(c) Criteria for Mentoring Networks A Mentoring Network established using assistance under section 657d of this title shall—

(1) provide business advice and counseling to high technology small business concerns located in the State or region served by the Mentoring Network and identified under section 657d(c)(1)(E)(ii) of this title as potential candidates for the SBIR or STTR programs;

(2) identify volunteer mentors who—

(A) are persons associated with a small business concern that has successfully completed one or more SBIR or STTR funding agreements; and

(B) have agreed to guide small business concerns through all stages of the SBIR or STTR program process, including providing assistance relating to—

(i) proposal writing;

(ii) marketing;

(iii) Government accounting;

(iv) Government audits;

(v) project facilities and equipment;

(vi) human resources;

(vii) third phase partners;

(viii) commercialization;

(ix) venture capital networking; and

(x) other matters relevant to the SBIR and STTR programs;

(3) have experience working with small business concerns participating in the SBIR and STTR programs;

(4) contribute information to the national database referred to in subsection (d); and

(5) agree to reimburse volunteer mentors for out-of-pocket expenses related to service as a mentor under this section.

(d) Mentoring database The Administrator shall—

(1) include in the database required by section 638(k)(1) of this title, in cooperation with the SBIR, STTR, and FAST programs, information on Mentoring Networks and mentors participating under this section, including a description of their areas of expertise;

(2) work cooperatively with Mentoring Networks to maintain and update the database;

(3) take such action as may be necessary to aggressively promote Mentoring Networks under this section; and

(4) fulfill the requirements of this subsection either directly or by contract.

(Pub. L. 85–536, § 2[35], as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(9) [title I, § 112], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–680.)