O3 provided Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) for several Okean Solutions, Inc. SBIR contracts. In 2022, Okean Solutions and O3 were awarded a two-year NASA Phase II project: Fault Management Analysis Tool For Model Centric Systems Engineering, which included TABA work to expand the commercialization and business planning that was begun in 2021 Phase I. The TABA part of the Phase II project ended on March 31, 2024.
As part of that project, O3 led the evolution of Okean’s business strategy, business model, and commercialization plan to expand the appeal of Okean Solutions’ engineering consulting and fault management software development services and MONSID products to commercial customers and partners.
All work was done in partnership with Okean Solutions, and we met regularly over the course of the two-year project. A standardized meeting agenda and consistent processes to track tasks prompted periodic evaluation of our marketing strategy as opportunities arise, proposals were submitted, and projects were tracked. Over time, marketing tasks became more “top of mind” and, with experience, have become more familiar, less onerous, and more consistent.
O3 reviewed TABA goals; managed tasks; and then worked with Solutions to estimate levels of effort, prioritize work and put the focus on next most important work. O3 led discussions that resulted in creating of marketing assets to support sales efforts and to answer questions from potential customers and partners. We documented timelines for SBIR solicitations and awards, for paper publication, and for conference presentations and attendance.
O3 facilitated multiple discussions about standards, consistent messaging and content, efficient use of assets over time, and processes for creating and publishing timely, compelling content. O3 wrote process documentation to track SBIR projects and marketing efforts, a consistent SBIR Project article template, and a News listing and article template. All SBIR assets were maintained in Solutions’ SharePoint system to be more organized, findable, and usable. DevOps was used for tracking marketing projects, resulting in more effective collaboration.
O3 designed a new MONSID product logo for the MONSID software product, MONSID.com website and other locations.
O3 led marketing content research, with multiple discussions about creating new content for both websites for different buyer types (aerospace/military, commercial, technical, non-technical).
Together, we converted the MONSID.com website to Svelte and later reorganized and redesigned the site in conjunction with the new Okean.Solutions company website. Read about O3’s work on the MONSID.com website and on the Okean.Solutions website.
O3 evaluated and planned for search engine optimization (SEO) of both websites in light of content moving from MONSID to Solutions, plus new content to cover additional Solutions focus areas. Care was taken to preserve current search ranking of MONSID.com as content was reorganized.
Other services
In addition to TABA-related services, O3 provided marketing and branding research and recommendations; designed marketing material for Okean Solutions, and supported proposal development.
Challenges – and Gratitude
The two Solutions’ websites are the final business sites created by O3. Working with an unfamiliar PM system and different framework, version control and hosting environments, along with the requirements of a TABA project, was challenging, an inspiration, and a lot of fun. I enjoyed supporting their unique company and product, and I am grateful to have had the experience of working with Ksenia and Maurice.
What is SBIR?
SBIR, or Small Business Innovation Research, encourages U.S. domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization. A competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation’s R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated, and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs. (excerpted from the SBIR website). Read more about the SBIR program…
What is TABA?
Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) provides an opportunity to assist small businesses participating in the SBIR and STTR programs with commercializing its technology. It enables federal agencies to help small businesses by funding vendors to support commercializing their innovations or by providing additional funding directly to small businesses so they can contract their own vendors and consultants for commercialization purposes.
(excerpted from the SBIR website) Read more about TABA…
MONSID.com work by O3…
Okean.Solutions work by O3…
MONSID.com website…
Okean.Solutions website…