About me
Brittany Sickler is the Director of Investment and Innovation Ecosystem Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). In her role, she leads national initiatives to expand and strengthen networks of entrepreneurship stakeholders supporting innovative and growth-oriented small businesses by enhancing their access to patient capital and federal R&D funds. She oversees programs designed to boost startup competitiveness in key industries and supply chains, notably through the SBA Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) initiative and Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC). Previously, Brittany launched a new division within the U.S. Economic Development Administration, driving over $63 million in investments that strengthen economic development networks that deliver scalable support, technical assistance, and promising practices to communities nationwide. Her federal career began at an SBA field office, later transitioning to the Office of Investment and Innovation where she developed and managed funding initiatives for entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) and led outreach efforts across federal agencies for America’s Seed Fund - the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs. Recognized as the 2019 National SBIR Person of the Year, Brittany is a North Dakota native, holds a Master’s in Community Economic Development, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala, underscoring her commitment to community and economic growth.
