Brittany Sickler is the Director of Investment and Innovation Ecosystems for the Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) effective. In this role, she is responsible for building networks of stakeholders across the country to improve access for small businesses seeking federal R&D and patient capital funds, creating strategic connections via the Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) program, the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC), and more. Prior to this role, Brittany launched a new division at the Economic Development Administration responsible for over $63M in investments to develop economic development networks supporting communities with connections, technical assistance, and promising practices at scale. Previously, Brittany spent almost nine years at SBA in the North Dakota District Office, the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, and most recently in the Office of Investment and Innovation where she designed and managed funding for entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) and coordinated outreach across the federal agencies representing America’s Seed Fund.
Ms. Sickler holds a Master’s in Community Economic Development and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala as well as an AmeriCorps VISTA for microlender Ascendus in Miami.