Brian Barlay, MA, is a Sierra Leonean American with more than a decade of experience in business development, entrepreneurship, community engagement, strategic partnerships, and program development. He currently serves as a Technology and Innovation Counselor with the Missouri Small Business Development Center, where he works with entrepreneurs, innovators, manufacturers, and small businesses seeking to commercialize new technologies, identify funding opportunities, validate markets, and develop strategies for growth. His work includes helping companies navigate SBIR/STTR and other non-dilutive R&D funding opportunities, assess their funding readiness, identify appropriate federal agencies and opportunities, strengthen commercialization strategies, and connect with technical, research, and ecosystem resources. He also works with founders to identify gaps and develop actionable pathways from early-stage innovation through commercialization.

Brian brings a unique perspective to this work as both a business development professional and an entrepreneur who has personally navigated the St. Louis startup ecosystem. As a small business owner and founder, he has participated in the Founders Framework at T-REX Innovation Center and LaunchPad 725 at TechArtista and is an Arch Grants finalist through Nexaire Group. These experiences have given him firsthand insight into the challenges founders face when moving an idea from concept to market, including customer discovery, business model development, strategic partnerships, funding, and investment readiness. Brian uses that experience to take a practical, founder-centered approach to counseling, helping businesses understand the commercialization process and connect with the people, programs, and resources available throughout the St. Louis and Missouri innovation ecosystem.