Cap Table Assessment
Know your investors: Where are your investors headquartered? Who are the key stakeholders in that business? Do any individuals have potential foreign countries of concern affiliations? Are there any agreements with investors regarding IP that increases malign tech transfer risk?
Employee Assessment
Know your employees: Do your company executives or individuals involved with the SBIR and/or STTR project have any foreign countries of concern affiliations?
Examples:
- Co-authorships with individuals with positions/appointments at foreign countries of concern-based research institutions
- Current or historical membership in a talent program with a foreign country of concern-based institution
- Current or historical position or appointment at a foreign country of concern-based institution
- Employment at a business or institution within a foreign country of concern
- Research funding from a foreign country of concern-based research institution
- Any other significant ties to individuals or institutions within a foreign country of concern
Open-Source Tools
Even without sophisticated vetting tools, you can achieve a good understanding of Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence risk (knowing your employees and investors) using open-source research (including Boolean searches and other methods).