SBIR & STTR

After a disruptive pause, NSF has reopened its SBIR/STTR programs with $250 million for deep-tech startups — including a $40M scientific-instrumentation pilot and a new Strategic Breakthrough track that can reach $30 million. The first Project Pitch deadline is July 27, 2026. Here is how the reopened pipeline works, why the Project Pitch is the real gate, and how founders should sequence a submission before the window narrows.

DARPA pre-released two Release 4 SBIR topics on July 1 — FALCON, fusing efficient ML with large language models, and a non-volatile memory system rated for space and deep-cryogenic extremes. Both open July 22 and close August 19, 2026. Here's what each topic is really asking for and how to build a competitive proposal.

S. 3971 reauthorized SBIR/STTR through September 2031, but the interesting parts are buried in the fine print: higher award ceilings, proposal-submission caps, a new $30M late-stage mechanism, and NSF's $250M restart with a July 27 deadline. Here's what actually changed and how to position for it.

ARPA-H's 2026 SBIR/STTR BAA opens seven transformative health topics with $600K Phase I and $3.5M Phase II contracts — non-dilutive, milestone-driven money. The July 10 Solution Summary gate decides who ever gets to pitch. Here's how the ARPA-H model differs from NIH and how small health-tech firms actually get through the funnel.

DARPA's FY26 SBIR Release 4 dropped three topics on July 1: Art of Novel Signals, FALCON, and Non-Volatile Memory for Extreme Environments. Proposals open July 22 and close August 19 — but the window that actually decides who wins closes the moment the topics open. Here's the strategy.

NSF 26-510 is the first SBIR/STTR solicitation written under the 2026 reauthorization — $305,000 Phase I awards, a mandatory Project Pitch gate, and a new instrumentation pilot. This is the deep dive on the deadlines, the eligibility math, and how a deep-tech startup should sequence the July 27 window.

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act of 2026 saved the programs after a six-month lapse, but it also added $30M strategic-breakthrough awards, per-company proposal caps, and mandatory national-security screening. Here is what changed across all eleven SBIR agencies — and what it means for your next proposal.

ARPA-H's FY2026 SBIR/STTR solicitation closes its Solution Summary stage July 10, with seven named topics spanning women's health, autoimmune diagnostics, toxin removal, and neurosurgical robotics. Awards run up to $600K for Phase I and $3.5M for Phase II — but they are contracts, not grants, and the four-to-six-page summary is the gate that filters out most applicants. Here is how ARPA-H's model actually works and how to win the first stage.

The Department's FY26 SBIR/STTR Release 3 opened June 24 with roughly 37 topics across DARPA, the Navy, the Air Force, and the defense components, all closing July 22. The compressed four-week window is unforgiving, but the bigger mistake founders make is treating every component the same. Here is how to read the release, the eligibility rules that disqualify good companies, and why the component you target matters more than the topic you pick.

The Department of Education's IES SBIR program is one of the most overlooked non-dilutive funding sources for education-technology startups. It funds prototypes at $250K and proven products at $1M with no equity taken. Here is how the FY2026 tracks work, what reviewers reward, and why the June 29 deadline is tighter than it looks.

The DSO DPA26BZ03 drop pairs a wearable closed-loop sleep system and a host-pathogen interactome predictor with a brutal Rydberg-sensor manufacturing topic and air-independent high-density batteries. All four open June 24 and close July 22, 2026. Here is what each topic is really asking for, and which small businesses are positioned to win.

S. 3971 reauthorized SBIR/STTR through 2031 after the longest lapse in the program's history. Buried inside are a new $30M Strategic Breakthrough Award, per-company proposal caps arriving in FY2027, eight-watchlist foreign-risk screening, and bigger TABA budgets. Here is what each change means for who wins and who gets squeezed out.

SAMHSA's June 11 release of eight FY26 grant programs ranges from $600K to $9.2M and lands under the Trump-Kennedy-Burgum Great American Recovery Initiative. The SBIRT NOFO's 30-application cap means the deadline is functionally first-come, first-served.

MTO opened six SBIR topics on May 27 with a single June 24 close: nanopore proteomics, compact wideband tunable RF filters, 800°C-rated integrated circuits, passive thermal spreaders, radiation-hardened codesign, and low-resource computing for legacy hardware reuse. Together they map the office's bet on where U.S. semiconductor advantage gets reasserted — and which small businesses get to ride along.

The Institute of Education Sciences released its FY26 SBIR solicitations on April 30 with a single hard deadline of June 29. The triple-track structure — Phase IA for novel concepts, Phase IB for new components, and Direct-to-Phase-II for evidence-based scale-up — codifies a sharper theory of how federal dollars should move education technology from research bench to classroom.

DARPA's Defense Sciences Office and Biological Technologies Office pre-released four SBIR XL topics on June 3 with proposals open June 24 and due July 22. Read the four as a single coordinated bet on the deployed soldier — sensing, recovery, power, and pathogen defense — and the strategy for filing across the quartet becomes clear.

DoW's 2026 SBIR Broad Agency Announcement now operates on a monthly pre-release / quarterly close cadence. The 42 topics closing June 24 are the first test of whether the new rhythm produces the steady-state deal flow defense innovators have been asking for since 2022.

NSF reopened its Project Pitch portal on June 2 and posted two distinct solicitations — NSF 26-510 for general deep tech and NSF 26-511 for scientific instrumentation. The first full-proposal deadline is July 27, 2026. Here is why the split matters, who the $40M instrumentation lane is actually for, and how founders should choose a track before submitting a pitch.

The Department of the Navy pre-released FY26 Release 3 SBIR/STTR on June 3, 2026 — 12 BAA topics and one Commercial Solutions Opening for Counter-Unmanned Air Systems. Topics span adaptive sensor management, anomalous behavior detection, satellite imagery optimization, real-time zero-trust data for combat systems, and gun weapon systems modernization. Technical questions cut off June 23. Proposals open June 24 and close July 22. NAVAIR and NAVSEA co-host a Counter-UAS webinar June 16. Phase I funding tops out at $315,000. The CSO open topic for AI-powered drone defense is the structural news: it's the first time NAVAIR has used a CSO vehicle to fund counter-drone work outside the conventional Phase I/II structure, and it changes how small businesses can engage with the Navy's most urgent capability gap.

NSF restarted its SBIR/STTR programs on May 31, 2026 after a multi-month hiatus, with a $250 million FY26 allocation, a Project Pitch portal reopen on June 2, and a first full-proposal deadline of July 27, 2026. The big structural changes: a new Strategic Breakthrough tier that extends invited Phase II companies up to $30 million, and a $40 million pilot for next-generation scientific instrumentation. Phase I tops out at $305K, Phase II at $1.25M, with November 4 and March 4, 2027 windows behind the July 27 first deadline. For deep-tech startups that watched the NIH SBIR omnibus go dark and DARPA pull back on conventional Phase II slots, this is the most consequential reopening of the year — and the Strategic Breakthrough tier is the first time NSF has competed directly with venture capital at growth-stage check sizes.

ED/IES released its FY2026 SBIR solicitations on April 30, 2026, with Phase IA and Phase IB closing June 29 at 11AM EDT for $250,000 nine-month feasibility awards, and Direct-to-Phase-II closing the same day at 2PM EDT for $1,000,000 two-year commercialization awards. The program funds edtech for special education, general education, and education research tools — a structurally underserved category that most SBIR-active founders never consider. Direct-to-Phase-II requires evidence-based innovations originally developed by universities or non-profit research organizations, which makes it one of the cleanest IP-licensing-to-commercialization paths in the federal portfolio. Here is the eligibility analysis, the phase structure, the question deadline that already closed, and how to position for the June 29 windows.

On June 3, the Department of the Navy pre-released FY26 Release 3 SBIR/STTR — 12 conventional BAA topics and a Counter-Unmanned Air Systems Commercial Solutions Opening. Topics span adaptive sensor management, anomalous behavior detection, satellite imagery optimization, real-time zero-trust data for combat systems, and gun weapon systems modernization. The proposal window runs June 24 to July 22, 2026. The technical questions cutoff is June 23. NAVAIR and NAVSEA are hosting a Counter-UAS webinar on June 16. Here is what the topic mix actually signals about Navy priorities and how small businesses should position.

On May 31, NSF announced the restart of its SBIR and STTR programs with a $250 million FY26 allocation, a Project Pitch portal reopening June 2, a first full-proposal deadline of July 27, 2026, and additional windows on November 4 and March 4, 2027. Phase I tops out at $305K, Phase II at $1.25M, and a new Strategic Breakthrough lane extends invited Phase II companies up to $30M. A separate $40M instrumentation pilot (NSF 26-511) funds next-generation scientific tools. Here is what changed from prior cycles, who the program actually fits, and how to position a Project Pitch for the July deadline.

Public Law 119-83 was signed April 13, 2026, reauthorizing SBIR/STTR through 2031. The Department of War issued its implementation announcement April 20 and released over 90 topics in six weeks. The new Accelerated Research for Transition (ART) Program restructures Phase II-to-acquisition transition, Strategic Breakthrough Awards offer $30M per project with 100% matching, and CMMC Level 2 self-assessment has been the compliance floor since November 10, 2025. Here is how to read the post-reauthorization DoW pipeline.

NOT-OD-26-006 closed all 23 NIH SBIR/STTR opportunities on Nov 17, 2025. The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971) was signed April 13, 2026, reauthorizing the program through 2031. NIH posted no active SBIR/STTR NOFOs through early June 2026 while it rebuilt its solicitation suite around new statutory requirements. The September 5 standard receipt date is the first real test of the post-freeze pipeline — here is what the unwind looks like and how to position for it.

DARPA MTO opened six FY26 SBIR topics on May 27 with a June 24 deadline — nanopore proteomics, compact RF filters, 800°C ICs, passive thermal spreaders, radiation-hardened codesign, and low-resource computing. The topics read like a wishlist for the next decade of contested-environment microelectronics. Here is what each one is actually asking for, and how small businesses should triage the four-week window.

The Department of Transportation's FY26 SBIR Phase I solicitation opened June 3 and closes July 7 — a 34-day window across FHWA, FRA, FTA, NHTSA, and PHMSA topics ranging from AI trip planning to thermochromic hazmat coatings to high-voltage battery discharge for rail. Awards land in September. The strategy for which topic to chase depends on infrastructure most teams underestimate.

NASA shifted its SBIR/STTR program from a single-cycle solicitation to a Broad Agency Announcement on April 17, 2026 — valid through September 30, 2027 — with subtopics released in rolling appendices. The structural change ends 41 years of predictable January-to-March deadlines and forces space startups to rebuild their proposal pipelines around continuous monitoring rather than annual sprints.

On June 3, 2026 DARPA's Defense Sciences Office and Biological Technologies Office pre-released five FY26 SBIR/STTR topics — MANTRAS, Engineering Sleep for Cognitive Performance, ExCAIPE, Real-Time Pathogen-Host Interactome Prediction, and Biomanufacturing of Hierarchical Biocomposites — that open June 24 and close July 22 at noon Eastern. Here is what the five-topic drop signals about DARPA's continuous-release cadence and how small teams should plan.

A section-by-section SBIR/STTR proposal writing playbook for the 2026-2031 era: aims, innovation claims, commercialization, budgets, and the reviewer scoring lens.

DOT's FY26 SBIR Phase I opened June 3 and closes July 7 at 3:00 PM ET. Ten topics across FTA, PHMSA, FRA, FHWA, and Volpe span AI trip planning, thermochromic hazmat coatings, lithium-ion fire suppression, and V2X congestion mitigation — a tighter, more product-focused topic list than any of the bigger-name agencies.

DARPA DSO pre-released four FY26 SBIR XL topics on June 3 — Rydberg sensor manufacturing, cognitive sleep wearables, expeditionary closed-cycle power, and host-pathogen interactome prediction. Proposals open June 24 and close July 22. Here is the strategy.

U.S. DOT's FY26 SBIR Phase I solicitation opens June 3 and closes July 7 with awards in September. Ten topics across FHWA, FRA, FTA, NHTSA, and PHMSA at $200K–$300K each. Why the topic distribution telegraphs DOT's three-year R&D priorities and how niche specialists can win against generalist competitors.

NIH has no active SBIR or STTR omnibus solicitations for the first time in a decade. The FY26 reset reposts the omnibus series on June 1 with a September 8 deadline and a quietly historic change — Direct-to-Phase II STTR awards. Here is the strategy.

NSF's relaunched SBIR/STTR program under solicitation 26-510 commits $250 million for deep-tech startups, opens Project Pitches June 2, 2026, and sets the first full-proposal deadline for July 27. The Strategic Breakthrough Awards tier — up to $30M per company — is the largest single-company commitment in NSF SBIR history.

NSF's late-May 2026 SBIR/STTR relaunch under solicitation NSF 26-510 deploys $250M for deep-tech startups, opens Project Pitches on June 2, sets the first full-proposal deadline for July 27, 2026, and carves out a $40M pilot for next-generation scientific instrumentation that rewires what kinds of small businesses NSF wants to fund.

On April 17, 2026, NASA released a SBIR/STTR Broad Agency Announcement valid through Sept 30, 2027 — replacing the legacy annual solicitation cycle with rolling appendices. The first two appendices closed May 21. A complete strategic analysis for space-tech founders adapting to the new model.

The National Science Foundation reopened SBIR/STTR with $250M, a July 27 first deadline, $305K Phase I, $1.25M Phase II, and a new $40M scientific instrumentation pilot. Plus the $30M Strategic Breakthrough award. A strategic deep dive for deep-tech startups.

NASA selected 15 small businesses for SBIR Ignite Phase I awards on April 14 in AI, robotics, and radar. The $150K Phase I gates a $1.275M Phase II — and the commercialization-first framing is reshaping who should apply where.

S. 3971 — the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act — reauthorized SBIR and STTR through September 30, 2031 after a six-month lapse. The legislation adds Strategic Breakthrough Awards up to $30M with 100% matching, eight-watchlist foreign-affiliation screening, and FY 2027 per-company proposal caps. Companies that built their pipeline around volume submissions need a new strategy now.

NASA's SBIR/STTR Program Year 2026 abandons the annual solicitation in favor of a rolling BAA. Phase I awards jump to $225K and Phase II to $1.275M. Here is the playbook.

DARPA BTO pre-released four FY26 SBIR/STTR topics on April 30, 2026, with proposals due June 3. Two topics — SWiFT and EXPOSITION — offer Direct-to-Phase-II awards up to $1.5M, bypassing the standard Phase I gate. Here is what each topic is actually solving, why the DP2 structure matters, and how small biotech, surgical robotics, and battlefield-medicine teams should decide whether to compete.

On April 13, 2026, President signed S. 3971 reauthorizing SBIR/STTR through September 30, 2031 — the longest extension in program history. The new law introduces $30M Strategic Breakthrough Awards, FY2027 proposal caps to address SBIR mills, expanded foreign-risk screening, and stronger TABA support. Here is how small businesses, university spinouts, and dual-use startups should reposition for the next two solicitation cycles.

NASA released a Broad Agency Announcement on April 17, 2026, that replaces the agency's traditional annual SBIR/STTR solicitation cycle with a phased-appendix model valid through September 30, 2027. Appendix A and Appendix B opened April 21 with a May 21 deadline; additional appendices will release throughout the BAA period. The shift breaks the once-a-year proposal cadence small businesses have planned around since the program's founding and demands a different operational posture.

DARPA pre-released four FY26 SBIR topics on April 30 — SWiFT field transfusion, BARK K-9 therapeutics, EXPOSITION finger regeneration, and PEPI photonic-electronic integration. Phase I awards range $150K-$300K, with Direct-to-Phase-II up to $1.8M. Closing June 3.

NASA released its 2026–2027 SBIR/STTR Broad Agency Announcement on April 17, with Appendix 2026A/B Phase I submissions closing May 21 at 5pm ET. Phase I awards rose 50% to $225K, Phase II to $1.275M, and the BAA replaces the old annual solicitation with continuous appendix releases. Here is what the structural shift means for small-business strategy.

On June 3, 2026, four DARPA Biological Technologies Office SBIR topics close simultaneously — SWiFT, BARK, EXPOSITION, and Medical Swarm Robotics. Combined Phase I plus Phase II potential exceeds $6 million per company, and together they sketch a coherent strategy of distributed, autonomous, dual-species combat casualty care that depends on small businesses, not primes, to actually build.

The Strategic Breakthrough Awards mechanism authorized in the February 2026 SBIR reauthorization is the first post-Phase II funding instrument in program history. The mandatory 100 percent private match and the four-year performance window reposition SBIR from research subsidy to commercialization accelerator — and small businesses that do not understand that pivot will fail to compete for the first solicitations in Q4.

DARPA's ALIAS Missionized Autonomy for Emergency Services topic closes May 13, 2026 — and the choice to use an SBIR XL designation to fund civilian wildfire autonomy through a defense procurement is the most consequential signal about where federal dual-use funding is heading in 2026.

NASA's 2026 SBIR/STTR program drops the January Mainline solicitation in favor of a rolling Broad Agency Announcement that runs through September 2027. Appendix A and B are live, Appendix B closes May 21, and the proposal-cap arithmetic that has governed NASA small business strategy for two decades just changed.

The BARK program funds dual-use medical products for warfighters and military working dogs — tourniquets, sensors, drug delivery, and CBRN countermeasures. Proposals close June 3, 2026.

NASA replaced its annual SBIR/STTR solicitation with a rolling BAA model, raised award caps 50%, and reset proposal limits per appendix. The biggest structural overhaul in the program's 40-year history reshapes how small businesses compete for space technology funding.

S.3971 reauthorizes SBIR/STTR through 2031 with Strategic Breakthrough Awards up to $30M, expanded foreign ownership scrutiny, and a fundamental shift from research grants to acquisition-integrated innovation pipeline.

S.3971 reauthorizes SBIR/STTR through 2031 with strategic breakthrough funding, security screening, and proposal caps. What changed and how to compete.

Congress passed the most sweeping SBIR/STTR overhaul in a decade. With $30M awards, new security vetting, and proposal caps arriving by summer 2026, small businesses need to move now.

After the longest SBIR lapse in program history, federal agencies face a compressed six-month window to publish solicitations, review proposals, and obligate billions. Here is how to position yourself in the scramble.

State SBIR matching programs can add $25,000 to $500,000 on top of your federal award. Here is the complete guide to which states offer matching funds and how to claim them.

A agency-by-agency breakdown of SBIR funding for clean energy startups, from DOE and DOD to EPA and USDA, with positioning strategies that match your technology to the right program.

SBIR data rights give small businesses up to 20 years of IP protection. Learn the DFARS and FAR rules, marking requirements, and negotiation strategies that keep your technology yours.

Serial SBIR winners build cross-agency portfolios by adapting core technology to DOD, NIH, and NSF missions. Here is how they do it under the 2026 rules.

Roughly 40% of SBIR Phase I awardees convert to Phase II. Agency data reveals what separates repeat winners from companies that never advance past feasibility.

Phase I findings often upend your original commercialization plan. How to reframe the pivot, rewrite your Phase II proposal, and keep agencies on your side.

TABA adds up to $50,000 on top of your SBIR/STTR award for IP, market research, and regulatory help. Here is how to claim it before the money disappears.

Faculty founders face unique SBIR hurdles around conflict of interest, IP assignment, and primary employment. Here is how to navigate the rules without derailing your startup or your tenure.

A data-driven comparison of SBIR grants and venture capital for startups, covering dilution, timelines, award sizes, and the scenarios where each funding path wins.

DARPA transferred its first autonomous-ready H-60Mx Black Hawk to the Army on March 20, capping a decade of ALIAS research. Now the same technology underpins an SBIR XL opportunity for small businesses building wildfire autonomy.

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act ends a five-month program lapse and introduces the biggest structural reforms to SBIR/STTR in over a decade.

After the five-month SBIR shutdown, the Navy is centralizing contract execution, aligning with Pentagon acquisition reforms, and promising faster awards. What defense tech startups need to know.

After the longest authorization lapse in 43 years, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act heads to a House vote. New $30M awards, proposal caps, and security vetting reshape the program.

Every SBIR and STTR deadline for 2026 organized by agency — DOD, NIH, NSF, DOE, NASA, EPA, USDA, and DHS. Includes post-reauthorization restart timeline, award amounts, and key dates.

NASA is replacing its once-a-year SBIR solicitation with a rolling Broad Agency Announcement. Proposal limits reset per appendix. Subtopics drop throughout the year. Here is how to adapt your strategy.

The SBIR/STTR reauthorization through 2031 introduces Strategic Breakthrough Awards up to $30M, proposal caps, and enhanced security vetting. What small businesses need to know now.

The Pentagon's APFIT program surpassed $1 billion in awards to small defense innovators, with FY2026 projects averaging $30M each. Paired with SBIR's reauthorization after a five-month shutdown, the defense small business innovation stack has fundamentally changed.

After a five-month shutdown, Congress reauthorized SBIR/STTR through 2031 with $30M Strategic Breakthrough awards, new proposal caps, and mandatory foreign risk screening. Here is what it means for your next proposal.

Agencies are publishing solicitations after a five-month freeze. The new SBIR reauthorization changes proposal caps, adds $30M awards, and screens for foreign risk. Here is how startups should adapt.

The Department of Homeland Security funds SBIR proposals in cybersecurity, border technology, disaster response, and critical infrastructure protection. Here is how to target DHS SBIR.

The Department of Defense is expected to publish SBIR topics first after reauthorization. Here is what to expect from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and DARPA solicitations.

The Department of Energy funds SBIR proposals in clean energy, grid modernization, advanced materials, and nuclear technology. Here are the topic areas to watch after reauthorization.

The EPA funds SBIR proposals in water treatment, air quality monitoring, waste remediation, and environmental justice. Here is how EPA SBIR works and what topics to expect in 2026.

First-time SBIR applicants make predictable mistakes. Here are the 10 most common errors and how to avoid them before the post-reauthorization solicitations open.

NASA funds SBIR proposals in propulsion, in-space manufacturing, life support, autonomy, and Earth observation. Here are the topic areas and how to position for the 2026 restart.

NIH maintained its review infrastructure during the five-month SBIR lapse and is positioned to restart quickly. Here is what Phase I applicants need to know about the new rules and timeline.

NSF SBIR uses a unique Project Pitch system for Phase I. Here is how to submit a compelling pitch after the reauthorization restart, with tips for AI and deep tech startups.

Biotech startups can access up to $275K in non-dilutive NIH SBIR funding for early-stage drug development, diagnostics, and medical devices. Here is how to build a winning Phase I proposal.

The Commercialization Achievement Index (CAI) measures how well SBIR companies convert awards into revenue. Here is how it is calculated, why it matters, and how to improve yours.

Post-reauthorization SBIR reviews place even more weight on commercialization. Here is how to write a commercialization plan that satisfies reviewers across all 11 agencies.

Some agencies allow companies to apply directly to Phase II without a Phase I award. Here is how Direct to Phase II works, who qualifies, and when it makes strategic sense.

The SBIR reauthorization added foreign risk screening and changed how eligibility works. Here are the current rules for company size, ownership, PI requirements, and the new security provisions.

Every SBIR and STTR application now undergoes mandatory foreign risk screening. Here is what gets checked, how to prepare your documentation, and what triggers a flag.

Hardware prototyping is expensive and time-consuming. Here is how to build an SBIR Phase I proposal when your innovation requires physical manufacturing, testing, and iteration.

Most SBIR applicants struggle with indirect costs. Here is how NICRA and de minimis rates work, which one to use, and how to avoid budget errors that delay your award.

Letters of support can make or break an SBIR commercialization plan. Here is what reviewers look for, who should write them, and how to get strong letters before your deadline.

SBIR reviewers scrutinize budgets for reasonableness. Here is how to build a Phase I budget with justified line items that match your technical work plan.

DOD Phase II Enhanced awards add up to $750K in government matching when you bring private investment. Here is how the matching works and how to position for it.

Phase III is where SBIR technology becomes a real product with government customers. Here is how Phase III contracts work, how to pursue them, and what the reauthorization changes mean.

SBIR reauthorization caps how many proposals one company can submit. How the new limits work and what it means for your 2026 strategy.

Most SBIR proposals get rejected on the first try. Here is how to use reviewer feedback to strengthen your resubmission and dramatically improve your odds.

SBIR proposals are reviewed by panels of technical experts. Here is what happens inside a review panel, how scores are assigned, and what separates funded proposals from rejections.

Your SAM.gov registration must be active before you can submit any SBIR proposal. Here is exactly how to register, renew, and avoid the delays that cause missed deadlines.

The Specific Aims page is the most important page of your NIH SBIR proposal. Here is the structure reviewers expect and how to write one that gets your proposal scored.

The new $30M Strategic Breakthrough Awards create a post-Phase II pathway for SBIR companies with commercial traction. Here is who qualifies, how matching works, and when to expect solicitations.

SBIR requires your company to perform at least two-thirds of Phase I work. Here is how the subcontracting rules work, how to calculate work percentages, and what happens when you exceed the limit.

SBIR success rates vary dramatically by agency — from 15% at NIH to over 25% at some DoD components. Here is the data and what it means for your submission strategy.

SBIR and STTR fund the same types of innovation but have different rules for university partnerships and work percentages. Here is how to choose the right program for your company.

USDA funds SBIR proposals in precision agriculture, food safety, rural broadband, and sustainable farming. Here are the topic areas and how to apply.

SBIR/STTR reauthorized through 2031 — agencies are racing to release solicitations. Step-by-step guide to positioning your company for the first post-restart funding cycle.

SBIR/STTR reauthorized through 2031 with $30M Strategic Breakthrough Awards, proposal caps, and mandatory foreign risk screening. Full breakdown of every change affecting applicants.

After a five-month lapse, Senators Ernst and Markey struck a bipartisan deal reauthorizing SBIR/STTR for five years. What the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act means for your pipeline.

A step-by-step guide for AI startup founders applying to NSF SBIR/STTR: topic areas, Phase I vs II, award amounts, success rates, and what NSF reviewers actually want.

SBIR/STTR expired September 2025 — the longest lapse in 42 years. What it means for Phase I/II awards, active grants & the reauthorization timeline.

The SBIR/STTR programs expired in September 2025 and Congress has three competing reauthorization bills. Here is what the lapse means for active awards, new applications, and your innovation pipeline.

A practical guide for startups applying to SBIR and STTR grants for the first time in 2026, covering eligibility, agencies, Phase I vs Phase II, and proposal tips.

Write a winning SBIR proposal with tips on project narratives, team qualifications, budget justification, and agency compliance.

Rejected SBIR proposal? Good — now you have reviewer feedback. Use it to address weaknesses, sharpen your aims, and resubmit stronger.

Compare SBIR Phase I and Phase II requirements, funding amounts, proposal structures, evaluation criteria, and transition strategies.

First-time SBIR applicant? This guide covers eligibility, Phase I through Phase III, all 11 agencies, award amounts, timelines, and how to write a competitive proposal.

Detailed SBIR commercialization plan examples showing what evaluators score highest, with agency-specific strategies for NIH, DOD, NSF, and DOE.

SBIR budget walkthrough with line-by-line examples for Phase I ($275K) and Phase II ($1M), covering personnel, equipment, subawards, and indirect costs.

Learn winning strategies from funded NIH SBIR awardees. Practical tips on research plans, team expertise, and commercialization potential.

Align your NIH SBIR proposal with health research priorities by targeting the right Institute, leveraging FOAs, and matching strategic objectives.

Advance from NIH SBIR Phase I to Phase II with tips on demonstrating feasibility, building a commercialization plan, and securing $1M in funding.

Complete DOD SBIR guide covering Army, Navy, Air Force, DARPA, MDA, DTRA, SOCOM, DHA, and CBD with focus areas and submission tips.

Build a winning NIH SBIR commercialization strategy covering market analysis, IP protection, revenue models, and go-to-market planning.