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NSF has temporarily paused SBIR/STTR Project Pitch submissions due to lapse in congressional authorization. Stored deadline 2026-03-05 has passed.
America's Seed Fund NSF SBIR Phase I is a grant from the National Science Foundation that provides non-dilutive seed capital of up to ,000 to early-stage startups for research and development of deep technologies based on discoveries in fundamental science and engineering.
Since 1977, the program has funded approximately 400 companies per year across nearly all technology areas and markets, including artificial intelligence, energy, medical devices, robotics, and semiconductors. NSF takes no equity in funded companies, allowing founders to retain full control over their team, direction, and intellectual property.
Applications are evaluated based on technological innovativeness, commercial potential, and possible societal impact. Eligibility is limited to for-profit U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The program encourages participation from first-time entrepreneurs across all 50 states and U.S. territories.
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America’s Seed Fund – NSF SBIR/STTR | NSF SBIR Check recent critical alerts! (Last updated 12/22/2025) NSF has temporarily paused the submission of new Project Pitches to the SBIR/STTR programs due to the lapse in congressional authorization. Program Directors will continue to process Project Pitches that were previously received.
Please direct any questions to sbir@nsf. gov . Start your grant process here A microscopic image of the metals in a plant seedling being studied for its ability to clean contaminated environments.
Photo courtesy of Sigray , a small business revolutionizing x-ray research equipment through its patented innovations on x-ray source and optic technology. View image caption and credit We fund startups to build deep technologies for commercial success.
Seed capital for early stage product development We offer funding for early stage R&D and take no equity in your company — you retain full control over your team, the direction of your work, and your intellectual property. We can help fund your technology Join our regular webinars to learn more.
We fund startups across nearly all technology areas and markets like artificial intelligence, energy, medical devices, robotics, semiconductors, and many more.
Thermally optimized power amplifiers dramatically boost signal and broadband coverage Soctera Inc, a startup funded by America’s Seed Fund powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is developing thermally‑optimized gallium nitride (GaN) RF power amplifiers that boost signal range and efficiency—tackling connectivity and cooling challenges in 5G, rural broadband, telecom and radar applications. To learn more visit: https://www.
soctera.
com/ View featured successful NSF-funded companies Biomaterials startup uses enzymes to replace banned chemicals in consumer products Curie Co, a startup funded by America’s Seed Fund powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation, engineers biomaterials via precision fermentation—using enzymes inside microbial systems—to create sustainable, biodegradable ingredients for haircare, skincare, textiles, and more, replacing ingredients banned by the FDA.
To learn more visit: https://curieco. com/ . View featured successful NSF-funded companies New membrane filtration system for industrial processes Via Separations, a startup funded by America’s Seed Fund powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is creating membranes made with graphene oxide to revolutionize industrial filtration.
To learn more visit: https://viaseparations. com/ View featured successful NSF-funded companies Breast pumping bra automatically massages and compresses to increase milk output Lilu, a startup funded by America’s Seed Fund powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is creating a breast pumping bra that helps women produce more breast milk. To learn more visit: https://www.
wearlilu. com/ . View featured successful NSF-funded companies Immersive STEM Learning Platform Prisms of Reality is using an immersive educational software in virtual reality to demonstrate how multimodal and game-driven learning can be used to enhance math proficiencies, problem solving, and the ability to transfer mathematical knowledge across contexts.
To learn more visit: https://www. prismsvr. com.
View featured successful NSF-funded companies Voice biomarkers identify mental health challenges Kintsugi Mindful Wellness is using artificial intelligence to develop voice biomarker software to measure, predict, and scale access to mental healthcare. To learn more visit: https://www. kintsugihealth.
com/ . View featured successful NSF-funded companies Blood cleansing device removes pathogens Path Ex is developing a device to remove pathogens from blood. To learn more visit: https://pathex.
co/ . View featured successful NSF-funded companies New drug delivery technology for tumor treatment Tambo developed a new technology to activate drugs at specific locations within the body to treat diseases with lower doses of drugs and fewer toxic side effects. Learn more about Tambo’s technology at https://www.
shasqi. com/ . View featured successful NSF-funded companies View featured successful NSF-funded companies We support research and development of deep technologies - those that are based on discoveries in fundamental science and engineering.
As we review applications, we consider your technology’s innovativeness, commercial potential, and possible societal impact.
View featured successful NSF-funded companies National Science Foundation Photo Credit: Cyclopure | Cyclopure CP analytical chemists can measure DEXSORB@ efficiency at 1-2 part per trillion concentration We are America's Seed Fund Since 1977, America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF (also known as the NSF SBIR/STTR program) has helped startups develop their ideas and bring them to market. We funded about 400 companies each year.
Check out how NSF is making an impact We invite all tech entrepreneurs Our program fosters and encourages participation in innovation and entrepreneurship from all Americans as well as first-time entrepreneurs from all 50 states and U.S. territories. "The grants we received from NSF were instrumental in building the first version of our product and acquiring our first customers.
When we received our Phase I funding in 2010 we were two founders. As of 2022, our team within Cisco has grown to 700 employees and growing." CEO, ThousandEyes, acquired by Cisco for $1 billion, according to CNBC ( NSF-1058602 ) "Huge thanks NSF SBIR for giving us the chance to build the underlying foundational technology that is allowing us to dream big."
CEO of DataChat ( NSF-1853057 ) "NSF helped us refine our vision, figure out if our technology could be used for different applications, and helped us figure out if we can manufacture our technology in a scalable fashion — taking it from an academic project to a real-scale commercial project."
Co-founder and CEO of Via Separations ( NSF-1831203 ) "We were able to spin out from the University of Washington and get started as an independent company entirely with the support of our first NSF SBIR, and we are incredibly grateful for NSF’ continued support over the years!"
Co-Founder & CEO, A-Alpha Bio ( NSF-1950992 ) Credit: NSF-funded Electra ( NSF-2039232 ) uses chemistry and renewable energy to transform iron ore into 99% pure iron. Here, an employee examines a solution in the R&D lab. Credit: Electra
Key questions and narrative sections extracted from the solicitation.
Project Fit Assessment: Describe the core scientific/engineering innovation underlying your proposed technology
Project Pitch: Summarize the technology innovation, commercial opportunity, and team qualifications
Full Proposal: Technical Approach — describe the R&D plan and innovation
Full Proposal: Commercial Potential — describe the market opportunity and path to commercialization
Full Proposal: Societal Impact — explain the broader societal benefits of the proposed work
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: For-profit U. S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $305,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The published deadline was March 5, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
America’s Seed Fund – NSF SBIR Phase I is funded by National Science Foundation (NSF). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The IRES program supports international research and research-related activities for U.S. science and engineering students, contributing to the development of a diverse, globally engaged workforce. It focuses on active research participation by undergraduate and/or graduate students in high-quality international research, education, and professional development experiences. Students do not apply directly to NSF but to NSF-funded investigators who receive IRES awards.
Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) & National Institutes of Health (NIH). This interagency program supports high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary projects that leverage AI, machine learning, and advanced data science to address pressing questions in biomedical and public health research. It seeks to advance fundamental scientific and engineering contributions across disciplines to solve key health problems.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Research Programs is accepting applications for the Public Scholars program. The purpose of this program is to support the creation of well-researched nonfiction books in the humanities written for the broad public by offering grants to individual authors for research, writing, travel, and other activities leading to publication. The program is intended both to encourage non-academic writers to deepen their engagement with the humanities by strengthening the research underlying their books, and to encourage academic writers in the humanities to communicate the significance of their research to the broadest possible range of readers. Funding Opportunity Number: 20200205-FZ. Assistance Listing: 45.160. Funding Instrument: G. Category: HU. Award Amount: $30K – $60K per award.
Brown Girl Jane x SheaMoisture Grant is a grant from SheaMoisture and Brown Girl Jane that funds Black and woman-owned beauty and wellness businesses in the United States. Part of SheaMoisture's broader commitment to addressing racial inequality through its $1 million annual giving fund, this program specifically supports founders at the intersection of Black and women-owned entrepreneurship in the beauty and wellness sector. Applicants must be based in the U.S. and have operated their business for at least one year. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. Check the SheaMoisture Fund website for the current open cycle, as deadlines vary by cohort.
Announced August 4, 2026, NSF 26-513 will fund up to 10 State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs at $4-12M each over five years. It is a cooperative-agreement, public-private consortium model designed to put frontier compute in the hands of researchers outside the elite institutions. Here is how the program is structured, who can lead, and how to build a competitive consortium before the November 4 deadline.
Read articleThe RFI closed June 22. Now the forum is standing up. AI Forge is a jointly governed, university-led venture funding interpretability, control, and adversarial robustness in one-year Project Ventures — here's how the 15 challenges, the CAISI tie, and the nonprofit administrator reshape who gets funded.
Read articleIn January 2026, DOE Policy Flash PF-2026-30 wiped out every 15% and 10% indirect cost cap the administration had imposed in 2025 — because H.R. 6938 ordered it to. The same law froze indirect policy at NSF, Commerce and NASA. But OMB's sweeping new grants rule quietly reopens the fight through the back door. Here is what changed, what money recipients can claw back, and how to protect your indirect recovery going forward.
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