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Find similar grantsAmerica's Seed Fund SBIR/STTR for AI Startups is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.
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America’s Seed Fund – NSF SBIR/STTR | NSF SBIR For proposal preparation and submission instructions, click here . The SBIR/STTR program looks forward to receiving the submission of new Project Pitches in response to the new solicitations beginning on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. 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.
Life-saving robot that keeps humans out of dangerous confinements like grain bins Grain Weevil, a startup funded by America’s Seed Fund powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation, helps farmers stay safe and improves grain quality with its life-saving robot that keeps humans out of dangerous confinements like grain bins. Designed by a father-son duo, the robot can break up crusts, level, manage, map and feed grain.
To learn more visit: https://grainweevil. 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 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 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 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 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 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 description (10–15 pages addressing innovation, technical approach, and R&D plan)
Commercialization strategy
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: U. S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Must be a for-profit company organized in the United States. The Principal Investigator must be primarily employed by the small business at the time of the award. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
America's Seed Fund SBIR/STTR for AI Startups 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.
The solicitation lists 5 required documents: Project description (10–15 pages), Budget details, Biographical sketches, Commercialization strategy, and Intellectual property agreements (required for STTR; recommended for SBIR with subawards). Check the official notice for formatting and page-limit rules.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
SBIR/STTR Phase I Programs is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF SBIR/STTR programs provide non-dilutive funding for cutting-edge technology innovations that address societal challenges. The Space (SP) topic seeks transformative technologies for sustainable space exploration, habitation, or industrialization, which could include in-space research or manufacturing systems, microgravity applications, and photonic devices and materials.
Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). This interagency program supports transformative, high-risk/high-reward advances in computer and information science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, behavioral, and/or cognitive research to address pressing questions in biomedical and public health. It encourages scientific and engineering innovations by interdisciplinary teams to develop novel methods to collect, sense, connect, analyze, and interpret data from individuals, devices, and systems, enabling discovery and optimizing health. This includes applying AI in healthcare.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs (Phase I) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit in agriculturally-related areas. This can include app development for agricultural technology, rural development, and smart farming. Phase I aims to demonstrate technical feasibility.
Developer Grants is sponsored by Circle. Circle's Developer Grant initiative supports projects leveraging USDC to create practical solutions. While the 2025 applications are closed for reimagining, they will place greater emphasis on Arc-specific grants and evaluate projects based on alignment with Circle products, team strength, innovation, and impact on the USDC network in 2026.
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.
Read articleThe NSF FY 2026-2030 Strategic Plan reorganizes the agency around three goals, names AI, quantum, and biotech as the critical technologies, codifies Gold Standard Science, and explicitly targets applicant burden. The implications for proposal strategy are bigger than they look.
Read articleCongress appropriated \$8.75 billion for NSF in FY2026, rejecting the administration's proposed 55% cut to \$3.9 billion. But between April and May 2025, DOGE terminated 1,752 grants worth \$1.4 billion, hitting STEM Education (\$888M, 839 grants) and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences hardest. Director Panchanathan resigned April 24, 2025; no permanent replacement has been named. Effective December 15, 2025, NSF cut minimum external reviews from three to two, made one internal review allowable, made panel discussions optional, and shrank panel summaries to three to five sentences. Here is what the new NSF actually looks like as a funder, who is being selected against, and how to position a 2026 proposal against the new merit review.
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