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NSF SBIR Phase I is a grant from the National Science Foundation that funds early-stage research and development in deep technology and innovation by U.S. small businesses. The program supports the transformation of scientific discoveries into commercially viable products and services with significant societal impact. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based small businesses with fewer than 500 employees.
Applicants must first submit a Project Pitch and receive an invitation before submitting a full proposal. Note: NSF temporarily paused new Project Pitch submissions due to a lapse in congressional authorization; prospective applicants should monitor nsf. gov for updates.
Awards of up to $275,000 are available for Phase I projects.
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Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
For applicants | 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 . If you’re interested in applying for funding, we encourage you to watch our videos, join us at an event, or reach out directly to our program directors to learn more about the program and what we hope to see in your proposal.
Thinking of applying for Phase I funding? Check out our video covering program basics. tips and tricks for submitting a proposal .
PDF version of program basics , too.) --> See videos about our program and the startups we fund . Wondering if your idea is a good fit?
The first step in the process is to submit your written Project Pitch . Startups or entrepreneurs who submit a Project Pitch will learn if they meet the program’s objectives and be invited to submit a full proposal. Once you’ve received an invitation to submit a proposal (via the Project Pitch process), we encourage you to dig into the following resources to support you as you create your SBIR/STTR proposal.
Have lingering questions? Visit our FAQ , which covers the pre-application process to post-award reporting (and everything in between). Proposal submission guide Before you start your proposal, take a look at our proposal submission guide .
Read the Merit Review Guidelines to determine if your proposal fits the merit review or broader impacts criteria that we use to make funding decisions. To safeguard the integrity of the development and evaluation of proposals in the merit review process, we encourage you to also view the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Systems Memo that establishes guidelines for its use by reviewers and proposers. Are you a Phase I awardee?
Visit How to Apply for Phase II .
Key questions and narrative sections extracted from the solicitation.
Project Pitch (written submission)
Full Proposal (by invitation only)
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: US-based small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Must submit a 'Project Pitch' and receive an invitation to apply. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $275,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education & Human Resources (IUSE: EHR) Program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program promotes novel, creative, and transformative approaches to generating and using new knowledge about STEM teaching and learning to improve STEM education for undergraduate students. It supports projects that bring recent advances in STEM knowledge into undergraduate education, adapt, improve, and incorporate evidence-based practices, and lay the groundwork for institutional improvement in STEM education. Professional development for instructors to ensure adoption of new and effective pedagogical techniques is a potential topic of interest.
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Agricultural Technologies (AG) - NSF SBIR/STTR is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The Agricultural Technologies topic supports innovations enabling farm production ecosystems that support the proper utilization of natural resources. Such technologies may encompass systems-level and multidisciplinary solutions to enable complex agricultural practices that support increased biodiversity balanced with yield production. Sub-topics include food waste mitigation, resilient supply & distribution, and other agricultural technologies.
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II is sponsored by Administration for Community Living. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II is a forecasted funding opportunity on Grants.gov from Administration for Community Living. Fiscal Year: 2026. Assistance Listing Number(s): 93.433. <p>The purpose of the Federal SBIR program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs, and improve the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation. The specific purpose of NIDILRR's SBIR program is to improve the lives of people with disabilities through R/R&D products generated by small businesses, and to ...
The J.M.K. Innovation Prize is a grant from The J.M. Kaplan Fund recognizing early-stage social entrepreneurs working on environmental, heritage, and social justice challenges. The prize rewards individuals and organizations demonstrating innovative, entrepreneurial approaches to enduring problems. Applications for the 2025 prize were accepted February 11 through April 25, 2025 via an online portal. Spanish-language applications are welcomed, and a Spanish application form is available for download. The prize is biennial and open to a broad range of applicants across the United States working on forward-thinking solutions at the intersection of environment, community, and cultural heritage.