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Accepting New Grant Projects. Book a Free Call with an SBIR/STTR Consultant
If you’re running a startup or small business and have a big, bold idea that could shake things up in your industry, the federal government might actually pay you to develop it.
Yeah, seriously.
Through two programs:
👉 SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research)
👉 STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer)
The government hands out over $4 billion a year to help small businesses fund early-stage R&D.
We’re talking real money. Non-dilutive. No equity. No strings (other than doing good science).
Program Goals
Stimulate technological innovation
Meet federal R&D needs
Increase private sector commercialization
Funding Phases
Phase I:
Feasibility study. Awards typically range from $50k to $275k over 6–12 months.Phase II:
Full R&D. Awards can range from $750k to $1.8 million over 24 months.Phase III:
Commercialization. No funds are awarded in this phase, but the goal is to pursue commercialization resulting from the Phase I/II R&D activities.
Agencies Funding the the SBIR/STTR Program
Eleven federal agencies participate in the SBIR/STTR programs, including big players like the NIH, NSF, DoD, and DOE. Each agency sets its own research priorities and funds projects that align with its mission.
Here's a quick look at who drops funding calls—and when to get on their radar.
If you're thinking, “Okay, this sounds promising—what’s next?”
SBIR/STTR can feel like a maze at first, but it’s 100% navigable once you know where to look.
Here are a few links that are actually helpful:
👉 Grants.gov – Search All Open Funding Calls
👉 NSF Seed Fund – Get Started with a Project Pitch
Google Sites
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