StartupHardware & Manufacturing+ Defense Tech & Dual-UseGrantNon-dilutive
SBIR (DOE)
Department of Energy
BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front
· Five-second scanTotal time commitment
20-60 hours (application + reporting)
Admittance criteria
Application + Committee Selection
Funding type
Non-Dilutive GrantNon-dilutive
Delivery mode
N/A
Academic backing
Light
Best for
Startup
Eligibility
Small businesses developing energy/clean tech.
Award
Phase I up to $250k; Phase II up to $1.6M
Deadlines
Annual · Annual topic releases
Editor's take
Strong for energy hardware founders.
Vet reviews of this program
Verified veteran founders who actually attended.
Nobody has reviewed SBIR (DOE) yet.
Attended this program? Share what actually happened and help the next vet decide.
What we ask reviewers
- •Time spent: hours in-person, hours virtual, duration in weeks, required attendance.
- •Actual benefit: cash grants received, follow-on capital raised, cost coverage, equity taken.
- •Selectivity: cohort size, acceptance rate, percent veteran or military.
- •Best parts and worst parts: up to four each, specific facts, no marketing language.
- •Truth check: was the program marketing accurate? What did they oversell or leave out?
Related programs on the Startup path
These share at least one format type with this program and fit the same path.
GrantGovernment Program
SBIR Phase I (DoD)
Department of Defense
Small businesses (<500 employees) with majority US ownership; Phase I funds feasibility studies.
See details →
GrantGovernment Program
SBIR Phase II (DoD)
Department of Defense
Phase I awardees with demonstrated feasibility.
See details →
GrantGovernment Program
SBIR (NIH)
National Institutes of Health
Small businesses developing biomedical / health technologies.
See details →