StartupSoftware & SaaS+ Hardware & ManufacturingGrantGovernment ProgramNon-dilutive
SBIR (NSF)
National Science Foundation
BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front
· Five-second scanTotal time commitment
80-160 hours (Project Pitch first, then proposal)
Admittance criteria
Application + Committee Selection
Funding type
Non-Dilutive GrantNon-dilutive
Delivery mode
N/A
Academic backing
Strong
Best for
Startup
Eligibility
Small businesses developing deep tech / commercial science applications.
Award
Phase I up to $305k; Phase II up to $1M
Deadlines
Multiple cycles · Twice yearly
Editor's take
Requires Project Pitch before full proposal.
Vet reviews of this program
Verified veteran founders who actually attended.
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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?
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