America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR) 🎁 Program
Equity-free US federal R&D awards from 11 agencies, from proof of concept (Phase I) to prototype (Phase II).
| What you get | Up to $2.2M |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | US for-profit small business, under 500 employees, majority owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent residents; R&D done in the US; STTR needs a research-institution partner. |
| Open in | United States |
| Partner code needed | No: apply directly |
| Deadline | rolling by agency solicitation |
| Terms last checked | 2026-10-11 |
About America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR)
What you get
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programmes, branded America's Seed Fund, give US small businesses equity-free R&D funding. The SBA coordinates them and 11 federal agencies run their own programmes and topics. Phase I funds proof of concept over 6-12 months (sbir.gov gives a typical range of $50,000-$275,000). Phase II continues the R&D for about 24 months ($400,000-$1.8 million typical), usually only for Phase I awardees. Phase III is commercialisation with no SBIR money. As of April 2026, agencies can award up to $323,090 for Phase I and $2,153,927 for Phase II without an SBA waiver.
Who qualifies
A for-profit company located in the US, with fewer than 500 employees, owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent residents. Companies majority-owned by venture capital firms face extra restrictions. STTR also requires a formal partnership with a US research institution that receives part of the award. You need a Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov and a company registration on sbir.gov.
Good to know
The programmes lapsed from 1 October 2025 and were reauthorised in April 2026 through 30 September 2031, so solicitation schedules are restarting agency by agency. Each agency sets its own topics, deadlines and review times, and success rates are low. The award may not cover all of your R&D costs, and research must be done in the US.
Verdict
The largest pool of non-dilutive early-stage money in the world if you are a US tech company with real R&D to do. Expect a long, formal process; start with the agency whose topics match your technology.
How to apply
- Register your company on sbir.gov and get a Unique Entity ID on SAM.gov.
- Search the open topics and solicitations on sbir.gov and pick an agency whose topics fit your R&D.
- Read the whole solicitation and confirm you meet every eligibility rule.
- Submit your Phase I (or STTR) proposal through that agency's system before its closing date.
- Use the Lab to Market / local assistance centres listed on sbir.gov for help with proposals and registrations.
Who it is for
Steps America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR) helps with
Pros
- Equity-free, large awards up to about $2.15 million in Phase II
- Eleven agencies and many topics to choose from
- Reauthorised through September 2031
Cons
- Long, formal proposals with low success rates
- Agencies are still restarting solicitations after the 2025-26 lapse
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