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For SBIR and STTR startups

Federal research funding for technology startups

SBIR and STTR are the main federal grant programs open to for-profit small businesses. Here is how they work, who they are for, and what to set up before you apply.

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How SBIR and STTR work

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which SBIR.gov calls America's Seed Fund, fund research and development at small businesses. SBIR.gov lists 11 participating federal agencies. STTR is run by a smaller group of agencies and requires a partnership with a U.S. research institution.

Awards usually come in phases. Phase I funds early feasibility work, and Phase II funds further development for companies that show promise in Phase I. As of April 2026, SBIR.gov lists the amounts agencies may award without SBA approval as up to $323,090 for Phase I and $2,153,927 for Phase II. Each solicitation sets its own limits and topics.

Who is eligible

  • A for-profit U.S. small business
  • No more than 500 employees, including affiliates
  • Ownership and control requirements set by the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive
  • For STTR, a formal agreement with a research institution, where the small business performs at least 40 percent of the work and the institution at least 30 percent

These are general rules. Agencies add their own requirements, such as principal investigator employment rules for SBIR, so read the solicitation carefully.

Registrations to start early

Most organizations need these before they can apply through Grants.gov. Registration is a step you take with each government system directly; GovGrantsUSA cannot do it for you.

  1. SAM.gov entity registration and UEI. Register your organization in SAM.gov to receive a Unique Entity ID. A UEI on its own, without a full registration, is not enough to apply directly for federal awards. Grants.gov notes activation can take up to 10 business days, and registration must be renewed every year.
  2. Login.gov. You sign in to SAM.gov with a Login.gov account.
  3. Grants.gov account and roles. Your organization's E-Business Point of Contact (named in SAM.gov) creates a Grants.gov organization profile with your UEI and assigns roles such as Authorized Organization Representative, the person allowed to submit.
  4. SBA Company Registry. SBIR and STTR applicants register with the SBA Company Registry, which issues the SBC Control ID entered on the application.
  5. Agency portal accounts. Some agencies use their own systems, such as eRA Commons for NIH and Research.gov for NSF. Check the solicitation for the one you need.

Use the free Federal Grant Readiness Checklist to track what you have and what is missing.

How GovGrantsUSA helps

  • Solicitations in one place. SBIR.gov solicitations are synced daily alongside Grants.gov opportunities, and matched against your NAICS codes and focus areas.
  • Sections reviewers expect. Each application includes abstract, significance, innovation, technical approach, team and timeline sections, and the AI can help with a first draft of each.
  • Agency-aware exports. Biosketches follow NIH or NSF layouts where those agencies are involved, and the submission guide points you to eRA Commons, Research.gov or Grants.gov.
  • Deadline tracking. Save a solicitation and get reminders at 30, 14, 7 and 1 days.

Not sure if your company qualifies? Try the free SBIR/STTR Eligibility Quiz, then confirm with the solicitation and SBIR.gov.

Sources (checked Oct 15, 2026)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Both fund research and development at small businesses. STTR also requires a formal partnership with a U.S. research institution, such as a university or federal R&D center, which performs part of the work. SBIR does not require a partner.

In general, the applicant must be a for-profit U.S. small business that, together with its affiliates, has no more than 500 employees, and must meet ownership rules set out in the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive. Check the current rules on SBIR.gov and in each solicitation, because agencies add their own requirements.

SAM.gov registration with a UEI, a Login.gov account, a Grants.gov account with the right roles, and a registration in the SBA Company Registry, which gives you the SBC Control ID entered on the application. Some agencies also require their own portal account, such as eRA Commons for NIH or Research.gov for NSF.

SBIR.gov publishes the award amounts agencies may make without SBA approval. As of April 2026 it lists up to $323,090 for Phase I and $2,153,927 for Phase II. Each solicitation sets its own amounts, so read the notice.

Yes. Solicitations from the public SBIR.gov data feed are synced daily alongside Grants.gov opportunities, and matched against your profile.

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