SBA FAST Partner
Americaʼs Seed Fund provides over $4 billion in funding known as America’s Seed Fund. KSEF receives funding from SBA to support Kentucky innovators in submitting proposals.
What is SBIR/STTR?
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, collectively branded as America’s Seed Fund, provide more than $4B annually in non-dilutive, early-stage R&D funding to small U.S.-based businesses to help commercialize innovative technology.
You may be a good candidate for SBIR/STTR funding if your for-profit small business is federally registered and you have an idea for an innovative technology-enabled product, process or service.
Proposal Workshops
Our agency-specific Proposal Workshops help you navigate SBIR/STTR funding opportunities and prepare competitive proposals. Through these workshops, you'll gain insights into agency priorities, submission requirements and timelines, with opportunities to ask questions and receive guidance.
Agency-Specific
SBIR/STTR Proposal Workshops
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Each year, the NSF funds roughly 400 companies across nearly all technology areas and market sectors (with the exception of clinical trials and schedule I controlled substances). Register to get personal support for your NSF SBIR/STTR proposal. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
November 4, 2026
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH includes 24 Institutes and Centers that provide SBIR/STTR funding to small businesses. When you join the NIH Proposal Workshop, we'll help you match with the best funding opportunity for your innovation. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
January 5, 2027
Department of War (DoW)
The Department of War SBIR/STTR programs not only have the largest budget of ~$1.8B per year, but they also invest in the most diverse technology portfolio ranging from materials to biomedical technologies. The DoW SBIR/STTR programs are fastest-paced, giving you only 7 weeks to prepare a competitive proposal. Join a Proposal Workshop to meet these competitive deadlines. View the funding topics.
Topics Pre-Released: October 7, 2026
Submissions Open: October 28, 2026
Next Proposal Deadline:
November 25, 2026
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Through the NASA SBIR/STTR program, entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses with less than 500 employees can receive funding and non-monetary support to build, mature, and commercialize their technologies, advancing NASA missions and helping solve important problems facing our country. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
October 28, 2026
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The USDA Proposal Workshop offers one of the most wide-ranging application opportunities for new technologies. The SBIR/STTR programs at USDA are administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and offer 10 topic areas that are intended to permit a variety of science and technology based small businesses to compete for funding. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
November 17, 2026