NIH Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (PAR-27-039 / PAR-27-040): SBIR and STTR Funding for First-Time PIs

The NIH Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs funds small businesses that put a first-time Principal Investigator in charge of a research project, then pays for that person's mentorship and entrepreneurial training alongside the R&D. NIH and CDC have announced it is returning for fiscal year 2027 as PAR-27-039 (SBIR) and PAR-27-040 (STTR), and both versions will allow clinical trials.

Deadline: NIH expects to post the full solicitation around November 5, 2026, with applications due around January 5, 2027. These dates are NIH estimates, and applications are not being accepted yet, so now is the time to line up your PI and mentor.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Most SBIR and STTR reviewers want to see a PI with a track record of leading funded research. That puts many startups in a bind when their best technical person is a recent PhD, postdoc, clinician, or engineer who has never been an independent PI. This program flips that around: it is reserved for first-time PIs and rewards companies that commit to developing them.

It also pays for things a standard SBIR award usually does not emphasize, including the PI's salary, entrepreneurship courses, and a structured mentoring team. For a founder hiring their first scientist, or a company promoting an internal researcher, it can fund the R&D and the leadership development at the same time.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsors: National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with many participating Institutes and Centers
• Solicitations: PAR-27-039 (SBIR, R43/R44) and PAR-27-040 (STTR, R41/R42), both Clinical Trial Optional
• Status: Forecasted. NIH is not accepting applications yet
• Estimated posting date: November 5, 2026
• Estimated application due date: January 5, 2027
• Estimated award start: July 1, 2027
• Award types: Phase I and Fast-Track (CDC does not support Fast-Track). Direct to Phase II was not allowed in the prior cycle
• Award size: Not yet published. In the prior cycle, Phase I awards normally could not exceed $306,872 and Phase II $2,045,816 in total costs, with some Institutes allowing more on approved topics
• Cost share: Not required

What the Program Funds

Each award supports three things at once:

• Research and development: A Phase I feasibility project, or a Fast-Track project, that fits the mission of one of the participating Institutes or Centers and has clear commercial potential.
• Mentorship: At least one mentor with real entrepreneurial and mentoring experience must be on the team with measurable committed effort. The mentor can be a company founder or executive, but does not have to be.
• Entrepreneurial training: A career development plan for the PI built from courses, workshops, NIH entrepreneurship programs, or similar training.

In the prior cycle, every aim needed quantitative milestones for both the research and the PI's entrepreneurial development. Participating Institutes ranged from NHLBI, NIA, NIDDK, NIDA, NICHD, NEI, NHGRI, NIEHS and NLM to NCATS, NCCIH and CDC's NIOSH, so the program covers devices, diagnostics, digital health, data science, therapeutics, and occupational safety technologies. Some Institutes funded Phase I only.

Is Your Company a Fit?

This program is a strong fit if most of these are true:

• You are a U.S. small business with 500 or fewer employees that meets SBA ownership rules for SBIR or STTR.
• Your proposed PI has never been an independent PI on an NIH or CDC research grant, or a comparable peer-reviewed research grant elsewhere.
• Your PI is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
• Your PI has real research or technology development experience but limited entrepreneurial or independent leadership experience. Recent PhDs, postdocs, clinicians, engineers, and public health practitioners are typical.
• You can name a mentor with entrepreneurial experience who will commit measurable time to the project.
• Your technology fits the mission of at least one participating Institute or Center.

The program is not meant for experienced PIs or seasoned founders, who are steered to the standard NIH SBIR and STTR parent solicitations instead. Foreign organizations cannot apply.

How to Prepare Now

1. Pick your PI. Confirm they have never led an NIH or CDC research grant and meet the citizenship requirement. They can be a new hire or an existing employee stepping into a real leadership role.
2. Recruit your mentor. NIH is giving advance notice specifically so companies can line up industry mentors and training resources. Secure a commitment letter early.
3. Choose the right Institute. Match your project to a participating Institute or Center and contact its program officer before you write.
4. Get registered. SAM.gov, the SBA Company Registry, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons accounts for the company and the PI can take six weeks or more.
5. Watch for the November posting. When PAR-27-039 and PAR-27-040 are published, confirm the final due date, budget limits, and participating Institutes before you finalize your application.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO helps life science and health technology startups decide whether the Transition Grant or a standard NIH SBIR or STTR application is the better path, pick the right Institute, and build the mentorship and career development plan reviewers expect. We start early so your team is ready the day the solicitation posts. With $350M+ in non-dilutive funding secured for our clients, we help first-time founders and first-time PIs compete for NIH funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NIH Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs?

It is an NIH and CDC SBIR and STTR program that funds small businesses led on a project by a first-time PI, combining research and development funding with mentorship and entrepreneurial training for that PI.

When is the deadline?

NIH estimates the solicitation will post around November 5, 2026, with applications due around January 5, 2027. Applications are not being accepted yet, and dates may change when the final solicitation is published.

Who can be the PI?

Someone who has never been an independent PI on an NIH or CDC research grant, or a comparable peer-reviewed research grant, and who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Early-career scientists, engineers, clinicians, and public health professionals are the intended applicants.

Is a mentor required?

Yes. Key personnel must include a mentor with entrepreneurial experience who commits measurable effort to the project.

How much funding is available?

NIH has not published amounts for the new cycle. In the prior cycle, Phase I awards normally could not exceed $306,872 in total costs and Phase II awards $2,045,816, with some Institutes allowing more for approved topics.

What happened to the previous version of this program?

The prior solicitations (PAR-24-131 through PAR-24-134) expired early on November 17, 2025, when SBIR and STTR authority lapsed. NIH has forecast the program's return as PAR-27-039 and PAR-27-040.

ARPA-H SPECTRA ARPA-H-SOL-26-163: Autism Technology and Research Funding Guide for Startups

ARPA-H's Systems for Phenotypic Evaluation, Clinical Trajectories, Response, and Agency (SPECTRA) program aims to understand how autism develops across the lifespan and to act on that knowledge earlier and more precisely. The first open call is for Technical Area 4: everyday technologies such as wearables, communication devices, eye tracking, and AI speech tools that people want to use, and that generate assessment data as they are used. Companies, universities, and nonprofits are eligible.

Deadline: TA4 Solution Summaries are due October 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. TA1 and TA2 summaries are expected December 2, 2026, and TA3 summaries January 18, 2027.

Why This Opportunity Matters

About 1 in 31 U.S. children is diagnosed with autism, and an estimated 25 to 30 percent of autistic people are minimally verbal or nonspeaking. Diagnosis often comes late, data sit in silos, and most assessments do not work well for the people with the highest support needs. SPECTRA is designed to change that by connecting biology, environment, real-world data, and targeted interventions into one program.

For health technology companies, TA4 is the immediate opening. It is one of the rare federal programs that funds consumer-grade tools built for real homes and classrooms, not just clinics, and it rewards products that families actually keep using.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsor: Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Proactive Health Office
• Solicitation: ARPA-H-SOL-26-163, Innovative Solutions Opening
• Award type: Other Transaction (OT) agreements, with phased reviews and possible down-selects
• Award size: Not published. Proposers request funds across all phases on the Solution Summary cover page
• Program length: About four years, with TA4 gates at Months 12, 24, and 48
• TA4 Solution Summary due: October 18, 2026, 5:00 PM ET (portal open now)
• TA1 and TA2 Solution Summary due: December 2, 2026, 5:00 PM ET (details by amendment, expected late October)
• TA3 Solution Summary due: January 18, 2027, 5:00 PM ET (details by amendment, expected early December)
• Full proposals: Dates will be announced after Solution Summaries are reviewed
• Cost share: Resource sharing is encouraged but not required

What SPECTRA Funds

TA4: Technologies for Communication, Quality of Life, and Embedded Assessment (open now)

TA4 funds everyday tools that improve communication and daily function while collecting meaningful data in the background. ARPA-H names examples including wearables for sleep, movement, and autonomic state, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and speech interfaces, eye tracking on tablets and phones, low-channel EEG usable at home, camera-based analysis of movement and behavior, and immersive virtual environment tools. Multimodal combinations are encouraged.

Strong TA4 proposals personalize to each user on the device, adapt over a lifetime, keep users in control of their data, and share data through the program's common data model. A goal is to push validated early identification about ten months earlier than today's 16-month floor. An optional speech component calls for open-source, on-device speech recognition tuned for child and atypical speech. Tools that require users to perform an assessment task belong in TA1, not TA4, and closed ecosystems that cannot export data are out of scope.

TA1: Multi-Factor Analysis and Trajectory Identification (coming)

Multimodal analysis of genetic, biological, environmental, and medical factors to define autism trajectories. TA1 is analysis only and requires datasets and partners already in place.

TA2: Population-Scale Modeling and Data Integration (coming)

A federated, privacy-preserving national data network built on health data standards, with at least 10 live nodes and fast multisite queries.

TA3: Precision Intervention and Trajectory Testing (coming)

Adaptive platform trials stratified by trajectory, prioritizing sleep, seizures, GI issues, pain, anxiety, crisis, and regression.

Is Your Company a Fit?

TA4 is a strong fit for:

• Wearable and biosensing companies focused on sleep, autonomic state, or seizure and overload alerts
• AAC and communication device makers, especially for minimally verbal and nonspeaking users
• Speech AI teams willing to build open, on-device models
• Eye tracking, low-channel EEG, and computer vision companies with tools that run on common phones and tablets
• VR and immersive learning companies

ARPA-H asks for prior experience building technology for autistic people or comparable populations, plus pilot or usability data from the intended users, so teams with real-world deployments will be most competitive. Looking ahead, AI and multi-omics analytics companies fit TA1, federated data and privacy companies fit TA2, and clinical trial platforms and therapeutics companies fit TA3.

FFRDCs and government entities cannot participate, entities from covered foreign countries are excluded, and ARPA-H prioritizes work performed in the United States.

How to Apply

1. Register on the ARPA-H Solutions site. The TA4 portal is open now at solutions.arpa-h.gov. A UEI is not required for the Solution Summary but is required before award.
2. Submit a TA4 Solution Summary by October 18, 2026. Use the required Attachment A1 template, up to 7 pages for the concept, innovation and impact, proposed work, and team. The cover page, cost estimate, resource share strategy, and references do not count toward the limit.
3. Receive an encourage or discourage response. ARPA-H says its view should carry significant weight in your decision to continue.
4. Submit a full proposal. Requirements and deadlines will be released by amendment after summaries are reviewed.

You may submit to more than one technical area, but each must be a separate, standalone submission. Questions go through the Ask a Question page on the ARPA-H Solutions site.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO helps digital health, wearable, and AI companies decide which SPECTRA technical area fits, frame their real-world evidence for ARPA-H reviewers, and deliver a compliant Solution Summary on a tight timeline. We also track the TA1 through TA3 amendments so clients are ready the day each call opens. With $350M+ in non-dilutive funding secured for our clients, we help health technology founders compete for ARPA-H programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ARPA-H SPECTRA program?

SPECTRA (Systems for Phenotypic Evaluation, Clinical Trajectories, Response, and Agency) is an ARPA-H program to understand and act on autism trajectories across the lifespan through analysis, data integration, precision interventions, and everyday assistive technologies.

When is the SPECTRA deadline?

TA4 Solution Summaries are due October 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. TA1 and TA2 summaries are expected December 2, 2026, and TA3 summaries January 18, 2027. Full proposal dates will be announced later.

What does SPECTRA TA4 fund?

Everyday technologies such as wearables, AAC and speech interfaces, phone and tablet eye tracking, low-channel EEG, computer vision, and immersive tools that improve communication and quality of life while generating real-world assessment data.

Can startups apply to SPECTRA?

Yes. ARPA-H is primarily interested in proposals from commercial performers, academic institutions, and nonprofits. FFRDCs and government entities cannot participate.

How much funding does SPECTRA provide?

ARPA-H has not published award sizes. Awards are Other Transaction agreements, and proposers request total funds across all phases in their Solution Summary.

How long is the SPECTRA TA4 Solution Summary?

Up to 7 pages using the required Attachment A1 template. The cover page, cost estimate, resource share strategy, and references are not counted.

ARPA-H UNIQUE ARPA-H-SOL-26-162: Quantum Entanglement Imaging Program Guide for Startups

ARPA-H's UNifying Imaging with QUantum Entanglement (UNIQUE) program wants to expand what medical imaging can measure. It funds teams that capture quantum correlations in the 511 keV photon pairs produced in PET-style positron annihilation and use AI to turn those signals into new information about tissue health, such as metabolism, oxygenation, and microstructure. Small businesses, larger companies, universities, and nonprofits are all eligible, and early-career investigators are preferred.

Deadline: Solution Summaries are due October 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET through the ARPA-H Solutions site. Full proposals are due December 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

Why This Opportunity Matters

CT, MRI, and PET show anatomy and function, but they cannot fully characterize the tissue microenvironment where diseases like neurodegeneration, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and pancreatic cancer begin. By the time those diseases are visible, damage is often substantial. Recent research shows that photon pairs from positron annihilation can retain measurable quantum correlations, and those correlations may carry biological information that conventional contrast misses.

The field is still largely at the proof-of-concept stage. That is exactly where ARPA-H invests. UNIQUE is a short, focused 18-month program, which makes it a realistic way for a detector, photonics, or imaging AI company to build a position in quantum medical imaging before the field matures.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsor: Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Health Science Futures Office
• Solicitation: ARPA-H-SOL-26-162, Innovative Solutions Opening (Amendment 01)
• Award type: Other Transaction (OT) agreements. Multiple awards are anticipated
• Award size: Not published. Proposers submit a rough order of magnitude cost with the Solution Summary
• Program length: 18 months in two 9-month phases, with Phase 2 continuation based on Phase 1 results
• Proposers' Day: October 16, 2026, 8:30 AM ET, with lightning talks and sidebars from 3:00 to 5:00 PM ET
• Solution Summary due: October 29, 2026, 5:00 PM ET (required)
• Full proposal due: December 15, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
• Cost share: Required only for for-profit companies with more than 1,000 employees
• Human subjects: Not anticipated. Work is done in phantoms and on the benchtop

What UNIQUE Funds

Every proposal must address both technical areas in a single integrated plan, so most competitive teams will combine hardware and AI expertise.

Technical Area 1: Imaging Core

Generate and measure quantum-derived contrast from entangled 511 keV photon pairs, positronium-sensitive interactions, and decoherence in controlled phantom and benchtop systems. Phase 1 targets include an entanglement witness above 1.6, coincidence timing resolution under 300 picoseconds (stretch goal under 150), entangled pair flux of 100,000 to 1,000,000 pairs per second, and measurable differences across at least 3 phantom states. Phase 2 moves to ghost image reconstruction in phantoms, higher usable coincidence rates, stronger signal to background, and repeatability within 10 percent.

Technical Area 2: Quantum AI Interpretation and Fusion

Build AI-driven reconstruction that fuses anatomical, functional, molecular, and quantum-derived signals into unified multidimensional images. Phase 1 calls for a simulation-to-reconstruction pipeline, prototype voxel-level quantum contrast maps, and statistically distinguishable clustering of at least 3 phantom states. Phase 2 calls for a preliminary quantum contrast atlas, datasets above 1,000,000 correlated events, and 3D localization of 2 to 3 millimeters or better.

An ARPA-H independent verification and validation team will supply benchmark phantoms and test results against these metrics.

Is Your Company a Fit?

UNIQUE is a strong fit for companies working in:

• PET, gamma, or Compton detectors, fast-timing scintillators, SiPM readout, or sub-300 picosecond coincidence electronics
• Positron sources, radioisotopes, or imaging phantoms
• Quantum photonics or ghost imaging, if the team can work at 511 keV
• Tomographic reconstruction, physics-informed AI, or multimodal image fusion for sparse, low-count data

Because one proposal must cover both technical areas, a small company will often lead or join a team with an academic PET physics or quantum lab. Each organization may lead only one proposal. Optical-only quantum imaging teams are a weaker fit unless they can adapt to annihilation photons. FFRDCs and government entities cannot participate except in rare, justified cases, and entities from covered foreign countries are excluded. Proposals that offer incremental improvements will not be funded.

How to Apply

1. Attend Proposers' Day on October 16, 2026. It is optional, but the lightning talk and sidebar sessions are the best place to find teaming partners.
2. Submit a Solution Summary by October 29, 2026. It is limited to 3 pages, plus a cover page, rough order of magnitude cost by phase, team qualifications, and references. It must answer what health problem you are solving, how it is done today, and what is new about your approach.
3. Receive an encourage or discourage response. You may still submit a full proposal either way.
4. Submit the full proposal by December 15, 2026. It includes a 12-page technical and management volume, a cost volume with no page limit, and an administrative and policy volume.

All submissions go through the ARPA-H Solutions site, and an active SAM.gov registration is required. Questions go to UNIQUE@arpa-h.gov.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO helps imaging, photonics, and AI companies decide whether UNIQUE fits their roadmap, assemble teams that cover both technical areas, and write Solution Summaries that make a clear case for disruptive impact. We also manage full proposal development, cost volumes, and OT negotiation support. With $350M+ in non-dilutive funding secured for our clients, we help deep tech founders compete for programs like this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ARPA-H UNIQUE program?

UNIQUE (UNifying Imaging with QUantum Entanglement) is an 18-month ARPA-H program that funds teams to measure quantum correlations in 511 keV photon pairs and use AI to turn them into new medical imaging contrast for tissue health.

When is the UNIQUE deadline?

Solution Summaries are due October 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, and full proposals are due December 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. A Solution Summary is required.

How much funding does UNIQUE provide?

ARPA-H has not published an award size or total budget. Awards are Other Transaction agreements, multiple awards are anticipated, and proposers estimate their own costs by phase.

Can small businesses apply to UNIQUE?

Yes. Small businesses, larger companies, universities, and nonprofits are all eligible, and early-career investigators are preferred. Companies with more than 1,000 employees must provide meaningful cost share.

Do I need to address both technical areas?

Yes. Every proposal must cover both the Imaging Core and the Quantum AI Interpretation and Fusion technical areas in one integrated plan, so teaming is common.

Does UNIQUE involve human subjects research?

No. Human subjects research is not anticipated. Work is done with phantoms and benchtop systems, using benchmark phantoms supplied by an ARPA-H independent verification and validation team.

ARPA-H Emerging Health Innovators (EHI) 2026, ARPA-H-SOL-26-150: Up to $1.05M for Early-Career Researchers

ARPA-H's Emerging Health Innovators (EHI) initiative funds bold, early-stage health research led by early-career investigators, and pairs every award with an ARPA-H Program Manager who acts as project manager and mentor. Companies, universities, and nonprofits can all lead, as long as the Project Lead is within 8 years of their first terminal degree. Each award is worth up to $1,050,000 over three years, across 16 topic areas spanning devices, diagnostics, biotech, and clinical AI.

Deadline: Solution Summaries are due October 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET through the ARPA-H Solutions site. Full proposals are due February 10, 2027 at 2:00 PM ET.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Most ARPA-H programs are built for large, experienced teams. EHI is the exception. It is designed to bring new researchers into the ARPA-H model, fund ideas that are still too early for traditional grants, and train the next generation of ARPA-H performers and Program Managers. For a startup with a young technical lead, it is one of the few ways to win a direct ARPA-H award without competing against established multi-institution teams.

EHI also comes with something money cannot buy: a monthly working relationship with an ARPA-H Program Manager. For a company planning to pursue larger ARPA-H programs later, that relationship and the track record of delivering on an ARPA-H agreement can be a meaningful advantage.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsor: Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Office of Commercialization
• Solicitation: ARPA-H-SOL-26-150, Innovative Solutions Opening (Amendment 1)
• Award type: Fixed-price Other Transaction (OT) agreements paid on milestones
• Award size: Up to $1,050,000 total, including indirect costs
• Structure: 24-month base period (up to $350,000 per year) plus an optional 12-month Director's Award (up to $350,000) for top performers
• Number of awards: Multiple. ARPA-H expects to fund 20 or more awards per year through EHI
• Proposers' Day: October 13, 2026 (virtual, register by October 12)
• Solution Summary due: October 30, 2026, 2:00 PM ET (required)
• Full proposal due: February 10, 2027, 2:00 PM ET
• Tentative selections: April 30, 2027, with awards starting around June 30, 2027
• Cost share: Not required

The 16 EHI Topic Areas

Every submission must target exactly one topic. Ideas outside these topics are not accepted.

Devices, Implants, and Neurotechnology

• Topic 1, Precision Control of Skin Inflammation: Networked biomaterials in the skin that sense inflammation and deliver localized, reversible therapy without systemic exposure.
• Topic 2, Internal Sensing and Targeted Control of Inflammation: Injectable or ingestible micro and nano scale platforms that sense inflammation and deliver therapy under closed-loop or external control.
• Topic 3, Deep Brain Stimulation for Sleep (Deep Sleep): Using DBS to record and modulate deep brain activity during sleep and test personalized, closed-loop therapy.
• Topic 15, ICAT In-Cavity Adjuvant Therapy: Implantable systems placed in the tumor resection cavity that deliver steep, tunable therapy and sense residual disease, with glioblastoma as the example model.

Diagnostics and Women's Health

• Topic 9, SMILE: Low-cost detection of early tooth decay and oral microbiome imbalance, or bio-inspired enamel repair that outlasts fillings.
• Topic 10, Ectopic Pregnancy First-Visit Diagnosis: Same-day point-of-care tools, biomarker panels, or imaging approaches that distinguish viable pregnancy, early loss, and ectopic pregnancy.
• Topic 11, Transforming the Well-Woman Exam: Objective at-home or primary care screening for conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, and perimenopause. Standalone AI tools are discouraged.
• Topic 14, Non-Contact Sterility Testing: Measuring sterility in sealed containers fast enough for in-line distributed manufacturing, replacing tests that take 3 to 14 days.

Biotech, Immunology, and Tissue Platforms

• Topic 4, CLEAR-MIND: Preclinical work to restore the brain's drainage system and rebalance immune response after injury.
• Topic 5, HIND: Host-pathway interventions, biomarkers, and CNS delivery for neurotropic diseases such as rabies, EEEV, and prion disease.
• Topic 7, Engineering DRTs: Programmable, protein-templated DNA synthesis as a new medical countermeasure strategy.
• Topic 8, Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Mapping, predicting, preventing, and treating tick-bite triggered alpha-gal allergy.
• Topic 12, Biotransport for Organ Preservation: Uniform, low-toxicity delivery and removal of cryoprotectants through thick tissues and whole organs.
• Topic 13, Organs-in-Action: Organ and system scale human tissue platforms, beyond organoids and chips, for aging, disease, and therapy discovery.

Artificial Intelligence and Data

• Topic 6, Protecting Patient Data in Life Science AI: Defenses against membership inference and model inversion, leakage measurement, machine unlearning, and agentic AI security.
• Topic 16, Causally Grounded Alignment for Clinical Generative AI: Causal alignment constraints, evaluators, and mechanistic auditing for clinical generative AI tools.

Is Your Company a Fit?

EHI is a strong fit if most of these are true:

• Your proposed Project Lead completed their first terminal degree (typically a PhD, MD, or equivalent professional degree) within the last 8 years. Leave, postdoc, residency, and fellowship periods can be excluded.
• The Project Lead is a working researcher, not an administrator, and is not currently a postdoc or clinical trainee.
• The Project Lead has never been the prime lead on an award from any ARPA agency (ARPA-H, DARPA, IARPA, ARPA-E).
• Your organization and every team member are employed at a U.S. institution.
• Your idea fits one of the 16 topics and aims for a revolutionary advance, not an incremental improvement.
• Your company has, or can quickly get, an active SAM.gov registration and UEI.

Things that rule a team out: FFRDCs, UARCs, national labs, and government entities cannot apply or team. Subawards, consultants, and vendors together cannot exceed 30 percent of the total agreement value. The concept cannot already be funded or selected for funding by another agency.

How to Apply

1. Register on the ARPA-H Solutions site. All submissions go through solutions.arpa-h.gov. Start your SAM.gov registration now if you do not have one, since it can take more than 14 business days.
2. Submit a Solution Summary by October 30, 2026. The summary is limited to 2 pages plus a cover sheet, names one topic, and must be completely anonymized. Identifying information about the Project Lead, company, or team goes on the cover sheet only, and references are not allowed.
3. Wait for an encourage or discourage decision. ARPA-H does not provide written feedback. Discouraged proposers may still submit but are strongly advised not to.
4. Submit the full proposal by February 10, 2027. It includes pitch slides, an 8-page technical and management proposal, a task description document, a milestone payment schedule, administrative and research security forms, and a signed organizational letter of support.

Each organization may submit more than one proposal, but each must have a different Project Lead, and each Project Lead may submit to only one topic.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO helps deep tech and life science companies decide whether EHI is the right ARPA-H entry point, choose the strongest topic, and write a Solution Summary that stands out in a blind review. We also build milestone payment schedules that ARPA-H can approve and help teams prepare the full proposal package if they are encouraged. With $350M+ in non-dilutive funding secured for our clients, we know how to position early-stage ideas for agencies that fund breakthroughs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ARPA-H Emerging Health Innovators (EHI) initiative?

EHI is an ARPA-H mentorship and funding initiative for early-career investigators. It funds revolutionary health research across 16 topic areas through Other Transaction agreements, and each award is paired with an ARPA-H Program Manager who serves as mentor and project manager.

How much funding does EHI provide?

Each award can be worth up to $1,050,000, including indirect costs. That includes a 24-month base period of up to $700,000 and an optional 12-month Director's Award of up to $350,000 reserved for exceptional performers.

When is the EHI 2026 deadline?

Solution Summaries are due October 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET. Full proposals are due February 10, 2027 at 2:00 PM ET. A Solution Summary is required before submitting a full proposal.

Can a startup or small business apply to EHI?

Yes. EHI accepts proposals led by early-career investigators at industry, academic, and nonprofit organizations. There is no small business size requirement, but the organization and all team members must be employed at a U.S. institution.

Who counts as an early-career investigator for EHI?

An individual within 8 years of completing their first terminal degree. Leaves of absence, postdoctoral, residency, and fellowship periods can be excluded. Current postdocs and clinical trainees cannot serve as Project Lead, and anyone who has already led an award from any ARPA agency is not eligible.

Is cost share required for EHI?

No. The solicitation does not require cost share.

How long is the EHI Solution Summary?

Two pages, not counting the cover sheet. It must be fully anonymized, with identifying information only on the cover sheet, and it cannot include references.

NASA NIAC Phase I FY2027: Up to $225K for Visionary Aerospace Concepts

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) funds early-stage feasibility studies of visionary aerospace concepts that could change what NASA, other government agencies, and the commercial space sector are able to do. NIAC is run by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). The FY2027 Phase I solicitation (NNH26ZTR001N-27NIAC_A1) offers awards of up to $225,000 for feasibility studies of about nine months, and NASA expects to make 12 to 16 awards.

Deadline: Step A proposals are due October 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern through NSPIRES. Invited Step B proposals are due January 13, 2027.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Most federal R&D money goes to ideas that already have data behind them. NIAC deliberately funds the opposite: concepts at TRL 2 or lower that are unexplored, highly innovative, and credible enough to study. For startups and small companies, it is one of the few federal programs that pays to test a far-out aerospace idea before a prototype exists. The Step A proposal is short, all categories of U.S. organizations can lead, and a NIAC award builds a NASA track record that supports NIAC Phase II and later NASA SBIR/STTR proposals.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsor: NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
• Solicitation: NNH26ZTR001N-27NIAC_A1, NIAC Phase I for FY2027
• Award size: Up to $225,000 per award
• Duration: About 9 months
• Expected awards: 12 to 16
• Who can lead: All categories of U.S. organizations, including small businesses, larger companies, universities, nonprofits, and government labs
• Foreign participation: Non-U.S. organizations may join on a no-exchange-of-funds basis
• Step A due: October 28, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern, through NSPIRES
• Step B due: January 13, 2027, by invitation only (invitations issued December 8, 2026)
• Selection: Targeted for April 2027, with awards around July 2027
• Contact: hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov

What NIAC Funds

NIAC looks for visionary, yet credible, concepts that address national, government, and commercial aerospace goals. Strong concepts sit at TRL 2 or lower, are framed in a mission or architecture context, and take a radically different approach rather than an incremental one. Concepts can come from any discipline, including:

• Advanced propulsion and power
• In-space manufacturing, assembly, and large structures
• Robotics and autonomous exploration systems
• Human exploration, habitation, and life support
• New approaches to sensing, communications, and science instruments
• Novel mission architectures for the Moon, Mars, and deep space

Is Your Company a Fit?

NIAC Phase I is a strong fit if your company:

• Has a bold aerospace concept that is still early, at TRL 2 or lower
• Can describe the concept as a system, architecture, or mission, not only a single component
• Has a credible technical basis and a team that can run a nine-month feasibility study
• Can lead the proposal through a U.S. organization
• Wants a NASA relationship that can grow into NIAC Phase II, NASA SBIR/STTR, or other STMD funding

NIAC is usually not the right fit for near-term product development, incremental upgrades, or technologies that already have working prototypes. Those projects often fit NASA SBIR/STTR better.

How to Apply

1. Attend the proposers' forum. NASA is hosting a virtual NIAC Phase I forum on October 7, 2026.
2. Submit a Step A proposal. Submit a short concept proposal through NSPIRES by October 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern. Step A screens for innovation, potential impact, and credibility.
3. Prepare a Step B proposal if invited. NASA issues Step B invitations on December 8, 2026, and full proposals are due January 13, 2027.
4. Selection and award. NASA targets selection notices in April 2027 and awards around July 2027.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO has helped deep-tech, aerospace, and space tech founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding, including NASA awards. We help you frame a visionary concept so reviewers see it as credible, write a sharp Step A, and connect a NIAC study to NIAC Phase II, NASA SBIR/STTR, and other federal funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NASA NIAC?

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) is a program in NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate that funds early-stage feasibility studies of visionary aerospace concepts that could transform future NASA, government, and commercial missions.

How much funding does NIAC Phase I provide?

NIAC Phase I awards are up to $225,000 each for a feasibility study of about nine months. NASA expects to make 12 to 16 awards in the FY2027 cycle.

What is the NIAC Phase I deadline?

Step A proposals are due October 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern through NSPIRES. Proposers invited to Step B must submit full proposals by January 13, 2027.

Can companies apply for NIAC?

Yes. All categories of U.S. organizations may lead a NIAC proposal, including small businesses, larger companies, universities, nonprofits, and government labs. Non-U.S. organizations may participate on a no-exchange-of-funds basis.

What technology readiness level does NIAC require?

NIAC funds concepts at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 or lower. Projects that already have working prototypes or are close to product development usually fit NASA SBIR/STTR better.

How does the NIAC two-step process work?

Proposers first submit a short Step A concept proposal. NASA reviews Step A submissions and invites the strongest concepts to submit a full Step B proposal, which is the basis for selection.

What comes after a NIAC Phase I award?

Phase I awardees can compete for NIAC Phase II funding to mature their concepts further, and the results often support later NASA SBIR/STTR and other NASA proposals.

MedTech Innovator Vantage Non-Dilutive Funding Program: Up to $200K for Health Security Diagnostics and Devices

MedTech Innovator Vantage is a joint partnership between MedTech Innovator and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Vantage is one of five specialized hubs in the BARDA Accelerator Network. Its Non-Dilutive Funding Program awards $50,000 to $200,000 for six-month, milestone-based projects that develop, evaluate, and validate diagnostic and medical device technologies for health security, preparedness, and response.

Deadline: Proposals are due October 15, 2026. Off-cycle applications for BARDA-aligned technologies are also accepted on a rolling basis.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Most early-stage medtech companies chase SBIR as their first federal dollar. Vantage is a faster, smaller entry point. A $50K to $200K award gives a startup proof-of-concept or validation data, a BARDA-aligned project record, and six months of project management and mentoring from subject matter experts. That record strengthens a later BARDA BAA, DRIVe, or SBIR application.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsors: MedTech Innovator and BARDA (HHS), through the BARDA Accelerator Network
• Award size: $50,000 to $200,000
• Project length: 6 months, milestone-based
• Who can apply: Early-stage startups and university-backed projects
• Proposal window: September 1 to October 15, 2026
• Guided revisions: January 2027, with subject matter experts
• Award announcements: Anticipated March to April 2027
• Support included: Project management support and regular expert mentoring during the award
• Contact: vantage@medtechinnovator.org

Priority Technology Areas

Vantage funds diagnostic and medical device technologies that strengthen U.S. health security. Current priority areas include:

• Continuous patient monitoring: Platforms with advanced sensors, with emphasis on radiation injury and acute radiation syndrome
• Multiplexed point-of-care rapid tests: High-sensitivity tests, including botulinum toxin detection that distinguishes serotypes
• Deployable diagnostics: Low-cost tools for resource-limited settings
• Rapid triage diagnostics: Including low-throughput next-generation sequencing platforms for pathogen identification

What Is Out of Scope

• Oncology and chronic disease research
• Gain-of-function research involving pathogen manipulation

Is Your Company a Fit?

Vantage is a strong fit if your company:

• Is an early-stage startup or a university-backed spinout
• Is building a diagnostic, patient monitoring, or medical device technology with a clear health security use case
• Can define concrete, measurable milestones achievable in six months
• Plans to pursue larger BARDA or other federal funding after proof-of-concept

If your device targets cancer or a chronic disease without a preparedness or emergency response angle, other programs such as NIH SBIR are a better match.

How to Apply

1. Confirm alignment. Review BARDA's mission and the DRIVe target product profiles to map your technology to a stated health security need.
2. Define six-month milestones. Reviewers fund projects with specific development, evaluation, or validation outcomes that a $50K to $200K budget can deliver.
3. Submit by October 15, 2026. Proposals go to MedTech Innovator during the September 1 to October 15 window.
4. Revise with experts. Selected applicants refine proposals with subject matter experts in January 2027.
5. Award decision. Announcements are expected March to April 2027.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO has helped deep-tech, medtech, and biotech founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding. We help you test fit against BARDA priorities, frame milestones reviewers trust, and plan the path from a Vantage award to BARDA BAA, DRIVe, and SBIR funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MedTech Innovator Vantage Non-Dilutive Funding Program?

It is a BARDA-aligned funding program run by MedTech Innovator that awards $50,000 to $200,000 for six-month projects developing, evaluating, and validating diagnostic and medical device technologies for health security.

When is the Vantage application deadline?

The 2026 proposal window runs September 1 to October 15, 2026. Off-cycle applications for BARDA-aligned technologies are accepted on a rolling basis.

Who is eligible to apply?

Early-stage startups and university-backed projects developing diagnostic or medical device technologies aligned with BARDA's health security mission.

Is Vantage funding dilutive?

No. Vantage awards are non-dilutive, so companies do not give up equity.

What technologies does Vantage prioritize?

Continuous patient monitoring for radiation injury, multiplexed point-of-care rapid tests such as botulinum toxin detection, low-cost deployable diagnostics, and rapid triage diagnostics including low-throughput NGS pathogen identification.

What is excluded from Vantage funding?

Oncology and chronic disease research, and gain-of-function research involving pathogen manipulation.

When are Vantage awards announced?

Selected applicants complete guided revisions in January 2027, and awards are anticipated in March to April 2027.

TRISH Catalyst Grants Program: NASA-Funded Space Health Awards for Companies and Researchers

The Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) funds disruptive, high-impact technologies and studies that protect astronaut health. TRISH is led by Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Space Medicine and funded through a NASA cooperative agreement with the NASA Human Research Program (HRP). The Catalyst Grants Program supports proof-of-concept projects and directed technology development. Tier 1 awards reach up to $150,000 over 12 months, and Tier 2 awards are $150,000 or more for larger projects.

Deadline: Rolling. Preliminary proposals are reviewed quarterly, and TRISH is accepting submissions through December 2026.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Many medtech problems in spaceflight mirror problems on Earth: remote monitoring, point-of-care diagnostics, blood clot prevention, behavioral health, and care with no specialist nearby. TRISH lets medtech and healthtech companies fund that work with NASA money, without the SBIR calendar. The two-page first step is light, U.S. companies are eligible, and a TRISH award builds a NASA track record that supports later NASA SBIR/STTR and HRP proposals.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsor: TRISH at Baylor College of Medicine, funded by NASA's Human Research Program
• Tier 1: Under $150,000 total, up to 12 months
• Tier 2: $150,000 or more total, up to 18 months
• Budget rules: All direct and indirect costs count toward the total; minimum 10% cost share (cash or in-kind)
• Who can apply: U.S. institutions and companies with a documented base of ongoing R&D
• Submission: Rolling, with quarterly Step-1 reviews, through December 2026
• Notification: About 3 to 4 months after a Step-2 full proposal
• Contact: spacehealth-info@bcm.edu

What TRISH Funds

Catalyst projects must address critical human system risks on the NASA HRP roadmap, represent a unique, high-impact idea, and fall outside other open TRISH solicitations. Recent example topics include:

Ground-Based Research

• Countermeasures for internal jugular venous flow reversal
• Decompression sickness prevention
• Managing behavioral emergencies in remote environments
• Early detection of behavioral health decline

Flight Research

• Continuous characterization of venous flow during spaceflight
• Comparing venous thromboembolism countermeasures
• Evaluating post-flight motor control recovery

Is Your Company a Fit?

TRISH Catalyst is a strong fit if your company:

• Builds wearables, remote monitoring, point-of-care diagnostics, vascular, neuro, or behavioral health technology
• Can show how the technology reduces a specific spaceflight health risk
• Has ongoing R&D and preliminary data
• Can commit at least 10% cost share
• Wants a NASA relationship that extends into Earth-based clinical markets

How to Apply

1. Map to an HRP risk. Tie your technology to a named human system risk on the NASA Human Research Roadmap.
2. Submit a Step-1 preliminary proposal. Two pages maximum covering specific aims, deliverables, an implementation roadmap, TRISH alignment, and spaceflight health benefits. No institutional sign-off is required.
3. Prepare a Step-2 full proposal if invited. Tier 1 allows an 8-page project description and Tier 2 allows 15 pages, plus NASA SciENcv biosketches, Current and Pending Support, budget justification, a 2-page data management plan, and research security training certification.
4. Merit review. Reviewers score innovation, significance to NASA risk reduction, approach, and team, then assess budget, timeline, and data management.
5. Award. Decisions come about 3 to 4 months after Step-2, and start dates may shift with NASA budget availability.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO has helped deep-tech, medtech, and aerospace founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding, including NASA awards. We help you frame your technology around NASA HRP risks, write a sharp two-page Step-1, and connect a TRISH award to NASA SBIR/STTR and Earth-based commercialization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TRISH Catalyst Grants Program?

It is a NASA-funded program run by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health at Baylor College of Medicine that funds proof-of-concept projects and technology development addressing astronaut health risks.

Can companies apply for TRISH Catalyst grants?

Yes. U.S. institutions and companies are eligible if they have a documented base of ongoing research and development in science, healthcare, or technology.

How much funding does TRISH Catalyst provide?

Tier 1 awards are under $150,000 for up to 12 months. Tier 2 awards are $150,000 or more for up to 18 months. All direct and indirect costs count toward the total.

Is cost share required?

Yes. TRISH requires a minimum 10% cost share, which can be cash or in-kind.

What is the TRISH Catalyst deadline?

Submissions are rolling with quarterly Step-1 reviews, and TRISH is accepting applications through December 2026.

What does the Step-1 preliminary proposal require?

A two-page document covering specific aims, deliverables, an implementation roadmap, alignment with TRISH, and spaceflight health benefits. No institutional sign-off is needed.

How long does a TRISH award decision take?

Award notification is expected about 3 to 4 months after the Step-2 full proposal is submitted.

USDA SBIR/STTR Phase II USDA-NIFA-SBIR-012221: Executive Summary for Ag and Food Tech Startups

Executive Summary

Sponsor: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Award size: Up to $600,000, or up to $650,000 with Technical and Business Assistance (TABA)
Deadline: November 17, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
Eligible applicants: Prior USDA SBIR or STTR Phase I recipients
Funding type: Non-dilutive grant, no cost share required
Funding opportunity number: USDA-NIFA-SBIR-012221

USDA NIFA is accepting Phase II applications from small businesses that have completed a USDA SBIR or STTR Phase I award. Phase II funds the research and development needed to take a proven concept and move it toward the marketplace. Projects typically run 24 months, total program funding is $24.75 million, and NIFA expects to fund roughly half of the applications it receives, making this one of the more favorable success rates in federal non-dilutive funding.

Who Should Apply

This opportunity is open only to companies that previously won a USDA SBIR or STTR Phase I grant. Your Phase II application must show that Phase I achieved its objectives and demonstrated technical feasibility, supported by preliminary data and results.

• SBIR: The principal investigator must be primarily employed (more than 50 percent) by the small business, and the company must perform at least 50 percent of the research.
• STTR: The small business must perform at least 40 percent of the work and a single U.S. research institution partner (university, nonprofit research organization, or FFRDC) must perform at least 30 percent.
• All research and development must be performed in the United States.

Topic Areas

• 8.1 Forests and Related Resources: Forest productivity, management, and value-added forest materials.
• 8.2 Plant Production and Protection (Biology): Crop production, stress protection, and pollinator health.
• 8.3 Animal Production and Protection: Technologies that improve agricultural animal production and health.
• 8.4 Management of Natural Resources: Soil health, erosion reduction, water quality, and nutrient management.
• 8.5 Food Science and Nutrition: Food safety, food processing, and nutrition innovation.
• 8.6 Rural and Community Development: Technologies supporting economic and social development in rural America.
• 8.7 Aquaculture: Technologies that expand domestic aquaculture production.
• 8.8 Biofuels and Biobased Products: Biofuels and industrial chemicals from agricultural materials.
• 8.12 Small and Mid-Size Farms: Sustainability and profitability for farms with under $1 million in annual sales.
• 8.13 Plant Production and Protection (Engineering): Engineering solutions for crop production efficiency and pest and pathogen protection.

How Applications Are Evaluated

• Phase I results and technical feasibility (20 percent): Quality of preliminary data and likelihood of Phase II success.
• Phase II technical approach (20 percent): Clear objectives, sound methodology, and measurable outcomes.
• Commercial potential (20 percent): Market analysis, commercialization strategy, IP protection, revenue projections, and track record.
• Importance of the problem (10 percent): Significance and public benefit.
• Team and resources (10 percent): Expertise and partnerships to complete the work.
• Alignment with USDA priorities: Connection to current USDA priorities such as farmer profitability, market expansion, invasive species protection, soil health, and precision nutrition.

What Goes Into the Application

• Project summary of up to 250 words
• Project narrative of up to 20 pages
• Commercialization plan of up to 10 pages, including a Phase III financing strategy
• TABA plan of up to 3 pages if requesting the additional $50,000
• Required disclosure of foreign affiliations or relationships to foreign countries

Key Considerations

• Commercialization carries real weight. With 20 percent of the score tied to commercial potential and a dedicated 10 page plan, a strong market and Phase III financing story is essential.
• TABA adds up to $50,000. Funds can support IP strategy, regulatory and market services, and other commercialization help from a vendor you select.
• Foreign disclosure is now required. Applicants must disclose foreign ownership, joint ventures, contracts, licensing, and related relationships.
• Experienced awardees face benchmarks. Companies with 20 or more prior Phase I awards must meet Phase I to Phase II transition and commercialization benchmarks.
• Plan for the next cycle too. NIFA lists a tentative FY 2027 deadline of September 21, 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the USDA SBIR/STTR Phase II FY 2026 deadline?

Applications are due November 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time through Grants.gov. NIFA lists a tentative FY 2027 deadline of September 21, 2027.

How much funding does a USDA SBIR/STTR Phase II award provide?

Awards are up to $600,000, or up to $650,000 when including up to $50,000 in Technical and Business Assistance (TABA). Projects typically run 24 months. Total program funding is $24.75 million.

Who is eligible for USDA SBIR/STTR Phase II?

Only small businesses that previously received a USDA SBIR or STTR Phase I award are eligible. Applicants must show that Phase I objectives were met and technical feasibility was demonstrated.

What topic areas does USDA SBIR/STTR Phase II fund?

Topics include forests and related resources, plant production and protection (biology and engineering), animal production and protection, natural resources management, food science and nutrition, rural and community development, aquaculture, biofuels and biobased products, and small and mid-size farms.

Does USDA SBIR/STTR Phase II require cost sharing?

No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.

How are USDA SBIR/STTR Phase II applications evaluated?

Reviewers score Phase I results and feasibility (20 percent), the Phase II technical approach (20 percent), commercial potential (20 percent), importance of the problem (10 percent), team and resources (10 percent), and alignment with USDA priorities.

Can BW&CO help with a USDA SBIR/STTR Phase II application?

Yes. BW&CO helps founders turn Phase I results into a strong technical narrative, build a commercialization plan that scores, and align projects with USDA priorities. BW&CO has helped clients secure more than $350 million in non-dilutive funding.

Turn Your Phase I Win Into a Phase II Award

BW&CO helps agtech, foodtech, and biobased founders translate Phase I results into a compelling technical narrative, build a commercialization plan that scores, and align with current USDA priorities. With a November 17 deadline, now is the time to start.

GRA Development Grant: Executive Summary for Georgia Startups

Executive Summary

Sponsor: Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program
Award size: $10,000 to $250,000 per grant
Deadline: Six review cycles per year
Eligible applicants: Faculty researchers at accredited public or private universities in Georgia
Funding type: Non-dilutive grant (GRA takes no financial stake in the project)

The GRA Development Grant funds milestone-driven projects that move a Georgia university technology toward commercialization or startup formation. It is built for teams that have moved past the idea stage and now need to reduce technical risk, prove a competitive advantage, and generate the evidence that investors and federal reviewers expect to see.

What the Development Grant Funds

Projects are organized around a defined set of milestones. Typical activities include:

• Prototype refinement and technology validation
• Preclinical testing for medtech and biotech technologies
• Pilot manufacturing and scale-up studies
• IP landscape and regulatory pathway analysis
• Customer pilots and market validation

GRA may award more than one Development Grant to the same project as it continues to hit milestones, which makes the program a practical bridge from lab result to fundable company.

Who Should Apply

• Faculty founders at Georgia institutions such as Georgia Tech, Emory, the University of Georgia, Augusta University, Georgia State, and Kennesaw State
• Pre-spinout teams preparing to license university IP and form a company
• Deep-tech, biotech, medtech, and dual-use researchers whose technology shows commercial promise but still needs validation before outside investors will engage

Companies that were not founded on Georgia university technology are not eligible for GRA grants.

Where It Fits in the GRA Funding Ladder

• Exploratory Grant (up to $10,000, rolling): answers focused go/no-go questions on technical feasibility, early customer discovery, or lightweight whitespace analysis
• Development Grant ($10,000 to $250,000): advances commercialization or startup formation through defined milestones
• Startup Loan (up to $250,000): available after company formation to Georgia companies built on Georgia university technology, released in milestone-based tranches with a modest warrant and an option to convert in a future financing

Why It Pairs Well With SBIR and STTR

Federal SBIR and STTR reviewers reward proposals backed by strong preliminary data, a clear commercialization path, and evidence of customer demand. A GRA Development Grant pays for exactly that work. Georgia teams that use GRA funding to validate their technology are better positioned to pursue NIH, NSF, DoD, DOE, and NASA SBIR/STTR awards, and STTR in particular is a natural next step because it already requires a research institution partner.

GRA-backed projects have attracted more than $2.3 billion in follow-on investment, and GRA reports that 87% of its startups are still operating after four years.

How to Apply

• Download the Development Grant Application (MS Word) from the GRA Innovation & Entrepreneurship documents page
• Follow the instructions on pages 1 and 2 and complete the proposal inside the application file, not in a separate document
• Submit ahead of one of the six annual review cycles
• Plan for a progress report six months after funding begins and every six months after that
• Direct eligibility questions to Andrew Short, GRA Director of Innovation Programs, or grants@gra.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GRA Development Grant?

The GRA Development Grant is a non-dilutive award of $10,000 to $250,000 from the Georgia Research Alliance Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program. It funds milestone-driven projects that advance Georgia university technologies toward commercialization or startup formation.

Who is eligible for a GRA Development Grant?

Faculty researchers employed by accredited public or private universities in Georgia are eligible. Companies not founded on Georgia university technology are not eligible for GRA grants.

What activities can a GRA Development Grant fund?

Typical activities include prototype refinement, technology validation, preclinical testing, pilot manufacturing, IP and regulatory analysis, and customer pilots.

When are GRA Development Grant applications reviewed?

GRA holds six Development Grant review cycles per year. Exploratory Grants of up to $10,000 are accepted on a rolling basis.

Does GRA take equity in exchange for a Development Grant?

No. GRA grants are non-dilutive and GRA holds no financial stake in grant-funded projects. GRA Startup Loans, available after company formation, do include a modest warrant component and an option to convert in a future financing.

How does a GRA Development Grant help with SBIR and STTR funding?

A Development Grant pays for the preliminary data, validation, and customer evidence that SBIR and STTR reviewers look for. Georgia faculty and spinouts can use GRA funding to strengthen proposals to NIH, NSF, DoD, DOE, and NASA. BW&CO helps teams build that full non-dilutive funding strategy.

Turn Your GRA Award Into Federal Funding

BW&CO helps Georgia founders and faculty map a GRA Development Grant into a full non-dilutive funding strategy, from milestone planning to SBIR and STTR proposals across NIH, NSF, DoD, DOE, and NASA. With more than $350M in funding secured for our clients, we know what reviewers look for.