Executive Summary
DARPA's ERIS open call lets companies submit a seven-minute unclassified video pitch that any DARPA office can fund. Pitches are collected monthly; the next cutoff is November 30, 2026 at noon ET, and the call runs through July 31, 2027.
A pitch rated "awardable" becomes eligible for award without further competition. The announcement lists "no price ceilings or limits to duration of effort."
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: DARPA, with the Applied Research Institute
- Solicitation: ERIS, DARPA-PS-25-05 (Announcement R10, May 1, 2026)
- Funding: No set pool
- Format: Unclassified video of up to seven minutes
- Cutoff: Noon ET on the last day of each month
- Closes: July 31, 2027
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 30 cutoff.
Eligibility Requirements
- Who can submit: U.S. companies of any size, universities, nonprofits and individuals; foreign entities may submit
- Limit: Up to three submissions per entity per month
- Content: No proprietary, CUI or export-controlled content
How to Apply
- Script: A seven-minute pitch around one DARPA problem
- Submit: Through the ERIS marketplace before the monthly cutoff
What Happens After You Submit?
- Rating: Pitches are reviewed and rated
- Award: "Awardable" pitches can be awarded by a DARPA office without further competition
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits deep-tech companies and instrument makers whose work does not map to a single open DARPA program.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For DARPA calls like ERIS, we help you:
- Connect with the right DARPA program manager first
- Pick the problem your pitch should solve
- Script and storyboard the seven-minute video
- Keep the pitch free of proprietary and CUI content
- Plan the follow-on proposal
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this funding by itself?
No. It is a route to an award that a DARPA office negotiates with you.
How long can the video be?
Up to seven minutes.
When is the next cutoff?
November 30, 2026, at noon ET.
Can BW&CO help with an ERIS pitch?
Yes. We help teams choose the right DARPA problem and script a pitch that office wants to fund. Book a call with our team.