2027 NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator: Complete Guide for Startups
Executive Summary
The 2027 NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator is a prize competition from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that awards up to $994,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes plus a five month entrepreneurial accelerator to early-stage innovators building technologies that improve the health and well-being of older adults. Submissions are accepted from December 1, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. ET on January 15, 2027. Up to 21 Stage 1 finalists each receive $24,000 and a seat in the accelerator, and up to 7 Stage 2 winners each receive an additional $70,000.
This is the fourth cycle of the Start-Up Challenge. It is run by the NIA Office of Strategic Extramural Programs under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended (15 U.S.C. 3719). It is designed for researchers and innovators who are new to entrepreneurship, and it is explicitly built as a runway into the NIA SBIR and STTR programs.
Key facts at a glance
Sponsor: National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Program type: Prize competition and accelerator, not a grant or contract
Total prize pool: Up to $994,000
Stage 1 award: $24,000 each to up to 21 finalists, plus accelerator participation
Stage 2 award: $70,000 each to up to 7 winners selected from the finalist pool
Equity taken: None. Prize money is fully non-dilutive
Submission window: December 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Informational webinar: December 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Accelerator period: June 2027 through November 2027
Who it is for: First-time or aspiring entrepreneurs with science-driven aging and healthspan technologies
Key disqualifier: You cannot be the principal investigator on an active NIH SBIR or STTR award as of the close of the submission period
Award Approving Official: NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D.
Who should apply to the 2027 NIA Start-Up Challenge?
NIA is targeting a specific profile, and understanding that profile is the single largest driver of a competitive submission. The Challenge invites submissions from researchers and innovators who are new to entrepreneurship or actively seeking to pursue it, and who propose innovative, science-driven technologies with the potential to improve the health and well-being of older adults.
Unusually for a federal funding opportunity, the scoring rewards need as heavily as it rewards technical merit. Half of the Stage 1 score, 50 of 100 points, is allocated to the impact the Challenge would have on the submitter and the impact the submitter would have on NIA's small business research portfolio. A strong submission therefore has to make two arguments at once: that the technology is compelling, and that the applicant lacks the entrepreneurial training, mentorship, network, and capital that the Challenge provides.
Strong candidate profiles include:
Academic investigators, postdocs, and clinician scientists with aging-relevant technology who have never commercialized
Founders of very early stage companies with no prior NIH SBIR or STTR award as PI
Teams with deep scientific expertise and acknowledged gaps in business, regulatory, or reimbursement strategy
Innovators whose caregiving experience, clinical practice, or lived experience informs a differentiated approach to aging
Individuals or teams planning to form a U.S. owned and operated small business ahead of an SBIR or STTR submission
Poor fits include established SBIR awardees, teams that already have institutional venture backing and full commercialization support, and applicants whose product is a modest variation on something already commercialized or already funded through the NIA SBIR and STTR programs.
What is NIA looking for? Detailed technology overview
NIA is seeking innovative tools, technologies, and interventions that prevent, diagnose, treat, monitor, or slow the progression of aging-related diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias. The scope also extends well beyond disease treatment into the mechanics of daily life for older adults.
Core areas of interest
Aging-related disease and condition management: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and slowing of progression, with explicit emphasis on Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementias
Healthy aging and healthspan: solutions that promote healthy aging across the population rather than treating a single endpoint
Aging in place of choice: technologies that let older adults remain in the living setting they prefer
Care delivery improvement: tools that improve how care is coordinated, delivered, and measured
Caregiver burden reduction: solutions that reduce the practical, cognitive, and emotional load on formal and informal caregivers
Artificial intelligence is a stated priority
This cycle carries a particular interest in solutions leveraging artificial intelligence, including data-driven and machine learning approaches. NIA names four AI application areas specifically:
Early detection of aging-related disease and decline
Risk prediction and stratification
Personalized interventions
Rapid drug discovery and development
This interest is tied to a broader HHS priority to advance digital tools for the prevention of disease and to improve health status and health outcomes. If your technology has a credible AI or machine learning component, name it plainly and tie it to one of these four functions rather than describing AI as a generic feature.
Evidence, accessibility, and population reach
NIA asks submitters to prioritize evidence-based solutions that are broadly accessible and effective across the aging population. Reviewers expect you to account for the range of factors that determine whether a solution actually works in the field, including biological, social, behavioral, economic, environmental, and regional factors. A product that only performs for a narrow, well-resourced, technologically fluent subset of older adults will score poorly on reach.
Two differentiation requirements you cannot skip
Submissions must address both of the following, and weak submissions routinely ignore the second:
Differentiation from existing commercialized products. Describe how your solution is substantially different from what is already on the market, not incrementally better.
Expansion of the NIA SBIR and STTR portfolio. Describe how your approach would expand the types of technologies and approaches NIA already funds. NIA points applicants to the NIH RePORTER database to review existing and active NIA SBIR and STTR awards. Doing this research and referencing it directly is one of the cheapest ways to pick up points under the portfolio impact criterion.
Where this Challenge sits in the federal innovation pipeline
NIA positions the Start-Up Challenge as a bridge that prepares participants to pursue other programs, and it names several by way of context: the ACL Caregiver AI Challenge, FDA's READI-Home Innovation Challenge, a2 Collective pilot awards, and the NIA SBIR and STTR programs. Prior cohorts have gone on to raise follow-on venture capital, launch pilot studies, and win SBIR and STTR grants.
Funding allowance: how much money is available and how it can be used
NIA will award up to $994,000 in total cash prizes across two stages, alongside an accelerator program delivered at no cost to participants.
Stage 1: up to 21 finalists at $24,000 each
Up to twenty one Stage 1 finalists are selected from the initial submission pool. Each finalist receives a $24,000 cash prize and a seat in the five month accelerator. The prize is disbursed within three months of the start of the accelerator program, meaning cash typically lands during the summer of 2027.
The Stage 1 prize is intended to support critical early-stage business and product development activities identified during the program. At their discretion, finalists may also use a portion of the funds to cover participation in the two in-person events, including travel expenses.
Stage 2: up to 7 winners at $70,000 each
Up to seven Stage 2 winners are selected from the Stage 1 finalist pool, and each receives an additional $70,000 cash prize. Stage 2 is a closed competition among finalists, so no new applicants enter at this point. A single team that advances through both stages can therefore receive up to $94,000 in total prize money.
How prize money differs from grant funding
Because this is a prize competition rather than an assistance award, the money behaves differently from an SBIR or STTR grant. Points worth planning around:
No line item budget or budget justification is submitted or approved
No indirect cost rate, no fringe calculations, and no cost accounting requirements attach to the prize itself
Prizes may be subject to federal income taxes. HHS and NIH comply with IRS withholding and reporting requirements where applicable, so plan for the tax treatment of the award
Payment is by electronic funds transfer. Participants are encouraged, though not required, to obtain a free Unique Entity ID (UEI) through SAM.gov to expedite payment
No equity, warrants, or repayment obligation. The award is fully non-dilutive
Registration costs for both in-person events are covered by the program, but travel-related costs are paid by the participant
NIH reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Challenge, and to decline to award prizes if no submissions are deemed worthy
What the accelerator program includes
The accelerator is arguably worth more than the Stage 1 cash prize for a first-time founder. It runs for approximately five months from June 2027 through November 2027 and is delivered at no cost to finalists.
Weekly virtual education sessions led by industry experts
One-to-one mentorship from experienced founders and investors
Guidance on the NIH SBIR and STTR application process, requirements, and resources
Business and regulatory guidance at no cost to the finalist
In-depth pitch coaching
A three-day entrepreneur bootcamp in June 2027, in person
A three-day health innovation and investment conference in November 2027, in person
Virtual and in-person networking with key industry partners
Time commitment
Finalists should expect to commit 6 to 8 hours per week for approximately five months, covering virtual education sessions, mentor meetings, and the two in-person events. This is a real operational load. Teams should decide in advance who will carry it.
Stage 1 learning objectives
By the end of the accelerator, participants should be able to:
Assess the target market opportunity for the problem they have identified
Develop a value proposition that solves an identified unmet need
Create a scalable go-to-market strategy
Evaluate applicable intellectual property, regulatory, and reimbursement pathways
Generate basic pro forma financial projections and understand the principles of valuation
Determine the legal and governance structure best suited to their venture
Prepare and deliver a compelling 2 minute elevator pitch and 7 minute pitch presentation
Understand the NIA SBIR and STTR grant application process, requirements, and resources
2027 NIA Start-Up Challenge timeline and key dates
September 1, 2026: Challenge launched
December 1, 2026: Registration and submission portal opens
December 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET: Informational webinar, registration required
January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET: Submission deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted
By May 2027: All submissions that reach technical review receive a brief summary of reviewer feedback
May 2027: Stage 1 finalists announced
June 2027: Accelerator begins, three-day in-person entrepreneur bootcamp
June to November 2027: Stage 1 accelerator program, 6 to 8 hours per week
By November 1, 2027: Stage 2 deadline to form an SBIR or STTR eligible company and meet with an NIH program officer
November 2027: Three-day health innovation and investment conference, plus final Stage 2 submission and pitch due
January 2028: Stage 2 winners announced
Practical planning note: the full arc from submission to Stage 2 award runs roughly thirteen months. Founders should treat the December 2026 to January 2027 window as the only entry point for this cycle.
Eligibility rules: who can win a prize
To be eligible to win a prize, a participant, whether an individual, a group of individuals, or an entity, must satisfy all of the following.
Registered to participate under the rules published in the official Challenge announcement, and complied with all requirements set forth in it
May not be the principal investigator on an NIH SBIR or STTR award that is active as of the submission period end date
May not have been a finalist in a previous version of the NIA Start-Up Challenge
Private entities must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States
Individuals, whether competing alone or in a group, must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents may participate as team members on an otherwise eligible team, but are not eligible to win a monetary prize in whole or in part. Their participation on a winning team may be recognized when results are announced
May not be a federal entity or a federal employee acting within the scope of employment
May not be an HHS employee, from any HHS component, acting in a personal capacity
Employees of federal agencies other than HHS should consult an agency ethics official to determine whether federal ethics rules limit or prohibit accepting a prize
May not be a Challenge judge, or any other party involved in the design, production, execution, or distribution of the Challenge, or an immediate family member of such a party, meaning spouse, parent, step-parent, child, or step-child
Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission
Participation rules and federal funding restrictions
The small business formation commitment
By participating, each individual, group, or entity certifies that they have either already formed a U.S. owned and operated small business, or intend to form one by November 1, 2027, that meets the eligibility requirements to apply for NIH SBIR and STTR funding. You do not need an incorporated company at the time of submission, but you are committing to stand one up on that timeline.
Use of federal funds
Participants may not use federal grant or cooperative agreement funds to develop a submission or to fund efforts supporting a submission unless that use is consistent with the purpose, terms, and conditions of the award
Participants intending to use federal grant or cooperative agreement funds must register and participate as an Entity on behalf of the awardee institution or organization, not as an individual
If federal grant or cooperative agreement funds are used and the participant wins, the prize must be treated as program income under the original award in accordance with 2 CFR 200
Federal contractors may not use federal contract funds to develop a submission or fund supporting efforts
Using federal facilities or consulting federal employees does not make a participant ineligible, provided those facilities and employees are available to all participants on an equitable basis
Risk, insurance, and compliance
Participants assume all risks and waive claims against the federal government and related entities, except in cases of willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits arising from participation
No liability insurance, demonstration of financial responsibility, or indemnification agreement is required to participate in this Challenge
Participants must follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies
Participation constitutes full and unconditional agreement to abide by the Challenge rules, and winning is contingent on fulfilling all requirements
Finalists and winners must complete and submit all requested winner verification and payment documents within 3 business days of formal notification. Missing that window can disqualify an otherwise winning submission
How to enter the 2027 NIA Start-Up Challenge
The registration and submission link opens December 1, 2026 on the official NIH Challenges page for this competition. Plan to register and submit by 11:59 p.m. ET on January 15, 2027.
Confidentiality warning
Do not include any confidential or proprietary information in your submission materials. By submitting, you agree to allow NIA to publish all or parts of your submission materials on nia.nih.gov. This has real consequences for intellectual property strategy. File provisionals before you describe protectable subject matter, and write the submission to be publishable.
For teams
Each team must identify a Team Lead who registers and submits on behalf of the team. The Team Lead manages all communication with Challenge sponsors and, if a cash prize is won, receives the full amount of the prize. The Team Lead must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible to receive a cash prize. If a dispute over the Team Lead's identity cannot be resolved to NIH's satisfaction, the submission is considered ineligible. Teams should settle internal allocation of prize funds in writing before submitting.
For entities
Each entity must identify a Point of Contact who registers and submits on its behalf and handles all communications. If a prize is won, payment goes to the entity, not to the Point of Contact. The entity must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States. Submitters intending to use federal grant or cooperative agreement funds must participate as an Entity on behalf of the awardee institution or organization.
Submission requirements
Multiple submissions are allowed, but only one submission from each individual, team, or entity will be selected for participation as a finalist
Late submissions will not be accepted
How submissions are scored
The four step review process
Eligibility and programmatic review. NIA program staff review every submission for eligibility and programmatic relevance, conduct a preliminary evaluation, and assign an initial score. Only submissions with a competitive preliminary score advance
Technical review. Submissions are individually evaluated and scored by reviewers with expertise in aging research, life science entrepreneurship and investment, business development, and product development, drawn from federal government, academia, industry, and other sectors
Final evaluation by federal judges. A panel of federal employees reviews the submissions and technical evaluations, assigns a final score, and recommends top-performing teams for a screening call with NIA Challenge staff
Screening and finalist selection. After screening calls, NIA Challenge staff recommend up to 21 finalists for approval by the Award Approving Official
Stage 1 evaluation criteria, 100 points total
Significance, 0 to 15 points. How strong is the product's potential to address a significant unmet need in the older adult population, and to what extent does the scientific premise support the merits of the idea
Innovation, 0 to 15 points. How novel is the idea, and what is the potential competitive advantage or the potential to refine the product to improve that advantage
Commercialization, 0 to 10 points. How effectively is commercial potential explained, is there a clearly defined market, and does the business strategy have high potential for success
Submitter or team, 0 to 10 points. Level of demonstrated commitment and collaboration, and relevant expertise each person brings
Challenge Impact on the Submitter, 0 to 25 points. Does the submitter describe a scientific, technical, professional, or personal background, such as lack of access to resources and networks, that demonstrates a need for the training and resources the Challenge provides, and how they will significantly benefit at their stage of product development
Challenge Impact on NIA Research and Development, 0 to 25 points. To what extent will participation enhance the impact and reach of NIA-funded small business research and development
The portfolio impact criterion, and how to earn it
For the 25 point Challenge Impact on NIA Research and Development criterion, submissions are evaluated on their potential to achieve at least two of the following:
The submission addresses an underfunded area relevant to NIA small business research priorities. Active NIA SBIR and STTR awards can be reviewed in NIH RePORTER
The product addresses a unique challenge or unmet need for older adults
The individual or team brings relevant background, experience, or perspectives that would broaden and strengthen aging-related research and development
On that third point, NIA states that the race, ethnicity, or sex of the submitter may not be considered as part of any evaluation criteria. Permissible considerations named in the announcement include experience as a caregiver for older adults, including individuals with Alzheimer's disease or AD-related dementias; training or research experience that offers a complementary or innovative perspective; and lived experiences involving challenges or barriers that inform a unique approach to aging-related research and innovation.
Stage 2 requirements for finalists
To compete for the $70,000 Stage 2 prize, finalists must meet all of the following by the established deadlines:
Form a company eligible to apply for an NIH SBIR or STTR grant, and meet with an NIH program officer to discuss the aims and objectives of a potential proposal, by November 1, 2027
Successfully complete a comprehensive entrepreneurship training program and demonstrate proficiency in presenting the business concept to a wide public audience, including prospective partners and investors. Finalists are strongly encouraged to attend the in-person bootcamp and conference, but may propose an alternative comparable program with prior approval
Submit a one-page document outlining the potential prize impact on advancing the business and innovation and on furthering the NIA mission
Submit a 7-minute pitch video addressing the product's potential and the strength of the team
Stage 2 evaluation criteria, 100 points total
The Stage 2 panel is composed of NIA program staff, and it evaluates the one-page document, the 7 minute pitch, and a mentor assessment that offers an expert view on the anticipated impact of the prize based on the mentor's technical expertise and experience advising the finalist.
Mentor assessment and one-page document, 45 points:
Prize Impact on Innovation Advancement, 0 to 30 points. Is there a clear, strong plan for how prize funds will play a critical role in accelerating development, through means including expanding the team, collecting pilot data, securing customers, and raising funds
Prize Impact on NIA Research and Development, 0 to 15 points. Do the materials describe in detail at least one of the portfolio impact factors listed above
7-minute pitch video, 55 points:
Significance, 0 to 15 points
Innovation, 0 to 15 points
Commercialization, 0 to 10 points, including strength of value proposition and clarity of the defined market
Submitter or team, 0 to 10 points, including whether significant expertise gaps exist and how strong the plan is to fill them
Pitch Delivery, 0 to 5 points, covering clarity of verbal delivery and visual slides
How to build a competitive submission
The scoring rubric rewards a specific kind of narrative. Based on how the criteria are weighted, the highest-leverage moves are:
Lead with the unmet need in the older adult population, not the technology. Significance is scored on the need first and the scientific premise second
Do the NIH RePORTER homework and cite it. Two separate criteria, one in each stage, reward showing that your approach sits in an underfunded area of the NIA SBIR and STTR portfolio. Very few applicants actually run this analysis
Make the need for the Challenge explicit and specific. Twenty five points hinge on it. Name the gaps: no commercialization experience, no investor network, no regulatory or reimbursement expertise, no capital for pilot data. Vagueness is expensive here
Tie AI claims to one of NIA's four named AI functions. Early detection, risk prediction, personalized interventions, or rapid drug discovery and development
Address accessibility and population reach directly. Show that the solution works across the biological, social, behavioral, economic, environmental, and regional variation in the aging population
Answer the differentiation question twice. Once against commercialized products, once against the existing NIA SBIR and STTR portfolio
Write for publication. Since NIA may publish submission materials and confidential information is prohibited, sequence your IP filings before you submit
Plan the operational load. Name who on the team will carry 6 to 8 hours per week from June through November 2027, and budget for travel to two three-day in-person events
How this fits a broader non-dilutive funding strategy
The Start-Up Challenge is best understood as an on-ramp rather than a destination. The $24,000 Stage 1 prize is real money for pilot data and formation costs, but the durable value is the SBIR and STTR readiness the accelerator builds and the Stage 2 requirement that you form an eligible company and meet with an NIH program officer by November 1, 2027. That program officer conversation is a standard precursor to a competitive NIH SBIR or STTR submission.
Two important caveats. First, NIA is explicit that Challenge participation or selection as a winner has no impact on grant funding decisions by NIA or any other NIH component. All grant applications remain subject to competition, peer review, and all other application and award requirements. Second, grant application technical assistance is not exclusive to Challenge participants. NIH resources are available to any entrepreneur through the NIH SEED program.
For teams that are already SBIR-ready, or whose PI holds an active NIH SBIR or STTR award and is therefore ineligible, the better path is to go directly at the NIA SBIR and STTR omnibus solicitations rather than at this Challenge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NIA Start-Up Challenge a grant?
No. It is a prize competition authorized under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended (15 U.S.C. 3719). There is no budget justification, no indirect cost rate, and no cost accounting requirement attached to the prize. Prize funds may be subject to federal income taxes, unlike most grant funds.
How much money can a startup win?
A single team can win up to $94,000, consisting of a $24,000 Stage 1 finalist prize and a $70,000 Stage 2 winner prize. NIA will award up to $994,000 in total across up to 21 finalists and up to 7 winners.
Does NIA take equity in exchange for the prize?
No. The prize money is fully non-dilutive. There is no equity, warrant, revenue share, or repayment obligation.
Do I need to have a company formed before I apply?
No. You may apply as an individual, a team, or an entity. By participating you certify that you have already formed a U.S. owned and operated small business or intend to form one by November 1, 2027 that meets NIH SBIR and STTR eligibility requirements.
Can I apply if I already have an NIH SBIR or STTR award?
Not if you are the principal investigator on an NIH SBIR or STTR award that is active as of the submission period end date of January 15, 2027. That is a hard eligibility bar.
Can previous NIA Start-Up Challenge finalists reapply?
No. Anyone who was a finalist in a previous version of the NIA Start-Up Challenge is not eligible to win a prize in this cycle.
Can international founders and non-U.S. citizens participate?
Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents can participate as members of a team that otherwise meets eligibility requirements, and their participation on a winning team may be recognized publicly. They are not eligible to win a monetary prize in whole or in part. Individual participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and participating entities must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States.
When does the submission window open and close?
The submission portal opens December 1, 2026 and closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on January 15, 2027. Late submissions will not be accepted. An informational webinar is scheduled for December 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
How many submissions can I make?
Multiple submissions are allowed, but only one submission from each individual, team, or entity will be selected for participation as a finalist.
How much time does the accelerator require?
Participants should expect to commit 6 to 8 hours per week for approximately five months, from June through November 2027. That includes weekly virtual education sessions, mentor meetings, and two three-day in-person events.
Are travel costs to the in-person events covered?
Registration costs for both in-person events are covered by the program, but travel-related costs are paid by the participant. Finalists may use a portion of the $24,000 Stage 1 prize to cover travel.
Do I have to attend the in-person events?
Finalists are strongly encouraged to attend the June 2027 entrepreneur bootcamp and the November 2027 health innovation and investment conference. Finalists may propose an alternative, comparable training program or conference for prior approval.
Can I use federal grant funds to prepare my submission?
Only if that use is consistent with the purpose, terms, and conditions of the grant or cooperative agreement. If you do, you must register and participate as an Entity on behalf of the awardee institution, and any prize won must be treated as program income under the original award in accordance with 2 CFR 200. Federal contractors may not use federal contract funds for this purpose.
Does winning improve my chances of receiving an NIH SBIR or STTR award?
No. NIA states that Challenge participation or selection as a winner has no impact on funding decisions by NIA or any other NIH component. All grant applications remain subject to competition, peer review, and standard award requirements. Grant application technical assistance is also available to any entrepreneur through NIH SEED, not only to Challenge participants.
Is the prize money taxable?
Prizes awarded under this Challenge may be subject to federal income taxes. HHS and NIH comply with IRS withholding and reporting requirements where applicable. Prizes are paid by electronic funds transfer, and participants are encouraged though not required to obtain a free Unique Entity ID through SAM.gov to expedite payment.
What happens if I am not selected as a finalist?
All submissions that reach the technical review step will receive a brief summary of reviewer feedback by May 2027. That feedback is useful input for a future SBIR or STTR application.
Can I include confidential or proprietary information in my submission?
No. Confidential and proprietary information must be excluded. By submitting, you agree to allow NIA to publish all or parts of your submission materials on nia.nih.gov, so intellectual property filings should be sequenced before submission.
Who receives the prize money for a team submission?
For teams, the Team Lead receives the full amount of the prize and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. For entities, the prize is paid directly to the entity rather than to the Point of Contact. Teams should document internal allocation of any prize funds in writing before submitting.
Official resources and next steps
Challenge page: nih.gov/challenges/2027-nia-start-challenge-accelerator
NIA program page: nia.nih.gov/research/sbir/start-challenge
Challenge team email: niastartupchallenge@nih.gov
Portfolio research: NIH RePORTER, to identify active NIA SBIR and STTR awards and underfunded areas
Entity registration: sam.gov, to obtain a free Unique Entity ID
If you are weighing this Challenge against a direct NIA SBIR or STTR submission, or you want help building the portfolio gap analysis and need narrative that the scoring rubric rewards most heavily, reach out to our team. We help deep-tech, biotech, and medtech founders win non-dilutive federal funding, and we can tell you quickly whether this Challenge is the right entry point for your company or a detour.
