DARPA SBIR Phase I
Funds United States small businesses validating high-risk defense science concepts for practical technical development.
DARPA SBIR Phase I is a competitive feasibility-stage award administered by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under the DoD-wide Small Business Innovation Research program. DARPA participates in the Department of Defense's monthly BAA release cycle, with topics published on the first Wednesday of each month through the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) at dodsbirsttr.mil. Topi…
DARPA program manager priorities across Aerospace, Biological Technologies, Defense Sciences, Information Innovation, Microsystems Technology, Strategic Technology, and Tactical Technology offices. Topics are released the first Wednesday of each month.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see how they score you
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →SBIR/STTR Grants for Deeptech Startups
A practical guide to SBIR and STTR grants for deeptech startups, including agency fit, Phase I and II logic, eligibility, budgets, and review criteria.
Where to applyGrants for Biotech Startups: NIH, NSF, SBIR/STTR, and Non-Dilutive Funding
A practical guide to grants for biotech startups, including NIH SBIR/STTR, NSF, translational funding, evidence, regulatory readiness, and budgets.
Where to applyGrants for Robotics Startups: SBIR, Defense, NSF, and Pilot Funding
A practical guide to grants for robotics startups, including SBIR/STTR, NSF, DoD, NASA, field validation, TRL, pilot evidence, budgets, and commercialization strategy.
Start hereTRL Levels Explained for Deeptech Founders
Learn what TRL levels mean, how to estimate technology readiness, and how TRL affects grants, EIC Accelerator, SBIR/STTR, funding stage, and application evidence.
More from DARPA
All grants from this funder →DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI)
🇺🇸DARPA · United States
Funds United States quantum technology research aiming for scalable, error-corrected computing breakthroughs.
TTO Office Wide (OW) BAA 2025
🇺🇸DARPA · United States
Funds hardware and platform proposals across DARPA's Tactical Technology Office, covering four focus areas from rapid builds to disruptive concepts.
Information Processing Techniques Office Office-Wide
🇺🇸DARPA · United States
Funds ideas that do not fit any of DARPA's current information-processing programs or other open calls.
DARPA SBIR Phase II
🇺🇸DARPA · United States
Supports United States defense innovators building on validated concepts into advanced prototypes and field testing.
DARPA DSO Disruptioneering
🇺🇸DARPA · United States
Supports rapid United States exploratory defense research through fast-distributed projects and compact delivery agreements.
DARPA ERIS (Expedited Research Implementation Series)
🇺🇸DARPA · United States
Backs research teams and institutions for DARPA ERIS in defense innovation, biotechnology, and medical technology.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →
Army SBIR Phase I
🇺🇸Army · United States
Funds United States Army-focused small businesses demonstrating technology feasibility for soldier and mobility needs.
Navy SBIR Phase I
🇺🇸Navy · United States
Funds United States naval small-business ideas for ship, aviation, undersea, and autonomy-related feasibility studies.
Air Force SBIR Phase I
🇺🇸Air Force · United States
Funds United States Air Force and Space Force aligned small-business concepts in early defense feasibility work.
Army SBIR Phase II
🇺🇸Army · United States
Supports United States Army-aligned innovators advancing validated technologies toward deployable military-ready systems.
NSF SBIR Phase I
🇺🇸NSF · United States
Funds United States deep-tech startups demonstrating scientific feasibility of novel science and engineering innovations.
NIH SBIR Phase I
🇺🇸NIH SEED · United States
Funds early stage United States biomedical teams through NIH seed support for feasibility work on prototype ready ideas.