NASA SBIR Ignite

NASA SBIR Ignite Phase I

Funds U.S. small businesses and startups new to NASA in early-stage, high-risk technology development through awards of up to $150,000.

NASA SBIR Ignite Phase I is a grant administered by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) under the broader Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. It is a dedicated initiative within NASA SBIR that targets early-stage, high-risk technology development by U.S. small businesses and startups — particularly those that have not previously worked with NASA. Phase I awards cover up to $150,000 per company. The program does not disclose total pool size or the number of awards per cycle in advance; the 2025 cohort resulted in 15 awards announced on April 14, 2026.

Unlike traditional NASA SBIR, the Ignite track is oriented toward entrepreneurs and product-focused startups who need early-stage non-dilutive capital to develop commercialization-ready technologies. The grant is non-dilutive; NASA takes no equity. No cost-share requirement is stated for Phase I. Period of performance is not published on the program page.

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based for-profit small businesses. The program is explicitly described as targeting small businesses that have not worked with NASA before, making it an accessible entry point into the NASA SBIR ecosystem. Individual applicants and non-profit or academic entities are not eligible under the SBIR rules. Technologies must respond to published NASA topic areas.

Application is through the NASA SBIR/STTR solicitation process. The 2025 solicitation is now closed. As of June 2026, no open solicitation or future deadline has been published for the next cycle. Applicants should monitor the NASA SBIR/STTR portal at sbir.nasa.gov for the next annual solicitation. Scoring criteria are not published in detail on the program page.

Key caveats: this program is annual but NASA has not confirmed a fixed annual cadence or published a 2026 solicitation as of the verification date. The program page primarily announces 2025 selectees and describes the initiative — it does not contain an open call. Founders should verify the current solicitation status before applying.