NEI SBIR Phase I — Feasibility
Supports United States. small businesses testing vision concepts through feasibility-focused grants.
The NEI SBIR Phase I program provides proof-of-concept funding to US small businesses developing innovative vision-related technologies with commercial potential. The National Eye Institute funds research across ten extramural program areas: retina (including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa), cornea, lens and cataract, glaucoma and optic neuropathie…
Vision-related R&D: retina, glaucoma, cornea, lens, low vision, amblyopia/strabismus, and related ocular/visual technologies with commercial potential.
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 the timeline
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.
DocumentsNIH Biosketch Guide: Format, SciENcv Steps, and Examples
Learn what an NIH biosketch is, how the format works, what to prepare for SciENcv, and how startup teams should avoid common biosketch mistakes.
Write proposalHow to Write a Specific Aims Page
Learn how to write a specific aims page for NIH, SBIR-adjacent, and translational R&D grants, with structure, reviewer logic, examples, and common mistakes.
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.
More from NEI
All grants from this funder →NEI SBIR Phase II — R&D
🇺🇸NEI · United States
Supports United States. small businesses scaling vision concepts into full development pathways.
NEI STTR Phase I — Feasibility
🇺🇸NEI · United States
Funds small business and research-partner teams on feasibility vision tools for future commercialization.
NEI STTR Phase II — R&D
🇺🇸NEI · United States
Funds collaborative small-business partnerships to mature vision innovation into market-ready healthcare technologies.
NEI R01 Research Project Grant
🇺🇸NEI · United States
Funds investigator-led basic and clinical vision science at research institutions across the United States.
NIH Data Sharing Index (S-index) Challenge
🇺🇸NEI · United States
Pays up to $500,000 from a $1 million pool for a new data-sharing measurement tool.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →
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.
NCATS SBIR Phase I
🇺🇸NCATS · United States
Supports small businesses testing translational science tools and technologies through early feasibility and commercialization groundwork.
NIH SBIR Phase I (Omnibus)
🇺🇸NIH · United States
Funds United States small businesses advancing biomedical and behavioral-health innovations through early technical validation.
NSF STTR Phase I
🇺🇸NSF · United States
Funds United States deep-tech startups partnering with nonprofit research institutions for early-stage feasibility studies.
NCATS STTR Phase I
🇺🇸NCATS · United States
Funds U.S. small businesses and their nonprofit research partners to conduct feasibility studies on translational science innovations toward commercialization.