NSF STTR Phase I
Funds United States deep-tech startups partnering with nonprofit research institutions for early-stage feasibility studies.
NSF STTR Phase I is the National Science Foundation's small-business technology-transfer feasibility grant, issued under the same America's Seed Fund umbrella as NSF SBIR Phase I and carrying the same $305,000 award cap, 6–18-month performance period, and zero-equity, zero-IP-rights structure. The annual STTR Phase I pool is approximately $25 million. The defining difference from SBIR is a mandato…
Same deep-tech scope as NSF SBIR Phase I — AI, semiconductors, robotics, quantum, energy, advanced materials, biological technologies, biomedical devices, photonics, environmental tech, manufacturing — but the project must be a substantive collaboration between a small business and a non-profit US research institution (typically a university).
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Guides for this application
All guides →NSF Seed Fund for Startups: How Deeptech Founders Should Approach NSF SBIR/STTR
A founder-focused guide to NSF America's Seed Fund, including NSF SBIR/STTR fit, Project Pitch strategy, merit review, eligibility, budgets, and commercialization logic.
Where to applySBIR/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.
DocumentsNSF Biosketch Guide: SciENcv, Format, and Examples
Learn how the NSF biosketch works, what SciENcv is used for, how it differs from current and pending support, and what startup teams should prepare.
DocumentsNSF Data Management Plan Example and Writing Guide
Learn how to write an NSF data management plan, what the plan should include, how it differs from NIH data sharing plans, and how startup applicants should handle data.
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