SBIR/STTR Matching Fund

SBIR/STTR Matching Fund

Funds Tennessee small businesses with matching resources to strengthen federally supported innovation projects.

Eligibility · United States · US-TN

Launch Tennessee's SBIR/STTR Matching Fund provides state-funded matching grants to pre-IPO startups headquartered in Tennessee that hold a federal SBIR or STTR award. The program is funded through a state grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) and administered by Launch Tennessee, a public-private partnership based at 601 Taylor Place, Nashville. For FY26, eligible companies needed a federal SBIR or STTR Notice of Award dated between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. The state match is calculated at up to 50 percent of the federal award, capped at $100,000 for Phase I federal awards and $300,000 for Phase II federal awards. Awards are distributed in two tranches.

Eligibility requires the company to be pre-IPO with fewer than 500 employees and headquartered in Tennessee at the time of application. The company must commit to maintaining Tennessee headquarters for 24 months following the award. Publicly traded companies are ineligible. Priority industries include life sciences, advanced energy, agriculture, and mobility. The FY26 application window is now closed. The annual cycle aligns with the Tennessee state fiscal year running July 1 through June 30, and a FY27 interest form is open for companies currently pursuing federal SBIR or STTR awards.

Companies preparing for the FY27 cycle should register interest through Launch Tennessee's website and ensure their federal Notice of Award will fall within the FY27 state fiscal year window (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). Applications require evidence of the federal award, a commercialization plan, and confirmation of Tennessee headquarters status. Launch Tennessee can be reached at info@launchtn.org or 615-991-2809.