xTech | Kinetic Reach
Pays up to $1.5 million across a field of cash prizes, including up to $150,000 each to five final winners, to small and large businesses that pitch agile military-sustainment technology to the U.S. Army.
The competition runs in four phases. Phase 1 white-paper submissions narrow the field to up to 15 finalists, who move to a Phase 2 live Soldier exercise where up to 5 winners each receive $150,000. Only finalists and winners that qualify as a U.S. small business get a Phase 3 chance to submit a Direct-to-Phase-II SBIR proposal worth up to $2,000,000 and capped at 18 months, with up to 15 selectees…
The Army wants ready-to-field defense technology in one of five capability areas: autonomous container handling and movement, future power generation, autonomous refueling and recharging for drones and ground robots, uncrewed aerial payload transportation, and automated ground vehicle recovery. Submitted technology must already be at Technology Readiness Level 6 or higher and able to be fielded within 180 days of a contract award.
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Guides for this application
All guides →Grants 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.
DocumentsGrant Pitch Deck Example: Slides, Storyline, and Video Script
See a grant pitch deck example with slide outline, EIC-style pitch logic, demo-video script, and grant-vs-investor deck differences.
Submit & reportSAM.gov Registration and UEI Guide for Federal Grant Applicants
Learn how SAM.gov registration, UEI numbers, Grants.gov accounts, organization profiles, workspace roles, and renewal timing fit together.
BudgetIndirect Costs in Grants: Rates, MTDC, and Examples
Understand indirect costs in grants, including direct vs indirect costs, negotiated rates, de minimis rates, MTDC, funder caps, and budget narrative implications.
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