NASA SBIR Ignite

NASA SBIR Ignite is the commercialization track inside NASA's SBIR portfolio, aimed at early-stage startups and first-time NASA applicants. It keeps the same agency home and award ceiling as standard SBIR, but it is designed to make entry lighter and the path to market more explicit. The 2025 Ignite cycle selected 15 small businesses, each receiving up to US$150,000. Standard SBIR ceilings still apply to the track, with Phase I up to US$225,000 and Phase II up to US$1.275 million. The current Ignite opportunity remains between cycles, with the next appendix expected under the PY2026 BAA. Ignite suits founders who want tighter coaching, faster cadence, and clearer commercialization support rather than a heavy research narrative. NASA pairs the track with catalyst events, Ask Me Anything sessions, and coaching, so teams that can communicate product value and move quickly through an appendix-based process tend to benefit most. The focus in the last cycle on AI, robotics, and radar shows how directly the track favors mission-relevant technologies.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.