NIH Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs

The NIH Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs sits under NIH SEED, the National Institutes of Health office for Small Business Education and Entrepreneurial Development. It is a federal small-business route for first-time entrepreneurial principal investigators who have research or technology skills but limited independent leadership experience, and it is built to move them into Phase I and Fast-Track SBIR/STTR work under a new entrepreneur's direction. The record sets the maximum award at $323,090 and makes the eligibility rules explicit: PDs/PIs must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, must never have served as an independent PD/PI on a major research grant, and must bring mentor support for both technical-commercial guidance and career development. NIH posts future NOFOs through Grants.gov and uses recurring due dates on September 5, January 5, and April 5, with the next business day used when a date falls on a weekend or federal holiday. The program is strongest for founders who can pair scientific credibility with a concrete commercialization plan and a mentor structure that is more than ceremonial. NIH also says it encourages applicants who bring unique or underrepresented perspectives into biomedical innovation, so the best fit is a team that can show both readiness for company-led R&D and the discipline to operate within a small-business framework.

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