NSF SBIR Phase I

NSF SBIR Phase I sits under the National Science Foundation's Seed Fund and turns early deep-tech ideas into testable business propositions. NSF was established in 1950 and supports basic and applied research across most fields outside the medical sciences, with a mission to promote the progress of science and advance national health, prosperity, and welfare. Its broader grantmaking reaches roughly 11,000 competitive awards a year, so the small-business program sits inside a large research agency with a strong commercialization arm. The Phase I award range runs from $150,000 to $305,000, with a median actual award of $275,000. Applicants must be U.S.-incorporated for-profit small businesses, at least 51 percent U.S.-owned, working at TRL 2 to 4 in a deep-tech field. The program is rolling, requires a Project Pitch before full submission, and does not allow multiple Phase I applications from the same company at once. NSF's version of SBIR suits companies that can translate technical novelty into a credible product and market story without leaning on medical-science claims. Strong applicants keep the scope disciplined, show why the technical risk is real, and use the pitch stage to earn a place in review. Awardees can also move into NSF I-Corps, which gives the program a clearer commercialization arc than a one-off grant.

No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Rolling.