AFWERX SBIR/STTR funding
0%; US government R&D contract · US small businesses · Needs confirmation
AFWERX is the Department of the Air Force's dual-use SBIR/STTR funding pathway rather than a conventional accelerator. The current DOW SBIR/STTR Specific Topic 26.BX Release 4 closes August 18, 2026; award values vary by topic and phase, and AFWERX reports more than 9,000 contracts and $7.31 billion awarded since 2020.
Tier 3defensegovnon-dilutive
Official siteOpen in the live directory
Program intake
The source mentions application timing, but the current cycle or year is not clear enough to publish.
Key facts
| Check size | Contract amount varies by topic and phase |
| Terms | 0%; US government R&D contract |
| Stage | dual-use R&D / commercialization |
| Applications | Needs confirmation |
| Location | US small businesses |
| Remote friendly | Yes |
| Warm intro needed | No — open application |
| Sectors | defense, deep-tech |
| Status | unknown |
Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.
Background
The route can deliver highly valuable non-dilutive R&D and commercialization contracts, but proposal, security, ownership, accounting, and government-customer requirements are materially different from an accelerator application.
How the application really works
Identify a live topic, confirm SBIR/STTR eligibility, register in the required federal systems, and submit a compliant proposal before the solicitation deadline.
Tips
- Read the cited current official page before applying because program dates and terms are volatile.
- State fit with the documented stage, geography, and attendance model; do not rely on an aggregator's old terms.
- Ask for the complete investment, fee, and follow-on documents when the public page does not publish them.
Watch out for
- Non-dilutive government contract; amount, period, deliverables, IP/data rights, cost rules, and matching requirements vary by phase and topic.
- Eligibility is limited to qualifying US for-profit small businesses with no more than 500 employees and required US ownership/control.
Track record
- AFWERX reports 9,000+ SBIR/STTR contracts and $7.31B awarded since 2020.
Topic-level proposal and award counts vary and no single program acceptance rate applies.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this program currently accepting applications?
- Identify a live topic, confirm SBIR/STTR eligibility, register in the required federal systems, and submit a compliant proposal before the solicitation deadline.
- What are the current economics?
- Non-dilutive government contract; amount, period, deliverables, IP/data rights, cost rules, and matching requirements vary by phase and topic.
- How large and long is the program?
- Thousands of contracts across multiple solicitations; no accelerator cohort size. Topic-based federal R&D contracting and transition support.
- Can founders participate remotely?
- US company route; performance location and security requirements are topic-specific.
- What happens after the program?
- Later SBIR/STTR phases and transition contracts may follow, but none are automatic.
Related accelerators
Sources
- afwerx.com/get-funded — Current solicitation deadline, SBIR/STTR eligibility, non-dilutive contract model, historical contract count, and dollars awarded (checked 2026-08-10)