US for-profit small business ( 50% owned by US citizens or permanent residents (or by other SBCs); PI primarily employed by the company; R&D performed in the US. STTR requires a US nonprofit research-institution partner.

What burden and restrictions apply?

Phase awards require technical and financial reports, commercialization milestones, US performance and invention reporting. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.

NSF SBIR/STTR — America's Seed Fund

Phase I up to USD 305,000; Phase II up to USD 1.25 million, with later supplements and commercialization support possible. · National Science Foundation (NSF) · deadline 2026-11-04

The National Science Foundation's SBIR/STTR program ('America's Seed Fund') invests up to ~$2M of non-dilutive funding in deep-tech startups across any technology area with commercial and societal impact. Unique 'Project Pitch' front door screens fit before you write a full proposal. Current lifecycle: open; next verified deadline 2026-11-04. Real economics: Phase I up to USD 305,000; Phase II up to USD 1.25 million, with later supplements and commercialization support possible..

Tier 1 · ranked #3sbirsttrnon-dilutivedeep-tech

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	National Science Foundation (NSF)
Amount	Phase I up to USD 305,000; Phase II up to USD 1.25 million, with later supplements and commercialization support possible.
Deadline	2026-11-04
Decision time	Project Pitch response normally takes 1-2 months; invited full proposal decisions are typically 5-7 months after the deadline.
Eligibility	US for-profit small business (<500 employees), >50% owned by US citizens or permanent residents (or by other SBCs); PI primarily employed by the company; R&D performed in the US. STTR requires a US nonprofit research-institution partner.
Restrictions	Phase awards require technical and financial reports, commercialization milestones, US performance and invention reporting. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
Status	open

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Register the company in SAM.gov, Research.gov, and the SBA Company Registry
Submit the required Project Pitch covering innovation, technical risk, market, and team
Receive the NSF Project Pitch response, typically in 1–2 months
If invited, prepare and submit the full proposal in Research.gov by a published deadline
External technical/commercial merit review and possible due diligence
Receive the funding decision 5–7 months after the full-proposal deadline

Background

National Science Foundation (NSF) operates NSF SBIR/STTR — America's Seed Fund. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. NSF markets up to about USD 2 million of combined non-dilutive support across phases and supplements. The Project Pitch reduces full-proposal work for projects that do not fit. Award and portfolio examples are public through America's Seed Fund.

How the application really works

Register the company in SAM.gov, Research.gov, and the SBA Company Registry → Submit the required Project Pitch covering innovation, technical risk, market, and team → Receive the NSF Project Pitch response, typically in 1–2 months → If invited, prepare and submit the full proposal in Research.gov by a published deadline → External technical/commercial merit review and possible due diligence → Receive the funding decision 5–7 months after the full-proposal deadline

Tips

Show direct fit with cross-sector deep technology.
Show direct fit with science and engineering innovation.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is open.
Phase awards require technical and financial reports, commercialization milestones, US performance and invention reporting.
Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.

Track record

NSF markets up to about USD 2 million of combined non-dilutive support across phases and supplements.
The Project Pitch reduces full-proposal work for projects that do not fit.
Award and portfolio examples are public through America's Seed Fund.

The reviewed official corpus does not publish a comparable applicant denominator and selection rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: open. Next verified deadline: 2026-11-04.
What is the real economic value?: Phase I up to USD 305,000; Phase II up to USD 1.25 million, with later supplements and commercialization support possible.
Who is eligible?: US for-profit small business (<500 employees), >50% owned by US citizens or permanent residents (or by other SBCs); PI primarily employed by the company; R&D performed in the US. STTR requires a US nonprofit research-institution partner.
How does selection work?: Register the company in SAM.gov, Research.gov, and the SBA Company Registry; Submit the required Project Pitch covering innovation, technical risk, market, and team; Receive the NSF Project Pitch response, typically in 1–2 months; If invited, prepare and submit the full proposal in Research.gov by a published deadline; External technical/commercial merit review and possible due diligence; Receive the funding decision 5–7 months after the full-proposal deadline. Project Pitch response normally takes 1-2 months; invited full proposal decisions are typically 5-7 months after the deadline.
What burden and restrictions apply?: Phase awards require technical and financial reports, commercialization milestones, US performance and invention reporting. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
What evidence exists?: NSF markets up to about USD 2 million of combined non-dilutive support across phases and supplements. The Project Pitch reduces full-proposal work for projects that do not fit. Award and portfolio examples are public through America's Seed Fund. The reviewed official corpus does not publish a comparable applicant denominator and selection rate.

Sources

seedfund.nsf.gov — Official current program economics, public contact and portfolio proposition (checked 2026-08-10)
seedfund.nsf.gov/apply/project-pitch — Official required Project Pitch and eligibility screen (checked 2026-08-10)
seedfund.nsf.gov/apply/full-proposal — Official full-proposal deadline, materials and review timing (checked 2026-08-10)