The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are federal programs that provide non-dilutive seed funding to startup companies for early-stage product development. Both programs have three phases, with funding available to startups in Phases I and II.
Each year, eleven Federal agencies, including NSF, NASA, and DoD, allocate 3% of their budget, through SBIR/STTR, to fund research activities that address a specific need of each agency. The SBIR/STTR programs are highly competitive and the application and proposal writing process can be daunting. Hiring a SBIR/STTR consultant can help you both navigate the proposal process and help you write and apply to the right agency.
The SBIR/STTR Assistance Program is NYSTAR funded and helps eligible companies, based in New York State, hire a qualified SBIR/STTR consultant to help them develop a proposal. This program is administered by Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement. The SBIR/STTR Assistance Program provides matching funding (usually 1:1), so awarded companies can hire a qualified SBIR/STTR consultant.
Funded Startups
Through the SBIR/STTR Assistance Program, these companies were provided funding to hire a consultant to aid them in navigating the SBIR/STTR application process.
Soctera
$256,000 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
OWiC Technologies
$999,885 SBIR Phase II
National Science Foundation
Med Dimensions
$254,580 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Intermix Performance Materials
$199,737 SBIR Phase I
$1,137,541 SBIR Phase II
US Department of Energy
Inso Biosciences
$250,894 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Heat Inverse
$1M SBIR Phase II
National Science Foundation
HairDays
$276,000 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
First Water Technology
$255,849 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Ezra Bio
$256,000 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Exostellar
$1.1M SBIR Phase II
US Department of Energy
Dynamic Locomotion
$248,418 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Assistance in Motion
$256,000 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Advanced Growing Resources
$255,786 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Antithesis Foods
$998,717 SBIR Phase II
National Science Foundation
Geminatio
$275,000 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
REEgen
$275,000 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
ORama AI (BrailleWear)
$247,999 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Zealous Research LLC
$275,000 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Carbon to Stone
$256,500 STTR Phase I
Department of Energy
Ecolectro
$200,000 SBIR Phase I
Department of Energy
Rivalia Chemical Co.
$275,000 SBIR Phase I
National Science Foundation
Company Spotlights
REEgen
REEgen is engineering bacteria to extract rare earth metals from domestic materials with less environmental damage.
In July 2023, REEgen received a $275,000 SBIR Phase I award from the National Science Foundation to develop a biological system that focuses on discovering the genetic variables that contribute to bacteria’s efficiency for extracting rare earth elements (REE). The long-term implications of this project will replace the most environmentally detrimental methods of producing rare earth elements with a biology-driven system that uses microorganisms that allow for a much cleaner and customizable extraction process.
Carbon to Stone
Carbon to Stone is using a novel single-step, low-temperature process to capture and convert CO2 into valuable construction materials.
Carbon to Stone received a $250,000 award for an STTR Phase I project that uses a thermodynamically downhill process for carbon mineralization. The funding will be used for Carbon to Stone to investigate the impacts and feasibility of scaling their process to convert CO2 into calcium and magnesium carbonates for the iron, steel, and cementation industries. This novel technology will both produce valuable materials and provide a sustainable alternative to current CO2 conversion waste streams.