Kentucky SBIR/STTR Matching Funds
KY Innovation (Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development) · SBIR matching
$150KMatches up to $100,000 for a Phase I project and up to $150,000 for a Phase II project (reimbursable grant)
Kentucky's competitive, reimbursable grant that matches federal SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II awards for companies based in (or moving to) Kentucky.
Key terms
- For-profit company based in Kentucky or willing to relocate there, with a federal SBIR/STTR award
- Non-dilutive, reimbursable grant awarded competitively
- Two application windows a year (spring and autumn), each open for eight weeks
- Between windows right now; the page is updated when the next window opens
Eligibility
- Where
- United States
- Stages
- seed, series-a, growth
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- No
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- Yes
- AI focus required
- No
- Students / researchers
- Not eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- Kentucky-based or relocating to Kentucky
- Federal SBIR/STTR award required
How to apply
Watch the KY Innovation SBIR page for the next window and follow the guidelines and application instructions posted there.
- Benefit
- cash
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- Twice-yearly windows (typ. March–April and September–October); next window spring 2027, date not announced
- Status
- Paused — next round TBA
Verified 2026-10-30 · source
More: Government grants for startups · Startup programs in the United States