NASA SBIR/STTR Phase I
NASA · Innovation grant (SBIR/STTR)
$225KPhase I up to $225,000 (SBIR 6 months; STTR 13 months); Phase II and SBIR Ignite follow-ons
NASA's small-business R&D contracts for technologies matching NASA mission subtopics; since 2026 run via a Broad Agency Announcement with appendices released through the year.
Key terms
- Proposals must address a specific NASA subtopic in a BAA appendix
- US small business eligibility rules (for-profit, US-owned/controlled, ≤500 employees)
- STTR requires a partner research institution
- 2026 Appendix A/B Phase I solicitations closed May 21, 2026 — watch for the next appendix
Eligibility
- Where
- United States
- Stages
- pre-seed, seed, series-a
- 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
- Contracts are funding agreements, not equity
- Need SAM.gov registration
How to apply
Watch the NASA SBIR/STTR program schedule & BAA Information Hub for new appendices; submit through NASA's proposal submission system.
- Benefit
- cash
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- Per BAA appendix (2026 Phase I appendices closed 2026-05-21; next TBA)
- Status
- Paused — next round TBA
Verified 2026-10-23 · source