Startup grants in the United States in 2026: federal R&D grants, state programs and small cash grants
Short answer: there is no single US startup grant. The real money is federal R&D funding through SBIR and STTR: NSF (Phase I up to $305,000 after an invited pitch), NIH for health technology, and the Air Force and Space Force through AFWERX for dual-use technology. University teams can test a market first with NSF I-Corps (up to $50,000). Several states add their own grants, such as Maine Technology Institute (up to $100,000 cumulative) and South Carolina's SCRA. For a small no-strings cash grant, IFundWomen's $5,000 grant closes 30 November 2026.
This guide maps the US grants The Grant Index tracks, each checked against its official page (the date is in the "Verified" column). It covers grants and free resources only, with no loans or equity deals. Two companion guides go deeper: SBIR matching grants by state lists state money that tops up a federal award, and our student founders guide covers fellowships and micro-grants.
1. Federal R&D grants: SBIR and STTR
SBIR and STTR are the largest source of non-dilutive startup funding in the US. Each agency runs its own program with the same core rules: a for-profit US small business with 500 or fewer employees, majority owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent residents. STTR adds a required partnership with a US research institution. The programs are reauthorized through 30 September 2031, with stronger foreign-risk screening.
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I (America's Seed Fund)U.S. National Science Foundation | Phase I grant up to $305,000; Phase II up to $1,250,000; Fast-Track up to $1,555,000 (NSF 26-510). NSF takes no equity. | Deep tech in most fields. Project Pitch first, then an invited full proposal. Phase I up to $305,000; Phase II up to $1,250,000. Next full proposal dates 4 March and 7 July 2027. | 2026-10-23 |
| NIH SBIR/STTR (Parent Omnibus PA-27-100 / PA-27-102)U.S. National Institutes of Health (with CDC & FDA) | Phase I (R43/R41) and Phase II (R44/R42) grants; budget limits follow SBA guidelines and vary by NIH institute, with topic-specific waivers. Award ceiling not stated in the grants.gov listing. NIH takes no equity. | Biomedical and health technology. Budgets follow SBA guidelines and vary by institute. Next standard receipt date 5 January 2027. SAM.gov, eRA Commons, Grants.gov and SBA registrations required. | 2026-10-23 |
| DoD SBIR/STTR — Air Force & Space Force (AFWERX via DSIP)U.S. Department of the Air Force (AFWERX) | Phase I up to $323,000 (up to 6 months); Direct-to-Phase II up to $2.1M (up to 24 months). Contracts, no equity. | Dual-use technology for Air Force and Space Force needs. Contracts on the DSIP portal: Phase I up to $323,000; Direct-to-Phase II up to $2.1M. Current release closes 25 November 2026. | 2026-10-30 |
Pick the agency by who would use your technology, not by the biggest number. NSF is the usual first door for startups without a government customer; NIH is for health; defense topics suit companies with a military use case. USDA and DOE also run SBIR with narrower calls. Our SBIR and STTR by agency guide compares NSF, NIH, AFWERX, USDA and ARPA-E side by side, with award sizes and the next deadlines.
2. Before you found the company: NSF I-Corps
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF I-Corps National TeamsU.S. National Science Foundation | Up to $50,000 award for the 7-week program (includes a $10,000 participation fee paid from the award) | University team of 3-5 (technical lead, entrepreneurial lead, independent industry mentor) at a US institution, eligible through a recent NSF award or a regional I-Corps program. Seven weeks, at least 100 customer interviews; $10,000 participation fee paid from the award. Rolling. | 2026-10-30 |
I-Corps pays researchers to find out whether their technology is a business. Teams that complete it often apply for NSF SBIR next, with the customer evidence a Phase I reviewer wants to see.
3. State startup grants
Most state programs match a federal SBIR award (see our state matching guide). A few states also give grants that do not need a federal award first. These are the open ones we track.
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Technology Institute Business Innovation Funding (BIF) GrantsMaine Technology Institute (MTI) | Grants typically $10,000–$30,000 for first-time applicants; cumulative grant funding up to $100,000 per company | Company leadership based in Maine, innovation in one of MTI's seven technology sectors. Typically $10,000-30,000 for first-time applicants, up to $100,000 cumulative. At least 1:1 match, mostly cash. Rolling; review about two months. | 2026-10-30 |
| VIPC Lab-to-Launch Commercialization GrantVirginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) | Up to $50,000 in commercialization funding for startups using the Virginia Fast-Track License | Virginia for-profit spun out of a participating Virginia university, licensing IP through the Virginia Fast-Track License. Up to $50,000 with at least a 1:1 match (SBIR/STTR or I-Corps funds can count; state funds cannot). Rolling. | 2026-11-03 |
| SCRA Startup GrantSCRA (South Carolina Research Authority) | Up to $25,000 for early-stage companies | Early-stage technology company in South Carolina and an SCRA member company (membership does not guarantee funding). Up to $25,000 toward commercialisation milestones. Rolling. | 2026-10-30 |
| SCRA Acceleration GrantSCRA (South Carolina Research Authority) | Up to $50,000 for established early-stage companies | Established early-stage SC technology company and SCRA member. Up to $50,000 toward market readiness and growth milestones. Rolling. | 2026-10-30 |
Matching is the norm. Maine and Virginia both require at least a 1:1 match. Plan where the matching money comes from before you apply; in Virginia, a federal SBIR or I-Corps award can count, which makes the two programs work together.
4. Small cash grants for founders
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFW Startup Accelerator GrantIFundWomen (IFW by Honeycomb) | $5,000 unrestricted grant to one founder; no repayment, no equity | US-based business owner aged 18 or over owning at least 50% of the business. Idea-stage and pre-revenue welcome, any industry. One winner gets $5,000 unrestricted. Closes 30 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET. | 2026-11-04 |
| 1517 Medici Project grants1517 Fund | Stipend grants starting at $1,000 (no equity, no IP claim) | High-school and college students and dropouts, mainly in North America, working on a passion project in science, tech, math or the arts. From $1,000 as a stipend; no ownership of you, your project or IP. | 2026-10-22 |
These are small and competitive, but they are true grants with no equity and no repayment. The IFundWomen grant asks you to pitch your business and its community impact; one founder wins.
5. Free federal compute
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF ACCESS AllocationsU.S. National Science Foundation (ACCESS) | Free HPC/GPU allocations: Explore up to 400K, Discover 1.5M, Accelerate 3M ACCESS credits; Maximize larger | Open science projects led by researchers or educators at US institutions; institutional email required. Explore up to 400K, Discover 1.5M, Accelerate 3M ACCESS credits. No NSF award needed. Rolling. | 2026-10-22 |
| NAIRR Pilot — Start-Up ProjectsU.S. National Science Foundation (NAIRR Pilot) | Up to 2,000 GPU-hours (or equivalent) on one national AI resource for 3 months | US-based researchers and educators; startups and small businesses only if they hold federal grants. Up to 2,000 GPU-hours for 3 months; results must be publishable. Rolling. | 2026-10-22 |
National compute is research-oriented: results usually have to be open. A startup with an SBIR award can use the NAIRR Pilot for exploratory AI work. For commercial GPU credits see our GPU credits guide.
6. Which US grant fits your stage
- University researcher with a technology: NSF I-Corps, then NSF SBIR.
- Incorporated deep-tech startup: NSF Project Pitch now for the 4 March or 7 July 2027 full-proposal dates.
- Health or biotech: NIH omnibus; start registrations now for 5 January 2027.
- Defense use case: AFWERX topics on DSIP before 25 November 2026.
- Based in Maine, Virginia or South Carolina: add the state grant, with your match planned.
- Any US founder, any stage: enter the IFundWomen $5,000 grant before 30 November 2026.
7. Rules that sink US grant applications
- Registrations. SAM.gov and the SBA company registry take weeks. Start before you write.
- Ownership. SBIR needs majority US citizen or permanent resident ownership and control.
- No match. State grants often require 1:1 matching funds.
- Membership. SCRA grants are only for SCRA member companies.
- Unofficial sources. Apply only through the official agency portal or program page linked from each listing.
FAQ
Are there free government grants to start a business in the USA?
Not for general business costs. Federal grants for startups are mainly SBIR and STTR, which fund R&D at technology companies. Some states offer startup grants, usually with matching requirements, and private programs such as the IFundWomen $5,000 grant fund small businesses.
What is the biggest startup grant in the US?
SBIR and STTR. NSF Phase I gives up to $305,000 and Phase II up to $1,250,000; Air Force and Space Force Direct-to-Phase II contracts go up to $2.1M.
Can I get a startup grant before I incorporate?
Some, yes. NSF I-Corps funds university teams before they found a company, and 1517 Medici grants fund student projects. SBIR requires a registered small business.
Do US startup grants need to be repaid?
No. SBIR, STTR, I-Corps and the state grants in this guide are grants or contracts that you do not repay, and none take equity.
Which states give grants to startups?
Among open programs we track, Maine (MTI Business Innovation Funding), Virginia (VIPC Lab-to-Launch) and South Carolina (SCRA Startup and Acceleration grants) give grants without needing a federal award first. Many more states match federal SBIR awards.
Program terms change often. Every program page linked above shows its official source and the date we last verified it; confirm on the provider's page before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.
Related guides
Browse the full lists: Startup programs in the United States · Government grants for startups