Agility Development Group
Agility Development Group

SBIR/STTR Support

Non-dilutive government funding — from first award through Phase III commercialization.

Work With Us

Why Pursue SBIR/STTR?

The SBIR and STTR programs offer a unique path to grow your business with government funding — without giving up any ownership or equity in your company. Awards are made directly to your firm, and successful awardees can access direct award Phase III contracts, bypassing competitive procurement entirely.

Whether you’re a startup looking to validate your technology or an established small business ready to commercialize, SBIR/STTR provides the resources, credibility, and access to make it happen.

Learn More

Non-Dilutive Funding

SBIR/STTR awards are grants or contracts — not investments. You keep full ownership and equity in your company.

Dual-Use Market Potential

Technologies funded through SBIR/STTR often have both commercial and defense applications, expanding your addressable market.

Entry Point into GovCon

SBIR/STTR creates a direct pathway for small businesses to build credibility and lasting relationships with federal agencies.

Credibility with Agencies

An awarded SBIR/STTR validates your technology with the government and opens doors to larger contract vehicles.

Direct Award Contracting

Phase III awards can be made without competition, giving SBIR/STTR awardees a unique and powerful sole-source pathway.

Keep Your IP

SBIR/STTR awardees retain the intellectual property rights to the technologies developed under the program.

How We Help

Agility provides end-to-end SBIR/STTR guidance — from identifying the right opportunity to navigating Phase III and beyond.

Win an SBIR/STTR

Win an SBIR/STTR

Full-cycle proposal support to help small businesses win Phase I and Phase II funding from federal agencies.

Learn More
Phase III Support

Phase III Support

Transition your R&D into production contracts and commercialization with targeted Phase III award strategy.

Learn More
SBIR/STTR Partnership

SBIR/STTR Partnership

Connect your innovation with the right partners — prime contractors, research institutions, and agency stakeholders.

Learn More
Acquire an SBIR/STTR

Acquire an SBIR/STTR

Help prime contractors and program offices identify and acquire SBIR/STTR-funded technologies for their programs.

Learn More

Program Structure

SBIR/STTR funding is structured across three distinct phases, each building on the last.

Phase I~$50K – $275K

Feasibility

Explore the scientific and technical merit of an innovative concept. Most Phase I awards last 6–12 months and are designed to establish feasibility before committing to full development.

Phase II~$500K – $1.5M+

Development

Continue R&D from Phase I with full-scale development and prototyping. Phase II typically lasts 24 months and focuses on delivering a functional prototype or solution.

Phase IIIUnlimited

Commercialization

Commercialize the technology for military and/or private sector markets using non-SBIR funding sources. Phase III can be awarded sole-source — no competition required.

SBIR vs. STTR: The key difference is that STTR requires a formal research partnership with a university or federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), with the research institution performing at least 30% of the work. Both programs offer the same non-dilutive funding model and Phase III commercialization pathway.

Who Qualifies?

SBIR/STTR programs are designed specifically for small businesses that meet these eligibility requirements.

For-Profit Company

Your business must be organized for profit and physically located in the United States.

500 Employees or Fewer

At the time of award, more than 50% of your business must be owned by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.

U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents

The principal investigator's primary employment must be with your firm during the period of performance.

Primary Work in the U.S.

The majority of research and development work must be performed primarily in the United States.

Additional SBIR/STTR Resources

Explore official program portals and agency-specific resources to learn more about open solicitations and program requirements.

Participating Agencies

  • ›Department of Defense (DOD)
  • ›National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • ›National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • ›NASA
  • ›Department of Energy (DOE)
  • ›Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • ›U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • ›Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • ›Department of Education (ED)
  • ›Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • ›National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Public Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SBIR and STTR?+
SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) are similar programs, but STTR requires a formal partnership with a research institution — a university or federal lab. SBIR does not require this partnership. STTR also mandates that the research institution perform at least 30% of the work.
Who can apply for SBIR/STTR funding?+
Eligible businesses must be a for-profit U.S. company with 500 or fewer employees, majority-owned by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens, and have a principal investigator primarily employed at the firm during performance.
How much funding is available through SBIR/STTR?+
Typical Phase I awards range from $50,000 to $275,000. Phase II awards range from $500,000 to over $1.5 million. Amounts vary by agency and topic. Phase III funding is unlimited and sourced outside the SBIR/STTR program.
How do I find open SBIR/STTR solicitations?+
SBIR.gov lists all open solicitations across participating federal agencies. Each agency also publishes its own solicitation schedule, and some agencies issue multiple solicitations per year with different topic areas.
What agencies participate in the SBIR/STTR program?+
Eleven federal agencies participate, including DOD, NIH, NSF, NASA, DOE, DHS, USDA, and EPA. DOD is the largest funder, with branches like Army, Navy, Air Force, DARPA, MDA, and SOCOM each running their own solicitations.
What is Phase III and how do I get there?+
Phase III is the commercialization phase where SBIR/STTR-funded technology transitions into production or commercial use. It uses non-SBIR funding and can be awarded sole-source — agencies can bypass competition to contract directly with SBIR/STTR awardees.
Can I apply to multiple agencies at once?+
Yes. You can submit proposals to multiple agencies for different topics simultaneously. However, submitting substantially the same proposal for the same scope of work to multiple agencies in the same fiscal year is prohibited as duplication of effort.
How does Agility Development Group support SBIR/STTR efforts?+
We help small businesses identify relevant solicitations, develop competitive proposals, understand agency priorities, and navigate Phase II and Phase III transitions. We also support large primes seeking to partner with or acquire SBIR/STTR awardees.

Let’s Work Together to Win Today

Contact Us