Typical SBIR/STTR awards run $50K to $2.15M, from Phase I feasibility to Phase II development.
Equity is not the only way to fund a US startup. SBIR/STTR awards, federal and state grants, and the federal R&D tax credit are non-dilutive capital: money that does not require you to sell ownership or accept dilution. The federal government runs the largest seed-stage R&D programme in the world, the SBIR/STTR programme, channelling billions of dollars a year to small companies.
The founders who raise most effectively treat grants as the first layer of a funding stack: use non-dilutive capital to de-risk your technology, then raise equity from a position of strength. We help you find and win every US grant you qualify for, then connect you to US investors when you're ready to scale.
SBIR/STTR, broader small business grants, and the federal R&D tax credit are the three non-dilutive routes most US founders should run in parallel.
America's Seed Fund: non-dilutive R&D awards from 11 federal agencies. Phase I proves feasibility; Phase II funds full development. You keep your equity and your IP.
Beyond SBIR: federal grants on Grants.gov, state and local economic-development programmes, and grants for women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses.
The federal research credit rewards qualified R&D. Crucially, early-stage startups can apply it against payroll taxes, turning the credit into near-term cash before you're profitable.
Explore specific federal agency programmes: SBIR/STTR · ARPA-E · DARPA · NSF I-Corps · DOE Vouchers
Every US programme is listed below by default. Tell us your stage and sector to narrow them to the SBIR/STTR, agency, and federal programmes that match your startup. Getting matched is 100% free - no fee, no commission, no credit card.
Not eligible for grants, or need capital faster?
Explore debt financing: venture debt, revenue-based financing, and startup loans
Federal grants reward preparation. The founders who win register early, match precisely, and build a relationship with the program manager.
Get your Unique Entity ID and active SAM.gov registration, plus accounts on SBIR.gov and the relevant agency portals. Registration can take a few weeks, so begin before a solicitation opens. Run the free eligibility checker to shortlist the programmes you qualify for first.
Find an SBIR/STTR topic or federal grant that fits your technology. Agencies score relevance to the published topic first, so match precisely. Contact the program manager early - a short capability summary before you write is the single highest-leverage step.
Each agency reviews differently: NIH uses peer review, NSF and DOD have their own rubrics. Address technical merit, team, and commercial potential exactly as the solicitation asks. A specific, quantified technical objective beats any generic claim.
Submit before the deadline. Phase I decisions take roughly 4–6 months. If awarded, manage milestone reporting and invoicing carefully, a clean Phase I positions you for a far larger Phase II and follow-on funding.
The steps above are the do-it-yourself route. If you would rather hand it off, our grant specialists write, package and manage the whole application for you, working alongside you so the technical detail stays yours while we handle the process.
Apply and we'll come back with a tailored budget for your specific grant.
Factual listings only. No referral fees. Every link goes to the official source.
The official hub for all SBIR and STTR opportunities across 11 federal agencies. Search open solicitations, track past awards, and access agency-specific guidance.
The central repository for all US federal grant opportunities beyond SBIR: HHS, USDA, EPA, DOT and more. The mandatory registration point for most federal grant applications.
The System for Award Management. Every company seeking federal grants or contracts must hold an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID. Register here first.
The Small Business Administration. While the SBA rarely grants cash directly to start a business, it funds SBIR/STTR, runs local resource partners (SBDCs), and lists legitimate funding programmes.
The National Science Foundation's SBIR/STTR programme funds deep-tech startups across any technology area, with a Project Pitch step that gives a fast yes/no before you write a full proposal.
Official IRS guidance on the federal R&D tax credit, including the payroll-tax election that lets qualified small businesses claim up to $500K a year against payroll taxes.
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SBIR awards and federal grants cover early-stage R&D, but most US startups need equity capital to scale. The strongest raises combine non-dilutive grants with angel or VC investment.
AngelsPartners is the only platform where a founder can access all three capital pathways in one place: grants (this page), debt financing, and 120,000+ equity investors.
Search a database of angels, micro-VCs, and funds investing in US startups. Filter by sector, geography, ticket size, and stage. Direct contact details included - no gatekeepers, no pay-to-pitch.
Venture debt, revenue-based financing, and startup loan programmes - without diluting your cap table. Our AI matches you to a curated lender network based on your revenue, traction, and geography.
The biggest source is SBIR/STTR, non-dilutive R&D awards from 11 federal agencies (Phase I ~$150K–$300K, Phase II up to ~$2.15M). Beyond that there are federal and state small business grants and the federal R&D tax credit, which startups can take against payroll taxes.
Generally no. The SBA rarely gives cash grants to start or grow a business, a common misconception. It funds SBIR/STTR, supports nonprofits and research, and backs loan programmes. Most genuine startup grants are R&D-focused (SBIR) or come from agencies, states, and private programmes.
For SBIR/STTR, yes: you must be a US-based, majority US-owned for-profit small business (under 500 employees) with the work performed in the US. Many state and agency programmes have similar requirements. Our eligibility check flags which programmes fit your structure.
Yes, and investors love it. A SBIR award is a strong validation signal: a federal agency has reviewed and backed your technology. Grants de-risk the science; equity funds go-to-market. After your grant, find US angels and VCs on AngelsPartners.
SBIR Phase I decisions typically take around 4–6 months from submission, with funds released after award. Registration on SAM.gov and SBIR.gov should be done in advance. Plan your runway around the cycle, grants are non-dilutive but not instant.
