Submit Your Project Pitch for SBIR/STTR Assistance

Successfully launching an unproven technology requires years of hard work and millions of dollars. Startups and existing firms confront unique barriers to investment, their pathway is even more challenging to conducting high risk, high payoff research and development. The federal government offers two critical non-dilutive funding programs that support research and development in startups and existing small businesses with technologies in science, technology, and engineering that have strong potential for commercialization.

The annual ~$3B federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs offer startups and small businesses funding to turn their technologies into products, services and/or processes for domestic and international markets. The programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund, are one of the largest sources of early-stage capital for technology commercialization in the United States.

To get started, please review the following information and websites before applying for SBIR/STTR Assistance (submission of a Project Pitch):

  1. Review the Self-Assessment  (Do not answer the questions.)
  2. Review
  3. Review all of the SBIR Online Tutorials –
Submit Your Project Pitch

Project Pitch Requirements

In order to ensure your firm and technology are a good fit with the programs, we ask each new inquirer to complete a Project Pitch. We evaluate whether the technology shows promise of commercial and/or societal impact and involve a level of technical risk.  You will also get additional guidance and feedback from MNSBIR and our selected advisors about your proposed project.  If your Project Pitch is a good fit for the programs, you will receive an official approval from MNSBIR for our business and technical assistance. If you’re not approved, you’ll be told why your project is not appropriate for the program.

Along with your company information, you’ll have to outline five key elements in your Project Pitch:

  1. The Technology Innovation. (Up to 500 words)

Describe the technical innovation that would be the focus of a Phase I project, including a brief discussion of the origins of the innovation as well as explanation as to why it meets the program’s mandate to focus on supporting research and development (R&D) of unproven, high-impact innovations.

  1. The Technical Objectives and Challenges. (Up to 500 words)

Describe the R&D or technical work to be done in a Phase I project, including a discussion of how and why the proposed work will help prove that the product or service is technically feasible and/or significantly reduce technical risk. Discuss how, ultimately, this work could contribute to making the new product, service, or process commercially viable and impactful. This section should also convey that the proposed work meets the definition of R&D, rather than straightforward engineering or incremental product development tasks.

  1. The Market Opportunity. (Up to 500 words)

Describe the customer profile and pain point(s) that will be the near-term commercial focus related to this technical project.

  1. The Company and Team. (Up to 500 words)

Describe the background and current status of the applicant small business, including key team members who will lead the technical and/or commercial efforts discussed in this Project Pitch.

Include your corporate and intellectual property counsel, accounting firm, and any other business or scientific advisors.

  1. Scientific or Technical Publications. (List)

List three to five relevant publications or articles that support your technological innovation.