SBIR Eligibility Check

Do you qualify for SBIR funding?

Six requirements decide it, and one SBIR award is all it takes to open the door to Phase III. Here's the checklist the agencies actually use.

For-profit U.S. small business

Organized and operating in the United States. Nonprofits don't qualify.

500 or fewer employees

Counting affiliates. Investor ties can push you over without you realizing it.

51%+ U.S.-owned and controlled

By U.S. citizens or permanent residents. VC/PE ownership rules vary by agency.

PI primarily employed by you

The Principal Investigator's main job must be with your company at award time.

R&D performed in the U.S.

Your team performs most of the research itself, measured by budget share.

Any SBIR award opens Phase III

Phase III can follow a Phase I award directly. You don't need a Phase II first.

Rules shift by agency. VC ownership limits, revenue benchmarks, and foreign-influence screens all changed in the 2026 reauthorization. A quick check beats a rejected proposal. We'll confirm your eligibility and map the fastest route to Phase III in one call, at no cost and no obligation.

Get a free check
Already eligible?

Then the question is which phase comes next.

Eligibility gets you in the door. The path to Phase III is what we're here for.

See the path to growth →

  • Discovery (before award): Start with topic selection and a Phase I plan. Your first award, even a Phase I, makes your technology eligible for Phase III.
  • Phase I awardee (typically 6–12 months): Line up a Phase III customer during performance. You can go straight to Phase III without waiting on a Phase II.
  • Phase I to Phase II prototype (typically up to 24 months): Use Phase II to build and prove the prototype, and start the Phase III transition before performance ends.
  • Buyer or investor: Purchase SBIR data rights, or the company that holds them, to become eligible to pursue Phase III with that technology. We broker both.