Use this SBIR Eligibility Checklist to determine if your small business qualifies for SBIR funding before you apply.
Business Structure
- Business is a for-profit entity.
- Business is physically located in the United States
- Business is majority-owned (≥ 51%) by U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- Business has 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates
- Business is independently owned and operated
- Venture capital, private equity, or hedge fund ownership interest is not more than 49% of the company. (SBIR allows some flexibility, unlike STTR)
Principal Investigator (PI)
- PI is primarily employed by the applicant small business (i.e., works more than 50% of their time there) at the time of award and during the project.
- PI is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- PI has the technical expertise to oversee the proposed R&D effort.
Project Criteria
- The proposed project involves research and development (R&D) with potential commercialization.
- The idea is innovative, technically feasible, and unproven (i.e., not yet on the market).
- The R&D addresses a need or topic area specified by a participating federal agency (e.g., NIH, DoD, NSF).
Administrative Readiness
- Business has a DUNS and UEI number (as required by SAM.gov).
- The business has registered on SAM.gov (System for Award Management).
- The business has registered on the SBA’s Company Registry (https://www.sbir.gov/registration).
- Businesses can submit proposals through Grants.gov or agency-specific portals.
Required Documentation
- Company capability statement or past performance summaries
- Resumes or bios for key personnel
- Budget and cost estimates for proposed work
- Letters of support (if applicable)
- Intellectual property status or plans (if applicable)
Summary
If you checked all or most of the boxes on the SBIR Eligibility Checklist, your business is likely eligible to apply for SBIR funding. Review with your team or investors as you prepare your application.
