SBA FAST Partner
Americaʼs Seed Fund provides over $4 billion in funding known as America’s Seed Fund. KSEF receives funding from SBA to support Kentucky innovators in submitting proposals.
What is SBIR/STTR?
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, collectively branded as America’s Seed Fund, provide more than $4B annually in non-dilutive, early-stage R&D funding to small U.S.-based businesses to help commercialize innovative technology.
You may be a good candidate for SBIR/STTR funding if your for-profit small business is federally registered and you have an idea for an innovative technology-enabled product, process, or service.
Proposal Labs
Our agency-specific Proposal Labs are designed to support you through the SBIR/STTR submission process from start to finish. Through the labs, we can help you match with topics, understand and address each agency's submission criteria and craft a competitive proposal.
Meet With Us
We'll answer questions about SBIR to help you decide if this is an opportunity for you.
Pre-Selection
Submit your idea to us so we can be ready for topic match up.
Topic Match Up
Match-making between your capabilities to the topic release.
Invitation
If your company's capabilities and BAA topics match, you will be selected to participate.
Proposal Lab
You will commit to 8-weeks of intensive training to submit your DOD SBIR/STTR proposal by the day your topic closes.
Proposal Submission
You will remain a part of the KSEF family. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with you.
How Proposal Labs Work
Agency-Specific
SBIR/STTR Proposal Labs
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Each year, the NSF funds roughly 400 companies across nearly all technology areas and market sectors (with the exception of clinical trials and schedule I controlled substances). Register to get personal support for your NSF SBIR/STTR proposal. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
November 5, 2025
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH includes 24 Institutes and Centers that provide SBIR/STTR funding to small businesses. When you join the NIH Proposal Lab, we'll help you match with the best funding opportunity for your innovation. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
No upcoming deadlines.
Department of Defense (DOD)
The Department of Defense SBIR/STTR programs not only have the largest budget of ~$1.8B per year, but they also invest in the most diverse technology portfolio ranging from materials to biomedical technologies. The DOD SBIR/STTR programs are fastest-paced, giving you only 10 weeks to prepare a competitive proposal. Join a proposal lab to meet these competitive deadlines. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
No upcoming deadlines.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Through the NASA SBIR/STTR program, entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses with less than 500 employees can receive funding and non-monetary support to build, mature, and commercialize their technologies, advancing NASA missions and helping solve important problems facing our country. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
No upcoming deadlines.
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The USDA Proposal Lab offers one of the most wide-ranging application opportunities for new technologies. The SBIR/STTR programs at USDA are administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and offer 10 topic areas that are intended to permit a variety of science and technology based small businesses to compete for funding. View the funding topics.
Next Proposal Deadline:
No upcoming deadlines.