NSF America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR)
NSF SBIR/STTR - America's Seed Fund powered by NSF
Status not published
Three proposal deadlines per year. Published in NSF 26-511: 27 July 2026; 4 November 2026 and the first Wednesday in November annually thereafter; 4 March 2027 and the first Thursday in March annually thereafter; 7 July 2027 and the first Wednesday in July annually thereafter. A Project Pitch must be submitted and approved first.
Solicitation NSF 26-511: Phase I 'up to $305,000 in R&D funding' over 6-18 months; Phase II 'up to $1,250,000' over 24 months. NSF raised these ceilings from previous levels in June 2024. NSF's headline is 'We invest up to $2 million in seed funding' across the phases including supplements.
U.S. National Science Foundation
public · national
Deadline: cutoff — Three proposal deadlines per year. Published in NSF 26-511: 27 July 2026; 4 November 2026 and the first Wednesday in November annually thereafter; 4 March 2027 and the first Thursday in March annually thereafter; 7 July 2027 and the first Wednesday in July annually thereafter. A Project Pitch must be submitted and approved first.
Published by the funder, FY2022 / historical. This rate is measured post filter, so the odds from a standing start are lower.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
Who can apply
- Up to 500 employees
- Sectors: deeptech, health, climate, ai, manufacturing, agri
- Stage: idea, pre_seed, seed
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
NSF 26-511: applicants must be 'firms qualifying as a small business concern' with the 'size limit of 500 employees includes affiliates'; majority US-owned and for-profit, located in the US. STTR proposals must include a partner research institution. NSF funds any area of science and engineering with commercial potential except clinical trials and certain regulated activities. SAM.gov registration with a UEI is mandatory before award - it is the practical gate for all federal awards.
How to apply
- Submit a Project Pitch; prospective applicants 'must obtain an official invitation to submit a proposal' from NSF program staff. Invitations remain valid for the next two submission deadlines. — link
- Register the company in SAM.gov (UEI), Research.gov and the SBA Company Registry. — link
- Submit the full Phase I proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov by a deadline. — link
- Phase I awardees may later apply for Phase II (up to $1,250,000, 24 months).
What you will need
- Project Pitch (3 pages max, online form)
- Project Description / technical proposal
- Budget and budget justification
- Biographical sketches for senior personnel
- SAM.gov registration with UEI + SBA Company Registry ID
Source. https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/small-business-innovation-research-small-business-technology-0/nsf26-511/solicitation — checked 2026-08-14
"up to $305,000 in R&D funding ... 6-18 months ... Phase II ... up to $1,250,000 ... 24 months"