Stacy L ChinFounder, KeepYourEquity · I get the government to write you checks

9 Reasons to Skip SBIR Funding

27 Sept 2024 · 1 min

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In this segment, Stacy Chin explains that the U.S. federal SBIR program is designed to fund companies engaged in research and development (R&D) projects with high commercial potential and long‑term impact. She lists several common startup models that typically fall outside SBIR’s scope because they focus primarily on revenue generation rather than R&D: e‑commerce platforms, service‑based businesses, mobile‑app developers, firms offering research or consulting services, and companies that already have market‑launched products. While these ventures are valuable, they may not meet SBIR’s funding priorities unless they can demonstrate a clear R&D component.

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Some examples of these types of startups may be those that have e-commerce platforms, are service-based companies, or those developing mobile apps. Also, startups that are offering research or consulting services, as well as those with developed products that are already launched in the market, may also fall under this umbrella. And this is because the US federal government wants to use SBIR funding to invest in companies that are pursuing research and development projects with high commercial potential that can result in long-term, high-impact outcomes and growth. So while revenue-generating projects are very important for startups, they don't always fit within the scope of the SBIR program and their funding priorities, especially if the startup is not focused on pursuing R&D.