Top 15 Things to Never Put in an SBIR Grant - #11 Could Get You Rejected!

Here are the top 15 things I would never ever put in any SBIR grant, starting with number 1: vague problem statement. If your problem statement can be applied to any startup, it's too generic. SBIR reviewers need to see that you understand the specific problem that your technology is trying to solve. Make it crisp, focused, and grounded in hard evidence. Number 2: overstated claims without any evidence. Calling your tech disruptive means nothing without data. You need third-party validation, pilot results, and peer-reviewed references to back up that claim. Viewers are scientists with PhDs at many times, so they're not going to buy the hype. They want the proof. 3. Too much business, not enough science. This isn't Shark Tank. SBIR applications are research grants, so that means SBIR reviewers want to know what you're testing in that application, not just what you're selling. So keep the focus of your proposal on the technical innovation and research rigor. Number 4, too much science and not enough business. Some applicants can get lost within the weeds of technical details and then forget the big picture. You might have brilliant If you can't explain why that matters, who will use it, or how it becomes a sellable product, then you'll lose the reviewer's attention immediately. The SBIR is a commercialization program, so your innovation needs a path to high impact and growth, not just a place in a peer-reviewed journal. 5. Unverified market data. Pulling market numbers from thin air, saying that this is a billion-dollar market opportunity, that is such an instant red flag. Use credible sources and cite them in your SBIR application because no reviewer wants to Google your numbers mid-review. Number 6, weak team with no track record. If your team has no relevant experience or worse, mystery members with no roles, you'll lose the reviewer's trust real fast. Show that you have both the commercial and technical expertise on your team. And here's a bonus, attach committed consultants or advisors to your application. And of course, with relevant expertise. 7, incomplete or flimsy budgets. A vague or mismatched budget can be a killer for an SBIR application. Reviewers are expecting a well-thought-out plan showing how every single dollar supports your R&D efforts. So if you don't take the budget seriously, they won't take your proposal seriously. Number 8, inflated salaries with unrealistic hours. Asking for max salary at 5% effort, that just won't fly. Be reasonable by aligning your time with your responsibility and make sure your budget effort levels matches the role. 9, impossible timelines. Are you trying to do 2 years of work in just 6 months? No way. Reviewers will dock that immediately due to unrealistic expectations. So make sure to map out your plan with 2 actual time and Back that up with appropriate team, execution plan, and resources. 10, a black box technology. If reviewers can't understand how your tech works, you've already lost the application. Don't just explain, hey, my innovation is an AI-powered X, Y, and Z, but rather explain what it does, how it works, and why this is novel. Because at the end of the day, in your SPR application, transparency will build trust with the reviewers. 11, missing required forms. Each agency has their own checklist. Miss one of these forms and you're a goner. So don't let a missing biosketch or a budget form derail months of work. Double-check and triple-check everything before you hit that submit button. 12, blindly trusting AI. AI is a great drafting partner, but don't just copy and paste everything from ChatGPT. Reviewers can tell when something reads too generic. Humanize it, customize it, and make your voice come through. Remember, you're the expert of your business and your technology, not these LLMs. 13, ignoring the scoring criteria. Every reviewer is using a scorecard, so if you don't directly answer what they're looking for, you're leaving points on the table. Make it easy for them to say yeah. 14, copy and pasting your applications across different agencies. NSF does not equal NIH and does not equal DOD. Don't recycle a proposal from one agency to another without tailoring it to the agency's needs. And that's because each agency has their own unique SBIR goals, reviewing styles, and priority. Respect these differences and make sure your proposal matches to what they're looking for. Number 15, inconsistencies across all sections. If your abstract says 6 months of a time period but your budget says 12, guess what? The whole proposal gets questioned. So keep every section in line so that reviewers don't have to put their detective hats on. And here's a bonus one. 16. Typos and sloppy writing. Reviewers have to read dozens of proposals in a short period of time, so if yours is full of typos or is poorly formatted, it shows a lack of care and makes things much harder for the reviewer. So clear writing equals credibility equals some better chances of getting that award. If you found any of these tips helpful, I would greatly appreciate it if you like this video and subscribe to this channel so that you can learn new ways to keep your equity your fundraising journey. And also, don't forget to check out our website at keepyourequity.co where you find more resources, advice, and templates of how you can secure non-dilutive funding. Thank you so much for joining me today, and I'll see you in a video very soon.