Stacy L. Chin explains how deep-tech founders can access SBIR grants, which provide hundreds of thousands to millions in non-dilutive funding for medical devices, AI, robotics, and energy work. The program is competitive, but choosing the right federal agency and crafting a strong application can help you fund expensive validation work without giving up equity.
If you're a U.S. deep tech founder and it's costing you $500,000, if not millions of dollars to prove your technology, then listen up because this is a deep tech founder problem. Investors can say, come back when you have the data, but getting that data can cost you money that you just don't have right now. So who pays for it? Potentially the U.S. federal government. And that is because the SBIR program can come save the day. And if you're building a deep tech innovative technology in medical devices, AI technology, robotics, advanced materials, energy, the federal agency These may give you hundreds of thousands, if not potentially millions of dollars to help develop and improve your technology. And unlike VC funding, they don't take your equity. But getting an SBIR award is very competitive. You need the right agency, the right strategy, and a really strong application. So if you're building an expensive technology and wondering, how the hell am I supposed to fund this? Make sure to follow along. I'll teach you how to pursue non-dilutive SBIR funding while keeping more of your equity.
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