AFWERX SBIR/STTR (U.S. Air Force)
Closes in 9 days
Applications close 2026-10-21.
AFWERX pioneered Open Topic and Direct-to-Phase-II awards. Phase I awards have typically been around $75,000 for a short feasibility study; Phase II awards commonly $1.25m-$1.9m, with STRATFI/TACFI follow-ons up to roughly $15m-$60m combined with matching funds.
U.S. Air Force / AFWERX
public · national
Deadline: One call a year — Release 6 topics (26.BZ, 26.BX, 26.TZ) due Oct 21, 2026 noon; AFWERX issues several releases a year.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
Who can apply
- Up to 500 employees
- small enterprises
- Sectors: deeptech, space, ai
- Stage: pre-seed, seed and Series A
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
US-owned and -controlled for-profit small business with 500 or fewer employees; principal investigator primarily employed by the firm (SBIR) or work split with a research institution (STTR). Non-dilutive; no repayment.
How to apply
- Register the company in SAM.gov, obtain a UEI, and register on SBIR.gov
- Confirm eligibility: US for-profit small business, <=500 employees, majority US-owned
- Review the agency's current solicitation/topic list and select a topic
- Prepare and submit the Phase I proposal via the agency submission portal by the deadline
- If awarded Phase I, complete the work and apply for Phase II continuation
What you will need
- Technical proposal / volume 1
- Cost proposal / budget
- Company commercialisation report
- SAM.gov active registration
Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work · The EU SME definition (Recommendation 2003/361) · SBIR vs STTR: what actually differs
Source. https://afsbirsttr.us/
"NOW OPEN: Explore the 26.BZ, 26.BX & 26.TZ Release 6 topics ... Proposals due 10/21/2026 12:00:00 PM"
Last checked against the official page on 5 October 2026
Source: funder's homepage — the programme page was not found
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