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Bridge funding for Delaware tech companies between federal SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II.
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Sign in to save this grantFederal SBIR reviews take months. Your payroll does not. If you just submitted your Phase II proposal and need to keep your research team moving, Delaware’s DTIP provides up to $50,000 with no matching funds required[1]. Applications roll in anytime, but the Council on Development Finance votes monthly – and missing one cycle costs you weeks.
This page breaks down the exact trigger, the mandatory pre-application step most summaries skip, and the seven documents you will actually need.
Before you check fit, know this: DTIP is a bridge, not a launchpad. It exists for one narrow window – after you win Phase I and submit Phase II, but before the federal decision lands. If that describes your situation right now, keep reading. If not, this page will still help you decide whether to pivot to a better-matched Delaware incentive.
Not sure DTIP is your best option? Run the eligibility checker below. It takes about ninety seconds and will tell you whether to keep reading or explore alternatives.
Federal SBIR and STTR Phase II reviews take months. Your payroll does not. DTIP was built to cover that silence[1]. The program funds personnel salaries during the transition, scientific research tied to your innovation project, patent searches and application fees, and market research or business plan development. It will not pay for capital equipment, construction, facility modification, or any costs already covered by your federal award[2].
I checked recent award announcements to see what kinds of companies actually get funded. Tric Robotics in Newark (UVC crop-treatment robotics), Ecliptic Enterprises in Wilmington (satellite communications), Integrated Optics (photonics), and Polarean (medical imaging) all received $50,000 awards in 2024 and 2025[3]. The pattern is consistent: $50k, no match, monthly board votes. These are real Delaware tech companies bridging the same gap you are facing.
Here is the fact that matters most: DTIP requires zero matching funds from your company. None[1]. A few semi-official economic development pages accidentally tangle DTIP rules with the EDGE Grant, which does require a 3:1 state match. That error scares off eligible founders who think they need to put up roughly $16,000 of their own money to access $50,000. They do not.
The underlying statute says the state MAY provide funds up to the federal Phase I award amount, but the operational cap in practice is $50,000 per the current fact sheet[4]. The Council on Development Finance makes the final call at its monthly vote. Meeting the eligibility checklist gets your application considered. It does not guarantee an award. The CDF vote is discretionary, and the scoring rubric for the Economic Benefit narrative is not published.
Start with the situational trigger. It is the one gate you cannot finesse: you must have won a federal Phase I SBIR or STTR award AND officially submitted your Phase II proposal. If you have not hit submit on Phase II, DTIP is not open to you yet[1]. The program is designed for the waiting period, not the preparation period.
Now the structural gates:
If your parent company pushes your headcount over 100, DTIP will not fit. Delaware has other Strategic Fund incentives for larger firms. I link to alternatives at the end of this page.
Here is the step most grant summaries skip entirely: before you touch the OSB application portal, you must consult with your county’s Regional Business Manager[5]. This is not a suggestion. The RBM vets your project against the Delaware Economic Benefit criteria before it ever reaches the Council on Development Finance. Skipping this step means your application may never get scheduled for a vote.
Find your manager here: Contact a Regional Business Manager. Reach out at least two weeks before you plan to submit through the portal. Prepare a one-page project summary, your Phase II submission confirmation, and a draft of your Economic Benefit narrative. The RBM is your advocate at the board table, not your auditor. Treat the conversation as preparation, not interrogation.
When speaking with your Regional Manager, focus on “retained jobs.” The CDF wants to see that this $50,000 will prevent you from laying off high-skilled Delaware researchers during the federal funding gap.
Expert Tip
If you want help shaping that project summary and Economic Benefit talking points before the RBM call, our live 1-on-1 consultation with a grant expert can make the difference between a manager who nods politely and one who walks into the CDF meeting ready to argue for your project. Schedule a consultation
DTIP is not a light lift. The document list is specific and several items take time to assemble:
Proof of Phase I SBIR or STTR award letter Proof of Phase II proposal submission confirmation Three years of company financial statements Current Delaware Business License Delaware Economic Benefit Narrative Full-time employee count verification Certificate of Good Standing (Delaware)
Required Steps
The heaviest item is the Delaware Economic Benefit narrative. There is no public scoring rubric. The Council sets the evaluation criteria internally and does not publish them[2]. That uncertainty is exactly where expert review adds real value. Have someone who knows CDF priorities review your narrative draft before you upload it.
The award is discretionary. The statute states the state “may” provide funds, meaning meeting the eligibility list does not guarantee an award. The final decision rests entirely with the CDF vote.
Applications roll in anytime, but the Council on Development Finance votes monthly. The standard pattern is the fourth Monday of each month, with holiday adjustments that shift two meetings in 2026[6]:
Submit at least two to three weeks before your target meeting. The exact cutoff before each CDF cycle is not publicly specified. Waiting until the final week risks missing the vote entirely and waiting another month. After a favorable vote, grant agreement execution adds roughly two to three weeks before funds are accessible. Budget your cash flow assuming the more conservative end of that range.
If you are weighing both programs, the distinction is straightforward. DTIP is faster to apply for but requires federal Phase I status. EDGE is a pitch competition open to a broader startup pool but demands matching funds and a public presentation. Compare EDGE details here.
What if my Phase II proposal is denied after I receive DTIP funding? The official guidance does not specify a repayment mechanism. This is a genuine unknown in the public documentation. If this scenario worries you, raise it directly with your Regional Business Manager during the pre-application consultation.
Does the 100-employee cap include contractors or only W-2 employees? The statute counts full-time employees in subsidiary and affiliated corporations[4]. Contractors are not explicitly addressed in any public source checked. When in doubt, confirm with your RBM before investing time in the full application.
Can a consultant submit the application on my behalf? The OSB portal documentation does not confirm or deny third-party submission. If you plan to work with a grant writer, clarify portal access and submission permissions with your Regional Business Manager early in the process.
Is the $50,000 paid as a lump sum or reimbursement? Payment mechanism details are not disclosed in any official source checked through Q2 2024, including CDF meeting minutes and award announcements. Plan your cash flow assuming reimbursement rather than an upfront disbursement.
If DTIP does not fit your situation, these related opportunities may:
This page gives you the facts. Sometimes you need more. Here is where our services fit the DTIP application path:
Your Grant Assessment fee is non-refundable, but the base assessment fee can be deducted once toward the same grant’s Full Application when you choose the optional checkbox at checkout.
My name is Shahzad Nawaz, and I work as a freelancer. Writing for my readers is not just something I enjoy; it is central to what I do. I am constantly exploring new ways to improve my craft, because writing is not merely a hobby for me; it is an essential part of my professional life. For this page, I reviewed the official DTIP Fact Sheet, the 2026 CDF Meeting Calendar, the enabling statute under Delaware Code Title 29, and recent award announcements to surface the details that matter most when you are deciding whether to apply.
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