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America's Seed Fund (NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I/II) Active
Grantaura Eligibility Checker

Eligibility for America's Seed Fund (NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I/II)

Non-dilutive R&D funding for US deep tech startups.

Amount $305,000
Deadline Closes on: May 5, 2026
Location United States
Category Grants For For-Profit Businesses
Questions 9 total
Required 8 required
View full grant on Grantaura Updated March 15, 2026 on Grantaura.

I've talked to dozens of founders who got stuck on the same hidden gates: the 51% US‑ownership rule, the VC ownership prohibition that's unique to NSF, and the principal‑investigator employment trap. This page is my attempt to make those rules plain. No fluff, just the criteria you need to check before you invest 120+ hours in a full proposal.

Below you'll find the exact questions our interactive eligibility tool uses. If you answer them honestly, you'll know within minutes whether you're in the ballpark. But here's the thing – even if you pass every gate, the real filter is the Project Pitch. That three‑page document decides whether a Program Director invites you to apply. So after you run through the rules, I'll show you how we help founders turn eligibility into an invitation.

What this tool checks (and what it doesn't)

The tool covers the non‑negotiable eligibility criteria from the official solicitation (NSF 23‑515) and the pre‑award forms (OMB 3145‑0270). It asks about your company structure, ownership, VC involvement, Principal Investigator commitment, work location, and the mandatory STTR partnership if you're going that route. It also flags the 12‑month resubmission ban – a rule that catches many repeat applicants off guard. What it doesn't check is the technical merit of your innovation or the quality of your broader impacts narrative. Those are subjective and best reviewed by a human who's read hundreds of funded proposals. That's where our live experts come in.

If you're eligible – what's next?

If the tool says you're eligible, the smart move is to start your Project Pitch with our support. The pitch has brutal character limits (3500/3500/1750/1750) and must frame your technology as high‑risk unproven research, not an incremental product. We've seen too many strong teams get declined because they treated it like a sales deck.

If you're unsure – let's talk

Maybe your cap table is messy, or your PI's employment is split between your startup and a university. Those edge cases are exactly why we offer live 1‑on‑1 consultations. I'll review your specific situation and tell you honestly whether you should proceed or pivot. Book a consultation – no pressure, just clarity.

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Grantaura Grant Details

America's Seed Fund (NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I/II)

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Eligibility Requirements (Source-Based)

  1. Is your business a for-profit U.S.-based small business with fewer than 500 employees? Required
    Confidence: H
    Source
  2. Is at least 51% of your company's equity owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents on a fully diluted basis? Required
    Confidence: H
    Source
  3. Is your company majority-owned (more than 50%) by venture capital, private equity, or hedge funds? Required
    Confidence: H
    Source Source
  4. Is the Principal Investigator primarily employed by your company (u226520 hours per week and more than 50% of their time for the project duration)? Required
    Confidence: H
    Source Source
  5. Will all funded R&D work (including consultants and subcontractors) be performed within the United States? Required
    Confidence: H
    Source
  6. Are you applying for the STTR track (requiring a research institution partner)? Preference
    Confidence: H
    Source
  7. Do you have a formal partnership with a non-profit research institution (university or federal lab) that will perform at least 30% of the research work? Required
    Confidence: H
    Source
  8. Have you already submitted a Project Pitch for this concept within the last 12 months and been declined? Required
    Confidence: H
    Source
  9. Does your proposed project involve unproven high-risk technological innovation (rather than incremental product development)? Required
    Confidence: H
    Source