SBIR relies on the participation of federal agencies, support organizations, and entrepreneurs around the country.
The SBIR Innovation Ecosystem
Current Awardees
Explore our various innovation partnerships across the US.
Innovation Ecosystem Programs
GAFC
The Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) supports innovation-focused entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) with programs to speed the launch, growth, and scale of deep-tech small businesses across the country with a focus on spurring investment in underrepresented communities.
FAST
The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program provides funding to organizations to execute state/regional programs that increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals leading to an increase in the number of SBIR/STTR awards from women, socially/economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses in underrepresented areas - typically rural states.
Program Spotlight
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is a higher-education-based economic development program that assists entrepreneurs, both new and seasoned, with every aspect of business creation, management, and operation.
Event Spotlight: America's Seed Fund Summit - July 2026
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is pleased to announce America’s Seed Fund Summit, taking place throughout July 2026! The Summit includes virtual and in-person events connecting entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers from across the country to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund. The programs are the nation’s largest source of early-stage, non-dilutive funding for high-growth technology startups.
Event Highlights:
What to Expect:
Free, virtual programming hosted by SBA each Wednesday (3:00–4:00 PM ET) throughout July to support your America's Seed Fund journey (topics subject to change):
- July 1 | SBIR Fundamentals and Navigating Agency Differences
- July 8 | Protecting Your Innovation
- July 15 | Funding and Resources to Support Your Commercialization Journey
- July 22 | SBIR Turns 44! 4+ Decades of Impact and Small Business Success
- July 29 | Meet the Program Directors
Virtual and in-person events and networking opportunities hosted by Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership sites and federal SBIR/STTR agencies across the country. Stay tuned to the Summit Community Events Calendar, with new events being added throughout July.
Who Should Attend?
- Entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses based in the United States that are building technologies and bringing them to market.
- Startup accelerators, incubators, university technology transfer offices, and other entrepreneur support organizations.
- Representatives from federal agencies, state and local government, and other members across innovation networks that support small businesses.
Register to ensure you remain up to date on everything happening throughout America's Seed Fund Summit.
