Your TL;DR: The SBIR program’s pause feels unsettling, but non-dilutive funding is far from gone. Between federal grants, state programs, accelerators, and pitch competitions, there is still real capital available, and EBHC is here to help you claim it.
Navigating the Fog: Acknowledging the Uncertainty
We know how disorienting it can feel when a major program like SBIR is on hold. For many founders and small business leaders, SBIR and STTR have been pillars of hope, sources of legitimate, non-dilutive funding tied to R&D. When that pathway stalls, it’s natural to feel stuck.
Here’s what we want you to hold onto: you are not without options. The funding ecosystem is vast. It’s crowded, competitive, even more so now, but still alive. And now more than ever, your ability to navigate grants, state programs, and competitions with strategic clarity can make all the difference. That’s where EBHC steps in.
Federal Programs Beyond SBIR: What’s Still Open
America’s Seed Fund (NIH SBIR/STTR umbrella)
Although SBIR is currently paused, the NIH’s broader small business programs continue with solicited grants and cooperative agreements for R&D innovation. Some of these solicitations are targeted and periodic, so staying alert to announcements from NIH, NSF, DOE, and other relevant agencies is crucial.
SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC)
This is a highly relevant federal program still active. The 2025 GAFC will offer awards of $75,000 to $150,000 across two stages, supporting entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) that, in turn, support high-growth small businesses. In 2024, 44 accelerator partnerships received awards ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 to support R&D-focused small businesses. (While you may not apply as a small business directly here, it’s a signal of continued federal willingness to invest in innovation scaffolding.)
Other Federal Grant Streams & Strategic Non-Dilutive Grants
Larger-scale grants—sometimes in the $1 million+ range—remain possible through programs in education, energy, defense, infrastructure, health, and climate, depending on alignment and consortium strength. The key is strategic alignment, and strong partnerships are critical. Many federal grants demand collaboration with universities, nonprofits, or government bodies.
State & Local Grants: The Hidden Wells
When federal routes pause or slow, state and local programs often step in as vital bridges. Here are some patterns and examples:
- Empire State Development (New York) runs accelerator programs and competitions, often with $50,000 to $1,000,000 equity or non-equity support, plus networks, industrial collaboration, and exposure.
- Many states run “innovation challenge” grants, match funding for R&D or capital investments, and regional economic development grants, often via departments of commerce, economic development authorities, or technology offices.
- According to mapping data, 34% of all U.S. small business grants go to just five states (California, Texas, Florida, New York, Ohio), which means in many states the competition is lower—even if funding is smaller.
If you haven’t yet, dig into your state’s governor’s office grants, commerce / economic development office, and local SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers). Many of these offices are actively seeking to fund small business resilience during economic shifts.
Accelerators & Incubators: More Than Just Mentorship
Accelerators remain potent avenues, not always for large capital but for resources, connections, credibility, and audiences your business might not reach otherwise.
- Many accelerators offer non-dilutive stipends, grants, or prize equity deals (or hybrid models).
- In New York, programs like 43North (Buffalo) and Luminate (Rochester, for optics/photonic startups) are embedded in state-backed innovation.
- Even smaller, industry-themed accelerators sometimes provide capital in exchange for limited equity or none at all, especially in tech, biotech, clean energy, or health.
These programs deliver value far beyond funding: connections to corporate partners, pilot opportunities, press exposure, and access to follow-on investors.
Pitch Competitions & Innovation Challenges: Dozens of Shots, Many with No Equity Required
Pitch competitions continue to be one of the more accessible non-dilutive paths—if you’re prepared.
- There are 100+ startup competitions globally in 2025, many offering $10,000 to $100,000+ in prize funding without equity.
- Examples include Cartier Women’s Initiative (women-led ventures, non-dilutive), MIT $100K competition (donors grant ~ $300,000 in non-equity prize across tracks), and Pathway to Opportunity (connects small businesses to corporate supply chains)
- Platforms like StartupFundHub track dozens of open competitions across verticals and geographies.
Even if you don’t win, pitching is itself a valuable exercise; it sharpens your narrative, surfaces feedback, and puts you in front of new networks.
Why This Moment Calls for Proposal & Grant Strategy Expertise
When fewer programs are open, the competition intensifies. Many applicants will overreach or misalign. That’s why proposal quality and strategic targeting matter more than ever. Some key differentiators:
- Choosing which programs to chase (not all fits are equal)
- Crafting narratives that tie your project to the mission priorities of funders
- Building necessary partner relationships (universities, nonprofits, state agencies)
- Budget realism, compliance readiness, and project management plans
- Iterative feedback, mock reviews, and strengthening logic models
In short: you don’t just need more grant writing, you need smarter grant writing.
The Cost of Inaction: Don’t Let Time Slip
If you wait for SBIR to resume, you risk missing windows in other programs or being underprepared for when it does return. The longer you sit idle, the more momentum you lose.
Here’s your choice:
- Wait (but risk losing competitive timing and falling behind peers), or
- Act now, explore alternate programs, sharpen your proposals, and continue moving forward.
What EBHC Can Do for You
- Horizon scanning: We’ll monitor, vet, and alert you to new federal, state, and competition opportunities.
- Fit assessment: We help you decide which grants make strategic sense for your business (not “all the grants”).
- Proposal development: From narrative to budget, to compliance, to review readiness.
- Partner matchmaking: We help you build the consortium or collaborators many grants demand.
- Coaching & pitch refinement: Designing competition pitches, slide decks, and practice sessions.
Even in this uncertain time, EBHC remains by your side to guide you through the shifting funding landscape, sharpen your grant strategy, and keep your momentum alive.
Yes, SBIR is a high-profile anchor. But your funding strategy should never hinge on a single program alone. The ecosystem is wider, adaptable, and still active if you know where to look and how to compete.
You don’t have to go it alone. Now is when expert support matters most. Let’s keep you pushing forward.
Ready To Take the Next Step?
We assist our clients in locating, applying for, and evaluating the outcomes of non-dilutive grant funding. We believe non-dilutive funding is a crucial tool for mitigating investment risks, and we are dedicated to guiding our clients through the entire process—from identifying the most suitable opportunities to submitting and managing grant applications.