Your TL;DR: UofR researchers planning to submit an SBIR or STTR proposal in partnership with a university startup can access expert grant writing support. Services are available on a rolling basis and reviewed by internal staff.
Innovative research often sparks the idea for a startup—but translating academic research into fundable SBIR/STTR proposals requires specialized experience and strategic writing. The University of Rochester (UofR) understands this gap and offers dedicated grant writing support to move university-affiliated researchers toward startup success.
Academic innovators often struggle to align strong science with federal proposal demands.
Faculty and student researchers regularly make discoveries with commercial potential. But when it’s time to launch a startup and pursue federal funding, many find that crafting a competitive SBIR/STTR proposal requires skills and insight they have yet to develop. Navigating agency-specific criteria, proposal formatting, and commercialization planning can slow—or stall—momentum.
That’s where UofR’s support initiative comes in.
UofR offers expert SBIR/STTR proposal support for university-affiliated researchers
The University of Rochester’s SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Support Program helps researchers who are actively working with—or planning to work with—a UofR-affiliated startup. Support includes:
- Grant writing consultation
- Proposal strategy
- Review and refinement services
Funding amounts vary based on scope and need. The initiative is reviewed by internal UR staff and operates on a rolling basis, making it accessible throughout the academic and grant calendar.
This is not general grant support. It is specifically focused on helping researchers successfully apply for SBIR/STTR funding in partnership with university startups.
Move from lab to launch with the right proposal strategy in place
The program is designed to ensure university-led ventures don’t lose traction due to gaps in grant writing experience. With expert consultation, UofR researchers can develop a fundable SBIR/STTR proposal that meets technical and commercial standards. It’s an efficient way to transform academic ideas into federally supported startups.
This support is ideal for researchers in the ideation or early initiation stage, where aligning academic work with commercial objectives is essential.
A UofR biomedical research team recently tapped into the university’s SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Support to transform their lab discovery into a polished Phase I application. With expert guidance, they addressed agency requirements, strengthened their commercialization narrative, and secured their first non-dilutive funding.
Without early grant writing guidance, strong ideas can fail to attract funding
Even with strong preliminary data and a viable market application, proposals often fall short due to structure, narrative weaknesses, or missed compliance markers. Without access to targeted proposal support, university researchers may waste valuable time or miss early funding opportunities altogether.
UofR Ventures provides technical writing expertise and SBIR strategy on demand
Through this program, UofR researchers gain access to a customized support process focused on building fundable proposals with clear agency alignment. The structure is flexible, and the university’s internal review process ensures that requests are addressed efficiently.
To participate, researchers must be connected to a UofR-affiliated startup and preparing an SBIR or STTR application.
Ready to submit or planning a university-affiliated startup?
Visit UofR Ventures’ SBIR/STTR support page to review program details or email URVenturesInfo@urmc.rochester.edu for next steps. If you’re working on proposal strategy and want guidance on how to incorporate UofR’s program into your larger funding plan, schedule a consult call with our team.
EBHC partners with research-based startups to turn ideas into fundable proposals
Our team specializes in guiding university-affiliated startups through the SBIR/STTR process, from aligning academic research with commercial potential to crafting competitive federal applications. UofR’s grant writing support program is a smart, strategic resource for early-stage ventures ready to step into the funding arena.
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.