NIH SBIR/STTR Cohort
Free education and individualized coaching for Minnesota companies preparing competitive NIH SBIR/STTR applications.
Are you ready to advance your health-related research, technology or product?
Whether you are developing a drug, medical device, therapeutic, diagnostic, digital health solution or other health innovation, the NIH SBIR/STTR Cohort can help you pursue federal funding to support research, development and commercialization. NIH’s current published standard budget guidelines are $323,090 for Phase I and $2,153,927 for Phase II. Individual Institutes and Centers can establish different limits and some waiver-eligible Phase I and II topics permit larger budgets. Several Institutes offer $400,000 to $700,000 for Phase I, and $2,500,000 to $3,000,000 for Phase II or Direct Phase II.
The Cohort helps eligible Minnesota companies prepare high-quality applications for:
- Phase I
- Phase II
- Fast Track
- Direct to Phase II
Program Goal
Help each participating company prepare and submit a high-quality, responsive NIH SBIR/STTR application.
💡 Preparing a competitive NIH application requires a significant commitment—often 200 hours or more. The Cohort is designed for companies ready to invest the necessary time and effort.
Two Stages of Support
Stage 1: Formal Education
Learn the essential NIH SBIR/STTR requirements, application components, review criteria and submission process.
Ready to Continue?
After completing the formal education, companies interested in individualized coaching complete MNSBIR’s readiness and program qualification process, including the Discovery Call, SBIR/STTR Readiness Tool, Catalyst Program Application and Intent to Apply.
Stage 2: Individualized Coaching and Support
Receive in-depth, one-on-one guidance tailored to your company, research project and application.
Get Started Before the Cohort
New to NIH SBIR/STTR?
Watch NIH SEED Small Business 101: America’s Seed Fund is Back — Powered by HHS for an introduction to the program and the fundamentals you will need for the Cohort.
Also, watch NIH Small Business 101: Managing Foreign Risk to understand the foreign disclosure, due-diligence, and risk-management requirements that now apply to SBIR/STTR applicants.