proposalsstrategy
5 Strategies That Win SBIR Proposals in 2026
After analyzing hundreds of successful proposals, these 5 patterns consistently separate winners from the pack.
Eric Wagner·May 21, 2026
AI + Expert · From Application to Submission
A proposal engine,
not a proposal gamble.
Win non-dilutive federal R&D funding — without burning a month of payroll on every submission. We pair 25 years of hands-on expertise with isolated, company-specific AI, so you pursue more opportunities and submit better proposals. (SBIR, STTR, BAA, OTA.)
Platform launches August 2026. 20 founding-cohort seats. Applications reviewed weekly.
4+
Federal Sources Ingested
72h
Expert-Review SLA
20
Founding Cohort Cap
25+
Years of Fed R&D Expertise
New to federal R&D?
There are billions a year in non-dilutive federal R&D funding — grant-like money you keep your equity and IP on. Most qualifying small businesses never apply. We make it accessible.
Start here →The math
Replaces a $5,000/mo monitoring service and a 10%-of-award consultant — for $499/mo and a flat $1,999 / $4,999 per proposal. No success fee.
See pricing →How it works
From application to submitted proposal — one workflow.
01 — Find
Daily, expert-curated ingestion across SAM.gov, SBIR.gov, Grants.gov, and agency portals — ranked to your tech areas.
02 — Build
Buy a portal when you find a fit. Your isolated AI drafts against your library; your team revises in a stage-gated workspace.
03 — Submit & improve
Export a compliant, submission-ready package. Every cycle makes the next cheaper, faster, and more accurate.
How We Charge
One subscription.
Per-proposal portals.
Built for small businesses, not enterprise — a low-cost subscription to find and track opportunities, plus per-proposal pricing so you only pay for the builds you choose.
Required · Monthly
Spotlight Subscription
$499/mo
Daily ingestion. AI-powered ranking against your profile. Expert-curated compliance matrix. Deadline alerts. 15 min of Ask-the-Expert each month (rolls over).
Required to purchase any portal · 3-month minimum
Per-Proposal
Phase I — Like Effort
$1,999per proposal
SBIR/STTR Phase I, smaller BAA topics, OTA/CSO short-form. 72-hour curation by Expert. Stage-gated workspace. Custom AI drafting.
Per-Proposal
Phase II — Like Effort
$4,999per proposal
SBIR/STTR Phase II, larger BAA, OTA prototypes, complex NOFOs. 20-50+ page tech volumes. Commercialization plans included. $3,999 with a linked Phase I in your library.
The Expert Gate
The AI drafts.
The Expert verifies.
Your Team collaborates.
Eric Wagner — Founder & Architect
25 years of federal R&D funding.
The Expert personally reviews every application, curates every solicitation released into your Spotlight, and is available for pre-submission review. As the service scales, additional experts will join the roster — you will always know which expert reviewed your pipeline.
- 72-hour application & curation SLA
- 15 min of strategy calls per month
- Agency-specific: DoD, NSF, DOE, DARPA, DOT
- Additional time on demand — $500/hr
Latest Insights
From the blog.
aisbir
How AI is Changing the SBIR Proposal Game
AI-powered tools are leveling the playing field for small businesses pursuing SBIR contracts.
Eric Wagner·May 19, 2026
sbirsttr
SBIR vs STTR: Understanding the Programs That Fund Innovation
Over $4 billion in annual federal R&D funding is available through SBIR and STTR. Here is how to choose the right program.
Eric Wagner·May 15, 2026
“Free trials attract tire-kickers who waste expert time that serious applicants need. The application itself is the qualifier.”
— Why No Free Trial
Applications Open · Launch August 2026