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 July 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 $299/mo and a flat $999 / $1,999 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.
Priced and built specifically for small businesses, not enterprise. Low cost subscription provides find and remind capabilities. Per proposal pricing ensures you only pay for builds you choose.
Required · Monthly
Spotlight Subscription
$299/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
Per-Proposal
Phase I — Like Effort
$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
$1,999per proposal
SBIR/STTR Phase II, larger BAA, OTA prototypes, complex NOFOs. 20-50+ page tech volumes. Commercialization plans included.
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 July 2026