Should a biotech startup apply to NIH or NSF SBIR?

NIH suits health-specific programs reviewed by clinical and biomedical panels. NSF suits platform technologies where the novelty is scientific or engineering and the application reaches beyond health. We advise on the stronger fit before you write.

How much SBIR funding can a life sciences company raise?

NIH Phase I awards are typically around $300,000 and Phase II up to roughly $2 million. NSF funds up to $305,000 at Phase I and up to $1 million at Phase II, with supplements on top.

Do you have scientific writers for my therapeutic area?

Yes. Our team includes PhDs and former postdocs across therapeutics, diagnostics, devices and digital health, and we match a writer to your science.

Life sciences

Grant writers who speak your science

Our academically-led team includes PhDs and former postdocs. We turn preclinical data, regulatory strategy and reimbursement plans into applications that score.

Scientist holding a diagnostic chip in a life sciences lab

Why life sciences applications fail

Strong science, weak proposal. The most common reasons we see: aims that aren't hypothesis-driven, no clear go/no-go milestones, missing power calculations, a regulatory pathway that reviewers can't follow, and a commercialization plan written as an afterthought.

We fix all five, in your own scientific voice, backed by writers who have sat on the research side of the bench.

Book a free consultation See life sciences wins

Where we work

Therapeutics & drug discovery

Small molecule, biologics and cell & gene programs. Target validation through IND-enabling studies.

Diagnostics & devices

Assay development, point-of-care platforms, imaging and Class II/III device pathways.

Digital health & AI

Clinical decision support, remote monitoring and AI/ML models with a credible validation plan.

Research tools & bioprocessing

Instruments, reagents, organoids, lab automation and manufacturing scale-up.

Building a therapeutic, diagnostic or medical device? Read our NIH SBIR guide for biotech and life sciences founders.

Programs we target

NIH SBIR/STTR

Institute-specific topics with hard-science review panels. Phase I typically up to ~$300K, Phase II up to ~$2M.

NSF SBIR

Biotechnology is one of NSF's funded areas. Ideal for platform technologies that cut across health and industry.

ARPA-H, BARDA & DoD

Mission-driven health programs for high-risk, high-reward and defense-relevant medical innovation.

The NSF route, stage by stage

Biotechnology is one of the areas NSF funds, and many life sciences platforms score better at NSF than at NIH. Here is what each stage involves.

Let's fund your science

Book a free consultation with a grant writer who understands your therapeutic area or device pathway.

Book Free Consultation See our client wins