Due to the government shutdown, this page is not being updated.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Effective 1 October 2025, SBIR/STTR program authorization has expired. New activity is paused; ongoing awards remain valid. Awardees are encouraged to contact their TPOCs and contracting officers with questions regarding active awards.
* Congressional authorization of the SBIR and STTR programs is set to expire on September 30, 2025. Due to the absence of congressional reauthorization of the programs as of September 23, 2025, the pre-release period for SBIR/STTR 25.4/D Release 12 will be extended and topics will not open on September 24, 2025, as originally scheduled.
The Department anticipates the 25.4/D Release 12 topics will open on the first Wednesday following program reauthorization, with the closing dates extended accordingly to maintain a four-week open period for proposal submissions.
Space Ventures works with industry to identify, mature, and accelerate capabilities. In addition, this investment arm creates pathways for innovators and private capital investors to help advance Space Force technologies. In this role, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) becomes an early-stage investor by offering non-dilutive capital to accelerate commercialization and partnerships that address military needs.
Space Force Accelerators help catalyze the match between commercial products and defense needs. Accelerators partner with startups and universities to grow their business model and Space Force capabilities.
The Catalyst Space Accelerator is a 12-week, semi-residential program located in Colorado Springs. It is designed to increase the Space Force’s awareness and rapid acquisition of commercial dual-use space technology by providing relevant business development training to Accelerator companies. It also connects these entrepreneurs with end-users, decision-makers, and potential new customers in the DoD and commercial realms.
These events enable entrepreneurs, warfighters, and experts to meet, learn, and discuss current challenges. Each unique Collider focuses on an area of interest to spark interaction and further collaboration among participants.
Venture Capital is a form of private equity and financing that investors provide to startups and small businesses believed to have long-term growth potential. Through SpaceWERX, the U.S. Space Force acts as a venture capitalist, investing in talent and technologies that can transition to solving Space Force needs. SpaceWERX is also working with the investor community to identify, accelerate, and scale emerging capabilities and markets.
Space Challenges are opportunities for individuals to submit solutions to specific challenges that the Space Force launches. Challenge winners might be funded for demonstration and testing and may even be eligible for a military contract.
Hyperspace Challenge brings together tech startups with government innovators to accelerate collaboration between commercial and government communities. Hyperspace Challenge’s unique virtual and in-person program facilitates interactions between promising technologies and timely problems to increase rapid acquisition and contracting opportunities.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization by partnering with Space Force units. The SBIR program’s counterpart, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), offers an opportunity for university teams (undergraduate, graduate, doctorate, post-doctorate, faculty/staff) who have formed companies and partnered with a university or non-profit entrepreneurial development organizations to do business with the Space Force.
Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) and Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) catalyze the relationships between Air Force and Space Force end-users and acquisition professionals, private-sector innovators, and the investment community to bridge the capability gap between current SBIR/STTR Phase II efforts and Phase III scaling efforts, facilitating the delivery of strategic capabilities for the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
Phase III refers to work that derives from, extends, or completes an effort made under prior SBIR/STTR funding agreements, but is funded by sources other than the SBIR/STTR program. This phase’s purpose is to transition a company’s SBIR/STTR effort into hardware or software products, processes or services that benefit the Air Force acquisition community or the private sector. Learn more here.
