SD SBIR/STTR Support

South Dakota SBIR/STTR Support

Fuel Your Innovation with Federal R&D Funding Helping startups and innovators navigate SBIR and STTR opportunities—from idea to award.

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SBIR/STTR Resources for South Dakota Startups

South Dakota startups and innovators have access to a set of SBIR/STTR resources and support options designed to reduce barriers, strengthen proposals, and improve competitiveness for federal funding.

These resources are flexible and can be used independently, depending on a company's stage, needs, and goals.

Proposal Support

Eligible South Dakota startups may access specialized SBIR/STTR proposal support through BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting (BBCetc).

SBIR/STTR Proposal Consulting

SBIR/STTR proposal support is provided by BBCetc. Startups engage directly with the consulting firm and are responsible for the full cost of services.

BBCetc specializes in SBIR/STTR proposal development and can provide:

Client Assessment
Training
Agency Tool Kit
Proposal Editing and Review
Proposal Submission
Post-Submission Assistance

SBIR Proposal Assistance Pilot

To help South Dakota companies prepare competitive SBIR and STTR proposals, SD SBIR is offering a limited pilot to support proposal development services through BBCetc.

Pilot Funding Opportunity
Eligible companies may receive up to $3,500 in reimbursement funding for BBCetc proposal assistance services.
Up to $3,500 reimbursement for eligible BBCetc services

Available to the first 10 approved applicants
One award per company
Funding agreement with SD SBIR must be executed before engaging BBCetc
Reimbursement issued following submission of a qualifying SBIR or STTR proposal

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible companies must:

Be legally headquartered in South Dakota
Be a startup or small business pursuing an SBIR or STTR opportunity
Have completed formal customer discovery training through NSF Regional I-Corps or a previous FAST Launch customer discovery training through SD Biotech
Submit a customer discovery report
Provide an executive summary of the proposed SBIR/STTR project

Funding Availability
Pilot funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants and is subject to available program funds.

Apply for the SBIR Proposal Assistance Pilot

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Training & Educational Webinars

We host quarterly SBIR/STTR training webinars through BBCetc focused on proposal readiness and strategy.

Upcoming Webinars

ABCs of the SBIR/STTR Program
October 22, 2026 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (CT)

Find out how the government's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs can provide a source of non-dilutive R&D funding for initial development of your high-risk, innovative idea and proof that it has potential in the marketplace. These two programs provide over $5 billion to innovative small companies annually! Join our expert in this virtual session to learn what it takes to participate in the programs. This training is designed to provide enough information for attendees to determine if they would like to seriously pursue proposal development and provide the necessary steps to help begin the process. We'll review:

Eligibility requirements
Participating agencies
The differences between SBIR and STTR
How to determine which agency is right for you
Common misconceptions and more!

Who should attend:

Companies from startups with less than 500 employees who do early-stage, technical R&D
Academics who want to commercialize their technologies
Companies who are seeking early stage, non-dilutive funding for research towards product development

REGISTER

Questions? Contact SDSBIR

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Have questions about eligibility, matching funds, webinars, or other resources?
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Other South Dakota Startup Resources

South Dakota startups may also benefit from additional state and regional resources that support entrepreneurship, commercialization, and access to capital.

Explore Other South Dakota Startup Resources: