SBIR Academy: Learn how to compete for non-dilutive funding
In under eight weeks, two seasoned entrepreneurs will help you prepare, write, and submit your SBIR Phase I application, with one-on-one support at every step.
How it works
Our Academy teaches you how to evaluate grant opportunities, plan your application, and write an effective response. We give you the structure to write faster and serve as your partner and guide.
Video tutorials
Learn about all key grant writing activities at your own pace.
Weekly office hours
Get regular, reliable feedback from our Academy instructors in both weekly one-on-one and group sessions.
Final application review
One of our instructors will review every section of your application before the final submission to boost your chances of success.
Checklists and Templates
We give you application checklists and templates for major sections to get you writing rather than figuring out where to start.
We accept applicants on a rolling basis, so you can join at any time.
The best time to start the Academy is at least eight weeks before the application deadline.
Check out our FAQ below for more details about the program.
Why should you join?
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Gliding Ant Ventures has helped us secure multiple SBIR grants, including funding from the Department of Energy, NOAA and the NSF. Virginia’s grant writing skills are a key reason we were able secure as many of these awards as we have - she was pivotal in helping secure our Phase 2B award. The SBIR program has helped our company grow significantly, and we are really excited to now have products in the market that were funded through R&D projects we proposed for SBIR funding.
James Joslin
Co-Founder and President
MarineSitu -
![A woman with long hair wearing a knitted sweater, smiling outdoors with a greenery-filled background.]()
Jared and Virginia offered insightful guidance on both writing and strategy, covering everything from research direction to business plan. The program’s holistic approach gave our team confidence in the proposal we submitted.
Camille Hougardy
Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer
Panyon -
![The letters "2ND" in bold yellow on a dark blue background, with a stylized office chair forming part of the "D."]()
The Academy served as an excellent partner in the process. When our team hit snags or had frustrations with the process, the Academy team was always quickly available and able to unlock our work.
Austin Brittenham
CEO and Co-founder
2nd Chair -
![A smiling man with a shaved head and wearing a dark button-up shirt, standing outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.]()
Gliding Ant Ventures helped me write a USDA grant - and it was awarded! They worked with me against a tight deadline to refine the experimental design, workshop the wording, and get a successful proposal put together. I’m confident in my skills now for securing other grant funding, and accessing this non-dilutive capital.
Aaron Huang
CEO and Co-Founder Oo-Nee
Oo-Nee -
![Logo of Tiny Scientific with a purple icon and white text on a black background.]()
We absolutely put together our best proposal yet because of going through SBIR Academy. It was in part because you demystified the grant-writing process with the resources you provided and by uncovering hidden curriculum for us. But it was also because you pushed us to articulate why our business is worthy of investment.
Virginia Schutte
CEO
Tini Scientific
SBIR Academy FAQs
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You can apply here. We accept applications on a rolling basis, and suggest starting at least 8 weeks from the submission due date, with a minimum of 6 weeks to ensure enough time. Our application has a few questions about your company and your proposed application. We review applications on a rolling basis and contact qualified applicants to register and pay for the program, but it is a competitive program and we are selective about who we work with.
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Our Academy is designed to teach you how to evaluate grant opportunities, plan your application, and write an effective response. We provide a structured program where you write, and we serve as a partner and guide.
We offer video tutorials on various grant writing activities you can watch at your convenience.
There are weekly individual office hours with one of our Academy instructors to review your recent progress and answer questions.
We also offer weekly group writing halls to help you block time to get writing done. We attend to answer questions in real time to keep you moving.
Finally, we will thoroughly review all application materials and answer questions as you submit.
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The Academy will cover the following topics:
Basics & Value Proposition Design - Make sure you are ready to apply and start thinking about the value proposition your technology can provide.
Team - Learn what makes for a good team and how to one
Writing - Learn tips and tricks to make writing fast and efficient and learn where the easiest place to start writing isTechnical Objectives - Learn how to set project objectives and craft a concise and compelling project plan
Commercialization Plan - Learn what components make for a persuasive commercialization plan and business model
Budget and Justification - Learn how to create a project budget and get the most out of the funds available
Broader Impacts/Executive Summary - Learn how to concisely communicate the value and impact of your project in terms that will help reviewers and program officers
Final Details/Submission Process - Make sure we have all the components and be ready to submit through the agency portal
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We work with companies applying to any federal agency that offers an SBIR/STTR program. Our personal experience in successful applications spans HHS, FDA/CDC, USDA, NSF, DARPA, DOD, DOE, and NOAA, and we have had positive feedback from applications submitted to NASA and the Department of Education.
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Our programming generally applies to all SBIR applicants, but we typically focus on deep tech companies building on recent fundamental science and engineering research.
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This is an active learning and doing program. We will review each significant component of your proposal package and hold a one-hour working session with you weekly during the program so that we can review and edit as you write. This will include a detailed final proposal review before the application deadline. We are also available at semi-weekly writing halls for quick feedback.
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Whether you have applied for or been awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR award in the past, the Academy can help turbocharge your next application.
For our more experienced grant writers, we serve more as a partner and guide. Grant writing can be a lonely process. We are there every step of the way to keep you motivated and help you solve problems quickly.
And you have access to all of our program resources (e.g., templates, videos, checklists) to make your life easier.
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No. The SBIR/STTR program is competitive, and Gliding Ant cannot guarantee the review process results. We will do everything possible to help you make the most competitive proposal possible. Our personal success rates are 3-4x higher than average, and we will share our application secrets with you.
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This program is primarily designed for Phase 1 applicants only. However, if you are looking for assistance with a Phase 2 application, please fill out our application form and note this in the last question on the form, and we will be in touch. We are in the process of creating a program specifically to support Phase 2 applicants.
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We run the Academy on an ongoing basis. This way, you can join at a time that coincides with the agency deadline you are applying to. Apply at any time, and we will work with you to find a start date. Apply at least eight weeks before the application deadline.
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The Academy is 100% remote. So, whether you are in Washington State, Kansas, or Florida, Gliding Ant is here to support you.
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We offer two ways to pay for the program:
Invest in yourself
You make a $3,500 upfront payment for the entire program.
Gliding Ant invests in you
You make a $900 upfront payment to enroll and agree to contract with Gliding Ant for TABA work if the award is approved, with a scope of work agreed upon before proposal submission, typically in the range of 5% of total project costs.