Beyond federal schemes
Federal innovation & defense programs
Beyond SBIR/STTR, several federal agencies and defense innovation units run their own startup-facing programs — non-dilutive funding, accelerators, and fast-track paths into government contracts. These sit outside the standard federal grant/loan process and behave more like a corporate venture arm than a typical government program.
US Air Force / Space Force
AFWERX
The Air Force's innovation arm, spanning AFVentures (direct investment in emerging tech via SBIR/STTR), Spark (training and networking), and Prime (accelerating technology development). Since 2020, AFWERX has awarded more than 9,000 SBIR/STTR contracts totaling over $7B to startups and small businesses.
afwerx.com
US Department of Defense
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Facilitates prototyping and scaling of commercial technology (including space, AI, and cyber) across the DoD, often moving faster than the traditional acquisition process and funding via Other Transaction Authority agreements.
www.diu.mil
US Department of Defense
National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)
Runs 10-16 week structured programs pairing interdisciplinary teams with real DoD problem sponsors, plus follow-on commercialization support and startup grants (e.g. $50,000 for early commercialization).
www.nsin.mil
US Intelligence Community
In-Q-Tel
An independent not-for-profit venture firm that invests in technology useful to the Intelligence Community, generally targeting companies that can deliver working technology within about 36 months.
www.iqt.org
NASA
NASA SBIR/STTR & Technology Transfer
NASA participates in the standard federal SBIR/STTR program with its own agency-specific technology topics, and separately licenses NASA-developed technology to startups through its Technology Transfer Program.
www.nasa.gov
US Department of Energy
DOE National Lab Commercialization Programs
DOE's national laboratories run technology-commercialization and small-business voucher programs that give startups access to lab expertise, equipment, and licensable technology outside the standard grant process.
www.energy.gov
Programs open and close on their own cycles — check each organisation's portal for live challenges and cohort dates.