AFWERX

AFWERX is the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force, administering the U.S. Air Force and Space Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which provide non-dilutive contract funding to U.S.-based small businesses (500 or fewer employees, majority U.S.-owned) developing dual-use technologies across domains including autonomy, AI/ML, space systems, cybersecurity, advanced materials, propulsion, and RF/spectrum. Through its Open Topic and Specific Topic tracks, AFWERX awards Phase I (up to $75K SBIR / $110K STTR for 3-month feasibility and customer discovery), Phase II and Direct-to-Phase II (up to $1.25M SBIR / $1.8M STTR for prototyping over ~21 months), with follow-on TACFI and STRATFI bridge funding ranging from $3M to $15M+ for transition and scaling. Applications are submitted through the DoD SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) during periodic solicitation windows. Important note: as of 1 October 2025, SBIR/STTR program authorization has expired and new activity is paused, though ongoing awards remain valid; founders should monitor AFWERX for reauthorization updates before planning submissions.