General Eligibility (All Applicants) 

Applicants must: 

1. Be a for-profit small business headquartered in Kansas. 

2. Meet all federal SBIR/STTR eligibility requirements. 

3. Conduct at least 51% of Phase I research activities in Kansas. 

4. Maintain 51% of operations within the state of Kansas for the duration of the project. 

5. Not receive concurrent funding that duplicates Kansas Phase 1 matching funds without KDC approval. 

Phase 0 Applicants: 

• Must meet Phase I eligibility requirements. 

• Must work with a grant writer or principal investigator with demonstrated experience in SBIR/STTR or other federal grant writing proposals. 

• Funds may only be used for professional services related to preparing a Phase I proposal. 

Phase I Applicants: 

• Must have received official notification of a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR award. 

• Applications must be submitted within the active federal Phase I project period. 

Funds may be used for: 

• Research and development (R&D) activities 

• Prototype development 

• Technical personnel cost 

• Materials and supplies 

• Equipment and instrumentation  

• Contractual or consultant services 

• Regulatory and compliance costs 

• Intellectual property and legal costs 

• Market research and commercialization planning 

• Travel 

•  Indirect costs/overhead (up to 15%)

Ineligible Uses of Funds 

Funds may not be used for: 

• General business operations or unrelated R&D 

• Marketing, sales, or general advertising activities 

• Purchase of land or real estate 

• Repayment of existing debts or prior obligations 

• Entertainment or non-project-related travel 

• Lobbying or political activities 

Application Process 

• Phase 0 Applications will be accepted starting October TBD, 2025 and will be awarded on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted. All applicants must first be vetted and recommended from the FAST Program, a support center, or must be working with a consultant/grant writer.  

• Phase I Applications will be accepted in two rounds throughout the year. Round 1 application will be open from October TBD, 2025 through November 7, 2025. Round 2 applications will be open from April 1, 2026, to May 8, 2026. 

Applicants must submit the following: 

1. Completed application form (available at [KDC website link]) 

2. Documentation of Kansas business registration and headquarters location 

3. Federal SBIR/STTR eligibility confirmation (self-certification and/or federal application materials) 

4. For Phase 0: 

• Contract, invoice, or letter of engagement with consultant, grant writer, PI 

• Scope of work and budget for proposal development 

5. For Phase I: 

• Copy of official federal Phase I award notification 

• Federal submission package with scope of work and budget 

KDC reserves the right to: 

• Verify the accuracy of all information provided. 

• Reject individuals or firms that do not meet minimum qualifications. 

• Maintain and publish an optional public list of pre-approved grant writers/PIs for applicants to reference. 

Award Administration 

• Awards will be distributed on a reimbursement basis unless otherwise approved. 

• Recipients must submit progress and expenditure reports as required by KDC. 

• Any unspent funds must be returned to Kansas Department of Commerce. 

Virtual

In-Person – Groover Labs, Wichita 

334 N Saint Francis Ave, Wichita, KS 67202 

In-Person – Innovate24, Manhattan

1880 Kimball Ave STE 120, Manhattan, KS 66502

In-Person – KU Innovation Park, Lawrence 

2029 Becker Dr, Lawrence, KS 66047 

Virtual