AFWERX STRATFI

AFWERX (Department of the Air Force SBIR/STTR)·United States

Growth-stage bridge of $3-15 million in SBIR/STTR funding for current or recent Phase II awardees, conditional on matching $30 million or more in government and private investment.

What you get

$3,000,000–$15,000,000Cash

“Funding: $3-15 million in SBIR/STTR funding. Matched by $30 million or more in government/private investment.”

Equity takenNone, non-dilutive

Strings attachedRequires matched funding of $30 million or more in government/private investment.

Can you apply

VC backingnot stated

Referral or partnerNot required

Registered companyRequired

IndividualsNot eligible

Open sourcenot stated

Team size capUnder 500 employees

CountriesUnited States

Before you applyMust hold a current or recent SBIR/STTR Phase II award and must not have received a previous STRATFI/TACFI for the same technology. Matching investment of $30 million or more from government and/or private sources is required. Firms must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

Eligibility: Small Business Concern. Current or recent Phase II. No previous STRATFI/TACFI for the same technology.

When

Not open yet. The next round is listed below.

Upcoming

STRATFI cycle (dates not published)dates not announced

What AFWERX (Department of the Air Force SBIR/STTR) funds

AFWERX manages the Department of the Air Force's SBIR and STTR programs, funding U.S. small businesses building dual-use technologies (including AI, autonomy and software) that transition into Air and Space Force operational capabilities. Since 2020 it has awarded more than 9,000 SBIR and STTR contracts totalling $7.31 billion.

Everything AFWERX (Department of the Air Force SBIR/STTR) funds →

Details

STRATFI helps companies bridge the "Valley of Death", accelerates transition from prototype into operational capability, and aligns technology with acquisition strategies while attracting private capital. AFWERX reports that 63.5% of STRATFI companies have transitioned to Phase III. No open or close dates for the STRATFI cycle were published on the AFWERX Get Funded page at the time of capture.

Apply on AFWERX (Department of the Air Force SBIR/STTR)

Read off the AFWERX (Department of the Air Force SBIR/STTR) page on 29 Aug 2026. Funders move amounts and eligibility without announcing it, so confirm any figure here before you count on it.