DOD SBIR Phase II Submission Deadline (26.2)

## TEE Take

This SBIR deadline is the single most important non-dilutive funding opportunity for pre-revenue defense robotics startups this quarter. Phase II awards from the **Department of Defense** run $750K-$1.5M with no equity dilution and — critically — come with a built-in customer who has already validated your problem statement through the Phase I topic selection process.

The 26.2 solicitation cycle typically emphasizes autonomous systems, counter-UAS, contested logistics, and advanced manufacturing. If your technology touches any of these, the ROI on a strong proposal vastly exceeds the 40-60 hours of writing effort.

## Insider Tip

Read the Phase I final reports from competing teams before writing your Phase II proposal. They're available through **DTIC** (Defense Technical Information Center) and reveal exactly what the program manager cares about. Match their language, not yours. The single most common reason Phase II proposals fail: the team wrote about what they want to build instead of what the PM needs solved.

## What to Expect

Expect 4-6 month review cycles. The **DOD** has been tightening timelines, but budget uncertainty in FY26 could slow things down. Plan your cash runway accordingly — don't assume the money arrives before Q4 2026.

## Who Should Attend

Hardware startups with defense applications that completed Phase I successfully. Also relevant for dual-use robotics, autonomy, and manufacturing companies that haven't done SBIR before — Phase II Direct-to-Phase-II opportunities exist for companies with prior private funding demonstrating technical feasibility.