SBIR Proposal Writing Tips

Writing a competitive SBIR Phase I proposal is a discipline, not an art. These ten practices separate funded proposals from the rest.

• Lead with the problem, not the technology. Open with a clear, agency-relevant problem statement tied to the solicitation's mission before you describe your solution.
• Answer the topic, exactly. Map every requirement in the solicitation to a section of your proposal — reviewers score against the topic, not your enthusiasm.
• Follow the evaluation-criteria order. Structure the narrative in the order the criteria are weighted so each point lands where the reviewer expects it.
• Quantify the innovation. Replace adjectives with numbers — performance gains, cost reductions, timelines — and cite the baseline you are beating.
• Show feasibility, not a finished product. Phase I funds risk reduction; present a credible plan with preliminary evidence, not a claim that it already works.
• Address commercialization early. Name the customer, the market, and the path to Phase II/III revenue — reviewers fund a trajectory, not a science project.
• Make the work plan concrete. Break Phase I into tasks with milestones, deliverables, and a schedule a reviewer can hold you to.
• Right-size the team. Show the PI and key personnel have the specific expertise the work requires, and justify any consultants or subawards.
• Respect the format rules. Page limits, margins, font, and required sections are pass/fail gates — a non-compliant proposal is rejected unread.
• Revise for the reviewer, then submit early. Have someone outside the project read it against the criteria, tighten every paragraph, and submit before the deadline crush.