Small Business Grants for Healthcare & Biotech (2026)
Healthcare and biotech startups have access to some of the largest grant programs in the federal government, led by the National Institutes of Health SBIR/STTR program which funds hundreds of small businesses each year developing medical devices, therapeutics, diagnostics, and health IT solutions.
NIH SBIR Phase I awards up to $293,297 for feasibility studies, with Phase II funding up to $1,955,314 for continued development. The program covers virtually every area of biomedical research, from cancer therapeutics and rare disease treatments to digital health platforms and medical imaging technology.
Beyond NIH, the Department of Defense funds healthcare innovations relevant to military medicine, the Department of Energy supports bioenergy research, and the EPA funds environmental health technologies. The NSF also funds health-adjacent technologies in areas like biomedical engineering and computational biology.
State-level programs provide additional support. Maryland's TEDCO invests in early-stage biotech companies. Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Technology Partners funds healthcare innovators across the state. Colorado's Advanced Industries program includes bioscience as a priority sector.
Private and corporate programs round out the landscape. MassChallenge runs health-focused accelerator tracks. Google for Startups supports health AI companies. Various disease-specific foundations offer grants for companies developing treatments in their focus areas.
The healthcare grant ecosystem rewards companies with strong scientific evidence, clear regulatory pathways, and the potential to meaningfully improve patient outcomes. Companies with academic partnerships, preliminary data, and experienced management teams tend to be the most competitive applicants.
Active Healthcare & Biotech Grants75 Available
Award Amount
$150,000 - $293,297
NIH SBIR/STTR Phase I
Award Amount
$4,000 - $4,000
NASE Growth Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Amber Grant for Women
Award Amount
$1,000 - $10,000
Skip Monthly Business Grants
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
IFundWomen Universal Grant Application
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Venmo Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
California Dream Fund
Award Amount
$10,000 - $1,000,000
Texas Enterprise Fund
Award Amount
$10,000 - $25,000
Global NY Grant Fund
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
NYS Business Seed Funding
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Florida Export Marketing Plan
Award Amount
$5,000 - $150,000
Illinois Back to Business (B2B)
Award Amount
$100,000 - $500,000
Advantage Illinois (SSBCI)
Award Amount
$2,000 - $10,000
Global Access Program (GAP)
Award Amount
$600,000 - $5,000,000
EDA Public Works Program
Award Amount
$150,000 - $2,500,000
EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance
Award Amount
$75,000 - $150,000
SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA HUBZone Program
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA Women-Owned Small Business Contracting
Award Amount
$20,000 - $5,000,000
California Competes Tax Credit
Award Amount
$50,000 - $1,000,000
California IBank Small Business Loan Guarantee
Award Amount
$2,000 - $500,000
Texas Skills Development Fund
Award Amount
$3,000 - $6,000
Florida Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund
Award Amount
$25,000 - $2,000,000
Illinois EDGE Tax Credit Program
Award Amount
$10,000 - $245,000
Illinois Small Business Capital & Infrastructure Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $1,000,000
InvestOhio Tax Credit
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
JobsOhio Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$35,000 - $250,000
OneGeorgia Authority Grants
Award Amount
$50,000 - $1,000,000
Georgia REBA (Regional Economic Business Assistance)
Award Amount
$100,000 - $5,000,000
North Carolina Job Development Investment Grant
Award Amount
$50,000 - $1,000,000
One North Carolina Fund
Award Amount
$50,000 - $500,000
Golden LEAF Foundation Open Grants
Award Amount
$50,000 - $2,000,000
Michigan Business Development Program
Award Amount
$5,000 - $200,000
Michigan Going PRO Talent Fund
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
Michigan Match on Main
Award Amount
$2,000 - $10,000
Washington State Export Voucher Program
Award Amount
$25,000 - $250,000
Washington Small Business Flex Fund
Award Amount
$5,000 - $50,000
Massachusetts Biz-M-Power Crowdfunding Match
Award Amount
$50,000 - $2,000,000
Virginia Commonwealth Opportunity Fund
Award Amount
$50,000 - $1,000,000
Minnesota Job Creation Fund
Award Amount
$50,000 - $500,000
Oregon Business Development Fund
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Maryland Small Business Grant Program
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
Hello Alice Small Business Growth Fund
Award Amount
$20,000 - $20,000
Allstate Main Street Grants (Hello Alice)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Fund Her Future Grant (H&R Block)
Award Amount
$1,000 - $15,000
Kiva 0% Interest Microloans
Award Amount
$15,000 - $25,000
Amazon Business Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$20,000 - $20,000
Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Hero
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Ladies Who Launch Program
Award Amount
$500 - $2,500
Freed Fellowship Grant
Award Amount
$30,000 - $100,000
Cartier Women's Initiative (2027 Cycle)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
EmpowHer Grant
Award Amount
$7,500 - $7,500
Halstead Grant for Jewelry Designers
Award Amount
$15,000 - $15,000
Girlboss Foundation Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Red Backpack Fund (Spanx Foundation)
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
NAWBO / Mastercard Small Business Grants
Award Amount
$2,000 - $5,000
Second Service Foundation Veteran Awards
Award Amount
$10,000 - $25,000
Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $50,000
PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Program
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP x L'Oreal Beauty Industry Grants
Award Amount
$10,000 - $20,000
Fearless Strivers Grant (Fearless Fund + Mastercard)
Award Amount
$1,500 - $5,000
First Nations Acorn Fund
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
NBMBAA Scale-Up Pitch Challenge
Award Amount
$5,000 - $10,000
NDI Small Business Hub (Disability Entrepreneurs)
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP Power Forward Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $15,000
USHCC / Wells Fargo Hispanic Business Grants
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for NIH SBIR funding?▼
Start at seed.nih.gov to identify the right NIH institute for your technology. Submit through Grants.gov using the standard SBIR/STTR application forms. Receipt dates are typically in April, August, and December. You will need a strong research plan, preliminary data, and a principal investigator primarily employed by your company.
Can a digital health startup get SBIR grants?▼
Yes. NIH, NSF, and DOD all fund digital health innovations including telehealth platforms, health AI, electronic health records, clinical decision support, and patient engagement tools. The key is framing your technology as addressing a significant health challenge with a clear commercialization path.
Are there grants for medical device companies?▼
Absolutely. NIH SBIR funds medical devices across all therapeutic areas. The NSF funds novel biomedical engineering approaches. DOD SBIR supports devices with military medical applications. State programs like Maryland TEDCO and Ohio Third Frontier also invest in medical device startups.
Do healthcare grants require FDA approval?▼
Not for initial funding. SBIR Phase I grants fund feasibility and early development, well before FDA submission. However, your application should demonstrate awareness of the regulatory pathway and a realistic timeline for FDA clearance or approval. Having a regulatory strategy strengthens your application significantly.