Launch Tennessee today announced the 32 companies selected for its FY26 SBIR/STTR Matching Fund, marking a historic milestone as the program surpasses $1 billion in total economic impact – measured through follow-on capital raised, additional grants leveraged, and wages generated across the State of Tennessee.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive federal programs that catalyze domestic small businesses to engage in research and development with the potential for commercialization.
Through the SBIR/STTR Matching Fund, Launch Tennessee helps Tennessee companies compete more effectively for federal SBIR/STTR awards. Since 2017, this support has contributed to a doubling of annual SBIR/STTR funding in the state, while providing critical capital to accelerate commercialization for awarded companies.