How to Write a Good SBIR/STTR Grant Proposal with a Specific Focus on Gaming: An Opportunity for Digital Media Products Funding

I have had the opportunity to serve as a reviewer on several National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program panels in the subject areas of information technology and education applications. The SBIR/STTR program is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to get funding for exciting, potentially lucrative products in digital media. Funding is provided for innovative and risky projects that push the boundaries of existing technologies. The program seeks specifically to fund ambitious, entrepreneurial companies that have developed new products for which there is a demonstrated market. Successful phase I grantees are then eligible for phase II grants, which can total more than US$1 million. However, many in the game development community are either unaware of the existence of this funding opportunity or they have little experience in writing good grant proposals. In my experience, the quality of the proposals submitted for funding in this area is lower than the quality of proposals in other areas such as human-computer interaction or user interface design. The goal of this article is to provide information about the program and help authors write solid proposals so that excellent ideas from the game development community can get funded.