Field Signal · What's Live, What Changed
Funding Signal — the reads that matter
A short, curated list of live non-dilutive funding opportunities and the federal policy shifts that affect them — each with a one-line read on who it fits and where the catch is. This is not the full list (SBIR.gov is), and it isn't advice; it's the judgment I'd apply before recommending you spend a week on any of them.
Updated 29 July 2026 · curated, not exhaustive
Open opportunities
The read: A pitch-first gate — a short pitch by Sep 10, not a full proposal, and only invited companies advance. Built for AI, quantum, biotechnology, and advanced-materials teams; full requests cap at $250K ($256,500 with TABA). Fast and streamlined by design, which means the pitch is the whole screen — it has to land in four questions. A broader Phase I round covering other topics is expected this fall for teams that don't fit the four areas.
The read: Opened the same day as Genesis — roughly $147M for eligible prior Phase I/II awardees, who receive direct outreach with requirements and timelines. If you hold a DOE Phase I, this is your Phase II lane, and the commercialization plan carries more weight here than it did in Phase I. That plan is exactly where most teams underbuild.
Policy signals
The read: The expensive Level 2 third-party audit that was set to phase in Nov 10, 2026 is paused, pending a 60-day program review — while Level 1 self-assessment still applies. If CMMC was your reason to skip defense work, that calculus just changed; but the framework is a moving target, so don't over-build for it. My full take is on About CMMC.
See one that fits?
If any of these maps to what you're building, the fastest way to know whether it's worth a week of your time is a short conversation — that's the go/no-go I'd run first. Let's talk before the window closes →
Curated selection — informational, not advice. Entries reflect public announcements as of the date shown and are not exhaustive. Deadlines and terms change; always confirm the current requirement in the official solicitation. External links open the source announcement and are not endorsements.