The Phase 0 Program 

TREND partners with the Experimental Program to Simulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to offer the Phase 0 program. Phase 0 provides grants of up to $5,000 to assist small businesses with SBIR/STTR proposal preparation.

A second level of funding, the Bridge Grant, is available to those Alaska companies with current Phase I or II awards. Bridge Grants are up to $10,000.

The Alaska Phase 0 Program is an optional and auxiliary phase designed to give Phase I and Phase II proposals a greater rate of success by providing expert reviews and financial support. It is not an official phase of the SBIR or STTR program and it is not a required step; however, SBIR and STTR proposals submitted under the Alaska Phase 0 Program have a 30% award rate while the national average is just 15%.

Eligibility

To be eligible for full Phase 0 funding applicants must:

1. Be an Alaskan resident or business
2. Submit a draft of their SBIR or STTR proposal to TREND at least 5 weeks prior to the federal solicitation deadline
3. Consult with TREND to identify best use of funds for proposal development

Review Criteria

Phase 0 awards are reviewed according to the following:

• Significance and originality
• Appropriateness of the work plan
• Consideration of the expert review
• Relevance of the budget
• Clarity of the proposal

Contact TREND to learn more about the Phase 0 program.