Phase 0 KickStarter Grant
Funding Amount
Up to $5,000
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round
- Tracked since
- April 2026
From the program guidelines: “Timeline: Applications are accepted anytime (rolling basis)”
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Small businesses in Maine
Other requirements
- Hiring grant writers to help fashion the proposal
- Engaging subject matter experts to conduct market research
- Other proposal preparation costs
- Companies planning to submit Phase I SBIR/STTR proposals to federal agencies
Overview
MTI offers Phase 0 KickStarter funds to companies needing help in defraying the costs of writing a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal.
Purpose: To help small businesses prepare competitive Phase I SBIR/STTR proposals for federal agencies.
Eligible Uses:
- Hiring grant writers to help fashion the proposal
- Engaging subject matter experts to conduct market research
- Other proposal preparation costs
Eligibility:
- Small businesses in Maine
- Companies planning to submit Phase I SBIR/STTR proposals to federal agencies
Geographic Scope: Maine (US)
Background: Helping Maine companies win SBIR/STTR grants is a strategic goal of MTI. Phase 0 KickStarter grants are part of MTI's comprehensive support program for SBIR/STTR applicants. More than 90 Maine companies working with MTI have won SBIR/STTR grants totaling more than $88 million since MTI began this program in 2000.
Support Services: MTI also provides a free Technical Assistance Program (TAP) that helps companies navigate the proposal preparation process and submit compelling proposals at no cost to the small business.
Contact:
- Karen West, MTI's Lead SBIR/STTR Consultant & Coordinator of TAP
- Phone: (207) 845-2934
- Email: [email protected]
Organization Address:
- 16 Middle St. STE 201
- Portland, ME 04101-5163
- Phone: (207) 582-4790
How to Apply
Application Process
Timeline: Applications are accepted anytime (rolling basis)
Application Requirements:
- Simple two-page application
Contact for Applications:
- Karen West, MTI's Lead SBIR/STTR Consultant
- Phone: (207) 845-2934
- Email: [email protected]
Process:
- Complete the two-page application
- Submit to MTI
- Applications reviewed on rolling basis
- Award decisions made based on need and readiness to submit Phase I proposal
What Maine Technology Institute actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 194
- Total given
- $22.24M
- Median grant
- $50K
- Range
- $5,040–$3M
- By dollars: Maine 94%, Massachusetts 3%, Vermont 2%. Top recipient cities: Portland, ME; Brunswick, ME; Orono, ME.
- 2% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 66% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Somerset Economic Development Corporation · Skowhegan, ME
Somerset Forest Recovery Program
$3M
Hancock Lumber Company Inc · Casco, ME
Bethel Value Added
$990K
Stratton Lumber Inc · Stratton, ME
Hurst Boiler, Grinder and Auto-wrapper
$990K
Roux Institute · Portland, ME
BioIN Incubator and BioPILOT Lab, a collaboration between the Northeastern/Roux…
$560K
Eme Biofuels LLC · Woodstock, VT
EME Biofuels
$500K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Small businesses
- Startups
- Technology
Categories
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