Utah Technology Innovation Funding (UTIF) — SBIR/STTR Microgrant
Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) / Nucleus Utah
Up to $5,000 (Microgrant)
Utah funds your SBIR proposal before you win
Utah's Technology Innovation Funding (UTIF) program provides up to $5,000 in microgrants to Utah small businesses submitting their first SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal — covering proposal preparation costs before any federal award is in hand. Eligible companies that advance to Phase II can also access a nonrecourse loan of $50,000–$60,000. All UTIF applicants also receive free consulting and proposal development through Nucleus Utah, the state's official SBIR/STTR resource partner.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $3,000 – $5,000
- Realistic amount
- Microgrant: $3,000–$5,000 for qualified first-time SBIR/STTR Phase I applicants. Phase II loan: $50,000–$60,000 (nonreco…
- Deadline
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round. Must be pre-approved by the Utah Innovation Center before submitting a Phase I proposal to a federal agency.
- Status
- active
- States
- UT
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Business must be headquartered in Utah
- Must hold an active Utah business license or be registered with Utah's Division of Corporations before federal SBIR/STTR submission
- Must meet all federal SBIR/STTR eligibility standards: for-profit, American-owned, 51%+ individual ownership, 500 or fewer employees
- Microgrant: must be a first-time SBIR/STTR applicant — has not received an SBIR/STTR award in the last 5 years, and has not worked with the Utah Innovation Center more than once on a prior submission
- Phase II loan: must have received a federal SBIR/STTR Phase II award or be advancing to Phase II
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- 51%+ US ownership required
- Max 500 employees
- Location restriction: Utah — business must be headquartered in Utah with active Utah business license
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Proposal writing and editing costs
- Technical consulting for proposal development
- Market research and commercialization planning for the proposal
- Registration and compliance costs for SBIR/STTR submission
Ineligible expenses
- R&D expenses (not pre-award proposal costs)
- General business operating expenses
- Equipment or salaries
- Expenses incurred after the federal proposal is submitted
How to apply
-
1
Contact Nucleus Utah / Utah Innovation Center
Reach out to Nucleus Utah (nucleusutah.org) or the Utah Innovation Center for a free consultation. They help identify appropriate SBIR/STTR solicitations and confirm UTIF eligibility before you apply.
~2 hrs
-
2
Apply to UTIF for microgrant pre-approval
Submit a UTIF microgrant application through GOEO's online portal (business.utah.gov/innovation/utif). This must be completed and approved BEFORE submitting the federal SBIR/STTR proposal.
~3 hrs
-
3
Develop and submit SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal
Use the microgrant and Nucleus Utah free support to prepare a competitive federal SBIR/STTR proposal. Nucleus Utah provides proposal review and development assistance at no cost.
~60 hrs
-
4
Receive microgrant reimbursement
Submit documentation of eligible proposal preparation expenses. UTIF reimburses up to $5,000 of qualifying costs.
~2 hrs
UTIF pre-approval must happen before your federal proposal is submitted. Nucleus Utah's free proposal review is available regardless of UTIF status — use it.
Deadline & timing
Rolling applications accepted year-round. Critical timing: UTIF approval must be obtained BEFORE submitting the federal SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal. Apply to UTIF as soon as you identify an appropriate federal solicitation.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.