← Results
Bridging the gap from SBIR funding to commercial scale
The future of the Navy’s industrial base depends on whether small, innovative companies can turn their SBIR-funded technologies into commercial products that scale.
Too often that bridge is hard to cross. However, NAVY Launch is changing that, giving SBIR-funded companies the tools they need to learn, build and make real commercial progress.
The latest cohort is under way, but the impact of the program was on display at a Nov. 20 day-long event in Palo Alto, CA. The NAVY Launch team marked the close of the 2025 accelerator cohort and the final Private Capital Forum of last year.
Companies reflected on the progress they made and shared how the program helped them prepare for new markets and capital opportunities. A few of the success stories:
Companies that entered the program with strong technology but diffuse commercial direction were now speaking with confidence about customers, pricing, and market entry; and carrying real momentum into the next stage of their journey.
In the afternoon, the program continued with the year’s final Private Capital Forum, which was open to all Navy SBIR Phase II awardees. The sessions provided direct access to lenders, investors, and strategic capital providers who spoke candidly about fundability, underwriting, diligence, and what makes a company ready for investment. Through panels and open networking, founders heard what drives real investment decisions and built relationships that can support future capital raises. For many attendees, the forum served as their first meaningful introduction to private capital and offered guidance they can apply immediately.
Many SBIR-funded companies struggle to gain the commercial traction needed to scale. They often face technologies engineered for government customers but not yet aligned to commercial problems, limited visibility with private capital, and networks that are too small to unlock meaningful customer adoption.
NAVY Launch was created in 2021 to help companies close that gap. Through a combination of training, hands-on advising, and direct exposure to investors, founders learn how to shift from a technology-first mindset to a market-first one. They receive support that meets them where they are, whether through foundational programming, a focused Acceleration Track, or recurring tactical sessions in the new Exploration Track. At its core, the program gives founders the tools, feedback, and networks they need to become commercially viable companies that can thrive in both government and commercial markets.
Since its inception, NAVY Launch has supported 518 firms, 85+ through the Acceleration Cohort, helping them collectively raise more than $51M and secure over $32M in commercial contracts, which diversifies revenue stream and increases their chance for ongoing viability and longevity. These outcomes reflect a simple belief: Commercial traction is not a byproduct of good technology. It is the result of clear strategy, consistent execution, and access to the right partners.
Brian Shipley, Director of the Department of the Navy’s SBIR/STTR Programs, emphasized, “Breakthrough technologies should not stall in the gap between SBIR awards and commercial scale. NAVY Launch ensures that founders receive the guidance, relationships, and confidence they need to build commercially successful companies that the Navy can rely on for years to come.”
The NAVY Launch model is becoming a blueprint for how the Department of the Navy can accelerate private-sector adoption of SBIR technologies while strengthening the industrial base. As the program continues to grow, it will expand its advising network, broaden its capital partnerships, and refine its multi-track structure to support companies earlier and more effectively. Navy SBIR Phase II awardees thinking about commercial scale or identifying a capital partner interested in supporting dual-use companies, are encouraged to visit the NAVY Launch website and register to participate in 2026 programming now under way.
