Gathering Letters of Support for SBIR/STTR Grant Applications

If you were exploring investment in a medical device project, you would likely seek third party perspectives about whether that project had the resources, ideas, and team to make your investment worthwhile. National Institute of Health reviewers are no different when evaluating SBIR/STTR grant applications. Letters of support are an important part of any successful grant application. They provide evidence to reviewers that the proposed project is supported by a larger group and demonstrate the applicant has identified potential partners capable of contributing resources or expertise to the project.  In this post, we’ll discuss the letters of support you will want to get and what a successful letter will accomplish for you.

SBIR/STTR Grant Phase I Letters of Support

For a project applying for Phase I SBIR/STTR funding, the letters of support you are seeking are primarily about demonstrating your team’s access to appropriate resources and there is conceptual support for the project itself. You will want endorsements from partners providing lab space and materials to assure the NIH reviewer that you have access to the resources you’ll need to advance your project. Additionally, you will want to gather letters from consultants and subcontractors that assure the reviewer that their expertise aligns with the project itself. Ideally, letters of support from these partners would also include quotes to help demonstrate the financial need that your project is seeking federal grant funding to cover.

In addition to endorsements from project partners, you will also want letters of support from key opinion leaders relevant to your project. This may include researchers, medical professionals, and even highly regarded advocacy groups. Ideally, these letters support your claims that the technology you are developing is desirable in the market and is feasible based on current research knowledge.

SBIR/STTR Grant Phase II Letters of Support

When it comes to SBIR/STTR Phase II proposals, letters of support are just as critical for success as in Phase I. You will want endorsements from similar partners in Phase I, but with more emphasis on commercialization. This includes gathering letters from angel investors or other potential funding sources. Unlike in Phase I, a Phase II project must demonstrate to an NIH reviewer that there is market support and interest in the product being developed. Advocacy groups or medical professionals substantiating claims that the technology will be useful to patients as well as funders stating financial interest in the company and/or product following grant completion would be powerful letters of support for Phase II.

Blue Haven Grant Consultants has the experience to help you identify the partners you need letters of support from, as well as helping you craft your appeal to your partners to help produce the most effective letters of support possible. When you choose the BHGC advantage, you’re getting a project partner beyond a typical consultant. If you’re ready to advance your project to the next level, schedule a free consultation with us to start our collaboration.