Entrepreneurs, researchers and federal agency representatives are set to converge on the Malcolm Center in Kīhei on Nov. 6 for the 2026 Hawaiʻi SBIR Conference, a gathering built around one of the biggest sources of non-dilutive funding available to small businesses working on cutting-edge technology. The event will zero in on SBIR opportunities in the space sector while also covering the broader application process, proposal development and commercialization strategies that companies need to turn research into market-ready products.
A Statewide Push Lands in Kīhei
The conference is presented by the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation and hosted by the Maui Economic Development Board, according to Maui Now. It's part of a statewide series of innovation and entrepreneurship events happening across the Hawaiian Islands, and it will bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, technology companies, students and federal agency representatives under one roof. Organizers expect participation from NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy, USDA, the U.S. Navy, SpaceWERX, the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Maui-based faculty and students can attend at no cost. The Maui Economic Development Board is offering complimentary registration to that group, and interested faculty and students should reach out to [email protected] to pursue the free seats, per the same Maui Now report.
What's on the Agenda
Attendees can expect presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities and one-on-one meetings. The program will also spotlight Hawaiʻi companies that have already secured SBIR funding and used it to bring new technologies to market, offering a real-world look at what the process can lead to. Sessions are designed to provide information on agency priorities, funding opportunities and upcoming solicitations, connecting Hawaiʻi innovators directly with federal agencies and SBIR/STTR funding opportunities through America's Seed Fund.
SBIR and STTR programs are described as the nation's largest source of non-dilutive research and development funding for small businesses, helping them transform innovative ideas into commercial products, according to the Maui Now article. That non-dilutive structure - meaning companies don't have to give up equity to access the money - is a major draw for early-stage founders trying to stretch limited resources. Separately, SBIR.gov notes that no SBIR or STTR funding is awarded at Phase III; companies instead use what they built in Phase I and Phase II to pursue commercialization through private-sector or federal contracting channels.
Hawaiʻi's Own Matching Grant Program
Beyond the conference itself, Hawaiʻi runs its own companion program that can stretch a federal SBIR or STTR award further. The Hawaiʻi Small Business Innovation Research program provides matching grants to help companies further develop new products that solve critical issues for the nation, but applicants must have already received a federal SBIR or STTR grant or contract to qualify.
Per HTDC's HSBIR funding page, the state program provides up to a 50% match for companies receiving Phase I SBIR or STTR awards, capped at $75,000. Companies pursuing an initial federal Phase 0 application can also receive up to $3,000 in reimbursement for grant-writing services, the program notes.
Key Dates for Companies Eyeing State Funds
The timing lines up closely with the conference. FY27 HSBIR Phase 0 and Phase I grant applications open Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. and close Dec. 11 at 11:59 p.m., according to HTDC. The agency will also hold a hybrid information session on the FY27 HSBIR program and federal SBIR opportunities on Nov. 18 at 9 a.m.
HTDC says first-time applicants and those based on neighbor islands will be given priority, as will projects falling under the agency's priority areas of Ocean, Space, Energy and Health. The organization also runs SBIR Basics, a series of workshops meant to help local researchers and companies take advantage of the federal SBIR program. Questions about the state matching-grant program can be directed to [email protected].
A Look at the Broader Funding Landscape
HTDC previously ran similar programming aimed at connecting Hawaiʻi companies with specific federal agencies, including a 2025 USDA SBIR Cohort Program that featured an in-person session in late August of that year. On the federal side, SBIR.gov lists Phase I award amounts of $50,000–$323,000 and Phase II amounts of $650,000–$2.2 million.
Hawaiʻi's state innovation office separately reported receiving 23 qualified applications across Phases I, II and III in a recent funding cycle, recommending 19 awards following what it described as a competitive, policy-driven review - though details on the specific companies or dollar amounts involved were not available.
