Start a Government Contracting and SBIR Grant Coaching Practice

LinkedIn for connecting with tech and research founders. Clarity.fm for paid consultations. Zoom for coaching calls. SAM.gov and Grants.gov for staying current on opportunities.

The U.S. government awards billions in contracts and SBIR/STTR grants to small businesses each year, but the application process is notoriously complex and most small businesses never tap into it. If you have experience winning government contracts or SBIR grants — as a former contracting officer, grant recipient, or proposal writer — you can coach startups and small businesses through the process. Services include SBIR/STTR opportunity identification, proposal writing coaching, SAM.gov registration assistance, contracting vehicle strategy (GSA schedules, sole-source contracts), and compliance guidance. Charge $150-350 per hour or $3,000-10,000 for comprehensive SBIR proposal support. The non-dilutive funding angle is particularly attractive to deep-tech and biotech startups who want to preserve equity. This is a narrow, technical niche with limited competition and very high client willingness to pay because the financial upside of winning government contracts is enormous.