Proposal intake
Review the proposal draft, agency context, topic requirements, prior feedback where available, and the company’s technical objectives.
SBIR/STTR Red-Team Review
Find the weaknesses reviewers will see before reviewers see them.
GNI3 provides independent technical red-team reviews for deep-technology companies preparing SBIR/STTR Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track, Direct-to-Phase-II, or resubmission packages.
Generalized Natural Intelligence: GNI3 applies Generalized Natural Intelligence — experienced human technical judgment — to strengthen SBIR/STTR proposals before reviewers see them.
Not generic grant writing.
GNI3 focuses on the technical and reviewer-facing substance of the proposal: whether the innovation claim is clear, whether the technical plan is credible, whether the risks are addressed, and whether the commercialization story supports the proposed R&D.
Founder-side experience: GNI3’s reviews are informed by direct experience founding and leading Sextant Engineering through the SBIR pathway from Phase I to Phase III, including winning a Phase II SBIR award as the company’s first contract.
Who this is for
- Deep-tech startups preparing Phase I or Phase II proposals
- Companies responding to reviewer feedback or resubmitting
- Defense-funded startups that also need DCAA-readiness perspective
- Teams pursuing NSF, DoD, DOE, NASA, NIH, or other agency programs
- Founders who need technical critique, not just editing
Common proposal risks GNI3 identifies.
Strong technology can be weakened by unclear claims, vague objectives, or milestones that do not prove enough.
Technical clarity
- Unclear innovation claim
- Weak distinction from existing technology
- Overstated or unsupported technical claims
- Reviewer confusion about what will actually be built, tested, measured, or demonstrated
Execution and review risk
- Objectives that are too broad or too vague
- Milestones that do not reduce enough risk
- Commercialization logic disconnected from the R&D plan
- Insufficient explanation of why the team can execute
Red-team deliverables.
A focused review is designed to produce practical revisions before submission.
Technical critique
Assess the innovation claim, feasibility argument, risk-reduction plan, milestones, technical differentiation, and reviewer-facing logic.
Action memo
Deliver a concise written memo identifying strengths, weaknesses, reviewer risks, and priority revisions, followed by a discussion to focus the next draft.
Engagement examples.
Lite Review
A focused review of the technical narrative, innovation claim, and reviewer-facing risks.
Full Red-Team Review
A deeper review of technical objectives, work plan, milestones, commercialization logic, and reviewer concerns.
Phase II Strategy Review
Review of Phase I results, Phase II technical plan, risk reduction, milestones, transition strategy, commercialization credibility, and defense-contract readiness considerations where relevant.
Resubmission Review
Critique of the prior submission, reviewer feedback, and revised proposal strategy.
Defense contractor add-on: For DoD and defense-oriented SBIR/STTR companies, GNI3 can also review whether the proposal and business plan create likely DCAA, indirect-rate, documentation, or audit-readiness issues that founders should address early.
Preparing an SBIR/STTR proposal?
Contact GNI3 for a focused red-team review before submission.