Small Business Innovation Research

SBIR Research Partnerships

Empowering edtech companies with the research knowledge and partnership necessary for ED/IES SBIR grant applications.

 

Applications for the 2025 ED/IES SBIR Research Partnership program have closed.

Leanlab Education’s SBIR Research Partnership program supports education companies in their journey to secure Phase I or Phase II funding and conduct further research. In the 2025 grant cycle, Leanlab will provide third-party research consultation, design, and partnership for a select few edtech companies as they submit their ED/IES SBIR applications.

Applications are accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. CT. Application decisions will be shared with companies on Friday, Dec. 6. Companies who are applying for Phase IA, Phase IB, and Phase II (directly or following a Phase I grant) ED/IES SBIR grants are eligible for Leanlab’s SBIR Research Partnership program. 

Program Offerings 

Consultation with experienced third-party researchers.

Custom research design aligned to federal standards.

Confirmed research implementation partner for awarded grants.

 

How It Works 

1.

Submit an application to partner with Leanlab

Companies interested in applying for a 2025 ED/IES SBIR grant at any phase are invited to submit an application for research design services from Leanlab by Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. CT.

2.

Interview and selection

Leanlab researchers will carefully review and select the most promising innovations for research design partnership. Leanlab will conduct brief finalist interviews to ensure alignment and product viability before notifying accepted applicants. 

3.

Consultation and contract

Selected companies will participate in an initial consultation with Leanlab researchers. The consultation will cover outstanding questions for research design, as well as Leanlab’s experience submitting SBIR grants and conducting Phase I and II research. Following initial consultation, selected companies will sign a contract with Leanlab for our research design services.

4.

Research design and iteration

Leanlab researchers will create a custom research design for the research portion of your company’s ED/IES SBIR application. The Leanlab team will deliver a robust research proposal designed to meet SBIR requirements and iterate with your team. 

5.

Research partnership

Should your company secure an ED/IES SBIR grant, Leanlab will continue to partner with you on the research process.

Ready to apply?

Complete the program application with information on your learning innovation and planned ED/IES SBIR submission.

Expertise

A third-party, nonprofit research organization, Leanlab has worked with K12 edtech companies and education partners for over a decade. The Leanlab research team has extensive experience conducting SBIR-funded research on a wide range of learning innovations, as well as designing and implementing studies from early stage concept validation to ESSA-aligned efficacy studies.

What We Deliver

Leanlab provides research expertise to partner companies through consultation, research design, and a commitment to conduct research for awarded grants. Partner companies complete all other portions of the 2025 ED/IES SBIR application and submit the full grant application.

FAQs

  • For selected companies, Leanlab’s consultation and research design costs $1,500. This investment comes after the initial consultation and before Leanlab crafts and delivers a research plan.

  • No. Should your company be awarded an ED/IES SBIR grant, you are contractually obligated to partner with Leanlab for the implementation of the research.

  • Leanlab researchers are unable to assist companies with product ideation or provide feedback on product development. Consultations and research design are scoped to existing product development plans and company-identified research goals.

  • Leanlab is accepting SBIR Research Partnership program applications through Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. CT. Application decisions will be shared with applicants on Friday, Dec. 6.

  • Yes, Leanlab will support all phases of ED/IES SBIR grant applications: Phase IA, Phase IB, and Phase II.

    Leanlab originally launched the SBIR research partnership program to focus on Phase II support, but expanded the program based on company interest.