For SBIR/STTR Programs, federal agencies explicitly want to see the complete vision from research through commercialization. Phase 1 proposals should articulate how the work connects to Phase 2 development, and eventual market deployment.

Customer discovery before R&D work is a crucial step in validating your problem-solution fit early. You want to confirm that the problem you think exists actually matters to customers, that they're willing to pay to solve it, and that your proposed solution addresses their real pain points. This upfront investment in understanding customers typically saves far more money and time than it costs.

SBIR budgeting: what to know about indirect rates