New DARPA BAA Opportunities: Accelerate Your Technology into Real-World Impact

Are you a startup founder, researcher, or deep-tech innovator looking to advance your technology? DARPA’s Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) provide flexible submission windows, multiple funding mechanisms, and high-impact opportunities in autonomy, microelectronics, AI, and defense systems. These programs support systems-level innovation—technologies that can fundamentally change how a system operates. Organizations like Eagle Point Funding, Deep-Tech Showcase, and Deep-Tech Marketing can help navigate DARPA’s complex funding landscape and increase your chances of success. 

Stats That Matter: 

• Approximately 30–50% of MTO-funded projects are considered dual-use, with applications in both defense and commercial markets. 

• 60% of DARPA-funded startups report faster commercialization timelines (DARPA Annual Report, 2024) 

Table of Contents 

1. Why Now is the Perfect Time to Partner with DARPA 

2. What Are DARPA BAAs and How Can You Leverage Them? 

3. DARPA Strategic Technology Office (STO) – Office-Wide BAA 

4. DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Opportunities 

5. DARPA Lift Challenge – Push the Limits of UAS Innovation 

6. Strategic Takeaways for Startups & Deep-Tech Innovators 

7. How EPF, DTS, and DTM Can Help You Succeed 

8. FAQ – Common Questions About DARPA Funding 

9. Conclusion: Take Action Now 

1. Why Now is the Perfect Time to Partner with DARPA 

With the FY26 defense budget approaching $1 trillion, DARPA is actively funding cutting-edge technologies across autonomy, microelectronics, AI, and more. Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) give startups, academic teams, and research organizations the opportunity to compete for high-impact funding and contribute to transformational national security projects. 

Schedule a free call to learn how your technology can successfully secure DARPA funding and move toward deployment. 

2. What Are DARPA BAAs and How Can You Leverage Them? 

Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) are DARPA’s primary mechanism for funding high-risk, high-reward innovation. Unlike program-specific solicitations, BAAs: 

• Accept ideas across multiple domains 

• Offer rolling submission windows 

• Support contracts, grants, OTAs, and cooperative agreements 

Key Points: 

• BAAs are ideal for technologies that don’t fit neatly into program-specific solicitations 

• DARPA looks for systems-level surprise—projects that fundamentally shift how a system operates 

3. DARPA Strategic Technology Office (STO) – Office-Wide BAA 

Goal: Fund revolutionary research, not incremental improvements. 

Focus Areas: 

• Autonomy 

• Directed energy 

• Resilient systems 

• Novel software development 

• Radar 

• Photonics 

• High-frequency communications 

Deadline: Dec 19, 2025 

Why It’s Strategic: STO seeks technologies capable of transforming system behavior, such as resilient autonomy, advanced sensor architectures, or disruptive communications platforms. 

4. DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) 

Goal: Develop advanced microelectronics and microsystems with national security impact. 

Focus Areas: 

• Quantum & photonic circuits 

• Context-aware imaging & sensing 

• Advanced manufacturing & packaging 

• Conformal & malleable batteries 

• Secure high-bandwidth communications 

• Complex microsystem design 

Deadline: March 6, 2026 (rolling submissions accepted) 

Stats: 

• MTO awards in 2024 averaged $4.2M per project 

• 80% of projects funded had dual-use applications 

5. DARPA Lift Challenge – Push the Limits of UAS Innovation 

Goal: Develop unmanned aircraft systems capable of lifting 4× their own weight while completing a real-world flight circuit. 

Requirements: 

• Aircraft weight ≤ 55 lb 

• Payload ≥ 110 lb 

Focus Areas: 

• High-efficiency lift systems 

• Lightweight structures & advanced materials 

• Novel propulsion/powertrains 

• Energy-dense batteries 

Prizes: 

Place	Award
1st	$2.5M
2nd	$1.5M
3rd	$1M
Innovation Awards	3 × $500K

Timeline: Registration Jan 5 – May 1, 2026 

6. Strategic Takeaways for Startups & Deep-Tech Innovators 

• Wide Scope & Flexibility: BAAs accept disruptive concepts outside narrow program scopes 

• Multiple Funding Mechanisms: Contracts, grants, OTAs, cooperative agreements 

• Systems Innovation Emphasis: DARPA funds technologies that reshape entire systems 

• Dual-Use Potential: Technologies can transition to commercial and defense markets 

• Rolling Submissions: MTO and STO accept rolling proposals for flexibility 

7. How EPF, DTS, and DTM Can Help You Succeed 

Navigating DARPA BAAs is complex. For 25+ years, Eagle Point Funding, Deep-Tech Showcase, and Deep-Tech Marketing have helped dual-use startups cross the “Innovation Valley of Death” with funding, connections, and go-to-market support. 

EPF helps maximize non-dilutive funding by: 

• Finding opportunities for R&D and commercialization 

• Writing proposals for federal grants, contracts, and state incentives 

• Supporting LoIs, MoUs, and match funds 

DTS connects founders with the right partners in: 

1. Government agencies 

2. Corporations 

3. Investment firms 

DTM provides B2B marketing and pre-sales support, from strategy and campaigns to sales operations and lead generation. 

Next Step: Schedule a free call to learn how your technology can successfully secure DARPA funding and move toward deployment. 

8. FAQ – Common Questions About DARPA Funding 

Q: How do I know which DARPA BAA fits my technology? A: Schedule a free exploratory call with our team of experts to discover in 30 minutes or less if you’re the right fit, schedule now. 

Q: Can startups apply for multiple BAAs at once? A: Yes, if your technology aligns with the scope of each BAA. 

Q: Are DARPA awards only for defense applications? A: No, DARPA strongly favors dual-use technologies for both commercial and defense markets. 

Q: How flexible are submission deadlines? A: Many BAAs allow rolling abstract and full-proposal submissions, giving teams flexibility to iterate. 

9. Conclusion: Take Action Now 

DARPA BAAs offer a rare opportunity to fund high-risk, high-reward innovation. By leveraging EPF, DTS, and DTM, startups can increase their chances of success and accelerate the deployment of transformative technologies. 

Next Steps: Review upcoming deadlines with EPF to start your DARPA funding journey today.