Press Release: Sown To Grow Awarded National Science Foundation SBIR Grant for $1.25M

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Sown To Grow Awarded Competitive Grant from the National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research Program Provides Seed Funding for R&D

Oakland, CA, Tues. July 28, 2026 – Sown To Grow has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $1.25M to conduct research and development (R&D) work to improve student well-being, academic outcomes, and educator effectiveness by making the quality of student-teacher relationships visible, measurable, and actionable at scale.

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This work is based on fundamental science and engineering research that will benefit society by supporting stronger connections between students and educators. These relationships are among the most powerful predictors of student outcomes, yet many schools today lack practical tools to assess or support these relationships in real time at scale. This project addresses that gap by developing artificial intelligence-powered features that help teachers respond more meaningfully to students, help students deepen their reflective practice, and help school administrators identify where relationships are thriving or need support.

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"We're honored to receive continued support from the National Science Foundation as we advance research at the intersection of student well-being, learning, and technology," said Rupa Gupta, CEO and co-founder of Sown To Grow. "This funding enables us to build on years of collaboration with educators and researchers to better understand the relationships that help students thrive. By making those relationships more visible and actionable, we can equip schools with practical, research-backed tools that strengthen student outcomes and create learning environments where every student has the opportunity to succeed."

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Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $275,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1,000,000). Small businesses with Phase II funding are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales.

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Entrepreneurs who submit a written Project Pitch will know within about a month if they meet the program’s objectives to support innovative technologies that show promise of commercial and/or societal impact and involve an appropriate level of technical risk. Startups and small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. To learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, visit: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/

About the National Science Foundation's Small Business Programs: America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.

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Learn more here about Sown To Grow’s award.

Click here for a PDF copy of this press release.

For questions or media inquiries, please email alwaysgrowing@sowntogrow.com.