Testimonials
Hear from the innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers who have partnered with Grant Engine to secure billions in critical, non-dilutive funding at a rate 2- 4x the national average. Read their testimonials and see how Grant Engine has made a difference in turning bold ideas into funded realities.
“Working with Grant Engine has been a transformative experience for Opus Genetics. Their expertise in SBIR grant applications enabled us to secure over $1.5 million in non-dilutive funding, significantly advancing our OPGx-RHO gene therapy program for retinitis pigmentosa. Their deep understanding of both the scientific and funding landscapes allowed them to craft a compelling application that met NIH’s rigorous requirements while effectively demonstrating the clinical potential of our therapy.
This award has accelerated our preclinical work and strategically positioned us for FDA discussions. I highly recommend Grant Engine to any biotech company seeking to translate cutting-edge science into well-funded, actionable projects.”
– Ben Yerxas
President & Chief Executive Officer
Opus Genetics
“As a company pursuing non-dilutive funding for the first time, we wanted to maximize our chances of success for our SBIR submission. Choosing Grant Engine was the right decision. From the outset, their professional approach, well-structured processes, and deep expertise stood out. El (Program Manager) and Cally (Lead Writer) provided invaluable strategic guidance, helping us refine our proposal and create a highly competitive Direct-to-Phase II application. I strongly recommend Grant Engine to any company looking for expert support in securing non-dilutive funding.”
– Thomas Hazel, PhD
VP, Drug Development
Bullfrog A.I.
“Our collaboration with Grant Engine has been an outstanding experience. Working with Keith, Randy, and their team over two grant cycles has demonstrated their technical grant writing expertise and deep understanding of commercial considerations—key elements in a successful Phase II SBIR submission.
The team was flexible, engaged, and proactive in identifying ways to strengthen our application and address potential concerns. Their strategic approach significantly improved our submissions, and I would highly recommend them to any company pursuing non-dilutive funding.”
– Melissa Krebs, P.h.D.
CEO and Founder
GelSana Therapeutics
“Our collaboration with Grant Engine has been an outstanding experience. Working with Keith, Randy, and their team over two grant cycles has demonstrated their technical grant writing expertise and deep understanding of commercial considerations—key elements in a successful Phase II SBIR submission.
The team was flexible, engaged, and proactive in identifying ways to strengthen our application and address potential concerns. Their strategic approach significantly improved our submissions, and I would highly recommend them to any company pursuing non-dilutive funding.”
– Chris Idelson, PhD
CTO
ClearCam
“When preparing for a crucial NIH submission, æther THERAPEUTICS partnered with Grant Engine, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Their deep expertise in grant strategy and execution was invaluable in ensuring we met critical deadlines with a highly competitive proposal. The Grant Engine team operated as true partners, offering meaningful contributions that went beyond writing—they helped shape a winning strategy. I enthusiastically recommend them to any organization seeking expert guidance in non-dilutive funding.”
– John Harris, BA, MBA
President and CEO
æther THERAPEUTICS
“I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Grant Engine team. They played a crucial role in helping us secure not one but two NIH contracts. Their proactive approach in identifying opportunities and their ability to craft winning proposals, even on tight deadlines, made all the difference.
Their expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to our success were evident throughout the process. I highly recommend Grant Engine to any small business looking to secure NIH funding.”
– Kimberly Luke
V.P. of Research and Development
Intuitive Bio Sciences
“Grant Engine was instrumental in securing an NSF Phase I SBIR award, providing us with nearly $300,000 in non-dilutive funding to kickstart our in vitro and in vivo programs. They expertly translated the innovation and safety advantages of our gene editing platform into a compelling application. Their hands-on support allowed our team to focus on the science while they handled the complexities of the grant process. I highly recommend them to any biotech company seeking a trusted partner in non-dilutive funding.”
– Ursula Andréo, PhD
Principal Scientist
Script Biosciences
“When we were invited to submit a full proposal to ARPA-H, we knew the complexity and scale of the application required expert guidance. Grant Engine delivered. Malcolm (Program Manager) and Ian/Klara (Lead Writers) provided invaluable support, breaking down the requirements and ensuring we stayed on track.
Their ability to quickly grasp our technology and translate it into a compelling, clearly articulated proposal was impressive. Grant Engine made this daunting process manageable, and I highly recommend them for high-value, complex grant submissions.”
– Babu Sivaraman, PhD PE
VP, Product and R&D
Culture Biosciences Inc
“We are deeply grateful to Grant Engine for their hard work and dedication, which helped us secure a significant Phase 1 award.
At Psy Therapeutics, we focus on developing innovative treatments for central nervous system disorders, and securing non-dilutive funding was a critical step forward. Grant Engine’s team took the time to understand our vision and crafted a strategic plan to maximize our chances of success. Their expertise made a complex process feel seamless, and I highly recommend them to anyone pursuing non-dilutive funding.”
– Alan Cross, PhD
CSO
Psy Therapeutics
“As a company developing first-in-class medicines for endometriosis and other conditions, we sought a partner with proven success in securing non-dilutive funding. Grant Engine came highly recommended, and they did not disappoint. Our Program Manager, Samia, guided us every step of the way while Randy, our lead writer, quickly grasped our science and transformed our data into a compelling proposal. Thanks to their expertise we were able to focus on our research while trusting that our application was in the best hands. We are extremely pleased with our experience.”
– Yong Yue, PhD
President & CEO
Maipl Therapeutics
“Grant Engine provided exactly the support we needed to secure funding for our innovative medical device. With non-dilutive funding becoming increasingly competitive, their expertise in both scientific grant writing and the complexities of the federal grant process was invaluable.
They helped us strategically refine our resubmission, addressing reviewer concerns in a way that significantly improved our score. As a result, we secured nearly $500,000 in Phase I SBIR funding. We look forward to working with them on our Phase II application.”
– Marc Mayberg, MD
CEO & Founder
Patchcamp MedTech, Inc.
“Grant Engine has been a trusted partner in securing non-dilutive funding for our company for several years. With their support, we have received multiple NIH grants, including two Phase II SBIRs exceeding $2 million each.
This funding has been crucial in advancing our nanoparticle-based delivery platform for therapeutic micro RNAs targeting conditions like diabetic foot ulcers and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Grant Engine not only helps us write winning proposals but also plays a key role in shaping our long-term funding strategy. They are an invaluable ally in our mission to develop innovative therapies.”
– Kenneth Liechty, MD
President and Founder
Ceria Therapeutics
“Grant Engine played a critical role in securing an NIH Fast Track grant of over $2.2 million to support our novel herpes virus vaccine development. This funding is driving our IND-enabling studies, paving the way for first-in-human trials and eventual FDA approval. The Grant Engine team expertly guided us through the proposal process, ensuring every component of our submission was clear, compelling, and strategically positioned for success.
Their strategic insights and deep grant writing expertise significantly strengthened our application. I strongly recommend Grant Engine to any company pursuing non-dilutive funding.”
– Edward Gershburg
PhD; Chief Technology Officer
Rational Vaccines, Inc.
“With just 2.5 weeks until the ARPA-H submission deadline, we knew we faced a monumental challenge. Thankfully, Grant Engine stepped in and provided exceptional support. Ellie (Lead Writer), Madhav (Program Manager), and the contracts team worked tirelessly to prioritize critical tasks, ensuring we submitted a high-quality proposal on time. Their professionalism, strategic thinking, and dedication were remarkable. We could not have achieved this without them, and we look forward to partnering with Grant Engine again on future projects.”
– Jonathan Pham
Head of Microbiology
Mango
“Grant Engine has been an essential partner in our growth. When we first started applying for grants, we had no prior experience—yet with their expertise, we have maintained a 100% success rate (three out of three awards and counting). Jun (Program Manager) and Ian (Lead Writer) learned our science quickly and crafted a highly persuasive research strategy.
The process was so impactful that it not only secured funding but also helped us refine our commercialization strategy. Beyond grant writing, they have continued to support us with pre-award negotiations and compliance, making them an invaluable partner.”
– Darren Young
CEO
FluoroFinder
“Grant Engine has provided exceptional grant strategy and writing services. I am extremely happy across the board with their team, the quality of their work, their organized and well-defined processes, and the value they add. By having Grant Engine involved, we were able to concentrate on the science and running the company. It was a great comfort to know that the grant proposal was in good hands.”
– Soman Abraham
Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer
Mastezellen Bio
“As a digital health company focused on improving telemedicine access, we saw a great funding opportunity in an NIH contract solicitation—but we weren’t sure how to navigate the process. Grant Engine provided expert guidance, helping us craft a compelling proposal that effectively conveyed our technology’s impact. Their team not only ensured a strong submission but also supported us through the contract negotiation process. As a result, we secured nearly $400,000 to further develop our solution. I highly recommend Grant Engine for their expertise and dedication.”
– Grace Chen
Co-Founder and CEO
LucidAct Health, Inc.
“I can’t say enough good things about Grant Engine. They helped us successfully navigate the NSF funding landscape, winning a Phase I SBIR for rapid antibiotic sensitivity testing.
The Lead Writer Ian is awesome, and Program Manager Emily is a star. The work funded will help us develop a tool to allow clinicians to more rapidly define the appropriate antibiotics for patients with suspected bacterial sepsis—a condition where every hour counts.”
– Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD
CEO
Astek Diagnostics
“Navigating the NIH SBIR submission process is complex, and we were fortunate to have Grant Engine’s support. They handled the administrative burden of registrations, ensuring everything was in order for submission. Our Program Manager, Madhav, provided exceptional guidance, making the process efficient and allowing our team to focus on our science. Grant Engine’s expertise in compliance and grants administration was instrumental to our successful submission.”
– Seth Reno, MBA
President & CEO
Arkayli Biopharma
“We’re thrilled to say that our partnership with Grant Engine has been an extraordinary success. Grant Engine provided us with a solution that helped us secure funding for our project. We were looking for a way to obtain non-dilutive funding, and Grant Engine provided us with a tailored approach specific to what we needed. We’ve won 4 NIH SBIR Phase I grants with Grant Engine so far and anticipate more to come. We would highly recommend the services of Grant Engine to others looking for non-dilutive funding!”
– Joshua Yang
Co-Founder and CEO
Glyphic Biotechnologies
“We are pleased to partner with Grant Engine to help us realize our vision of using our technology to develop therapies for rare genetic diseases in children. The Grant Engine team was great to work with! Ratnam (writer) was quick to learn the complex science in our grant and asked good, detailed questions to get up to speed. Jun (Program Manager) was very organized and clear in her interactions with us. I would recommend Grant Engine to anyone looking for federal grant funding.”
– Kitchener D. Wilson, MD, PhD
Co-Founder and CEO
Rosebud Biosciences
“Dear Sam: I wanted to let you know personally that Emily and Sean have done an over-the-top great job on our two grant applications! Please keep our team together for our hopeful spring applications!”
– Chris Salvino, MD, MS, MS, MNE, ME, MT, FACS
President
SharpMed, LLC
“It has been a pleasure working with the Grant Engine team. The fit was perfect as the Grant Engine team were quick to understand our technology and our value proposition and facilitated the process of translating our passion and vision into a well written and well received SBIR application. We will be working with them in the future as we expand upon our quest for additional non-dilutive funding. We highly recommend Grant Engine as their understanding and approach will be able to assist others through the convoluted process of government grants application.”
– Dave Dollinger
Vice President of Product Management and Quality
General Fluidics
I was excited to try Grant Engine because I had been trying to secure funding for a project with a Phase 1 award. The product had already been in development for several years, but its performance needed to be improved.
In order to do that, we would need additional funding, which we sought through the National Science Foundation. We decided to try Grant Engine because they have a proven process for winning grants and an experienced team of non-dilutive funding experts that could help us.
The Grant Engine team helped us develop and submit our grant application, providing excellent support throughout the process. They enhanced the organization of the project, helped identify the key areas which needed significant content attention from us, explained where certain highly specific language was needed, and kept us on a healthy and realistic pace to finish the project in a timely manner. I highly recommend Grant Engine to any Life Science or Medical Tech Company looking for funding!”
– Daniel Cox
Co-Founder and COO
Protein Architects
“Sam, Thank You so much for presenting at our lunch and learn last Thursday. All our of residents and attendees had nothing but positive comments and we are so grateful for all the knowledge you shared. A few teams in particular are interested in the Grant Engine’s services and I’ll be sending connection emails throughout the week.”
– Courtney Ho
Site Head
Harvard Life Lab
“I want to express my gratitude to Grant Engine for their invaluable support. Lazzaro Medical has greatly benefited from Grant Engine’s personalized approach and strategic thinking, and their ability to distill complex concepts into compelling narratives. I highly recommend Grant Engine for small businesses seeking grant funding; their proven track record makes them an invaluable partner.”
– Dawn Bitz
President
Lazzaro Medical
“I can’t say enough good things about Grant Engine. They helped us successfully navigate the NSF funding landscape, winning a Phase I SBIR for rapid antibiotic sensitivity testing.
The Lead Writer Ian is awesome, and Program Manager Emily is a star. The work funded will help us develop a tool to allow clinicians to more rapidly define the appropriate antibiotics for patients with suspected bacterial sepsis—a condition where every hour counts.”
– Alan Rosenbaum, MD, MSCR, MSBME, FACOG
CEO
Cervu
“I’ve worked with Grant Engine and their team on several grants (some successful!), and they have demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the intricacies of grant applications and funding landscapes. Their team—Sam (CEO), Randy (Writer), and Malcolm (Project Manager)—were responsive, collaborative, and consistently went the extra mile.”
– Patrick Goodwill
Cofounder and CEO
Magnetic Insight
“We were introduced to Grant Engine through one of our investors, who highly recommended them based on a portfolio company’s success. After working with them, I understand why.
Their team demonstrated an exceptional success rate, deep knowledge of the grant process, and outstanding professionalism. The entire experience—from strategy development to submission—was seamless and highly effective. I will absolutely work with Grant Engine again in the future.”
– Carole Spangler Vaughn
CEO
Eisana
“We were trying to get funding for our project with a direct to Phase 2 award, but we weren’t sure how to proceed. We knew we had to demonstrate the viability of our design if we wanted a shot at getting funding, but we didn’t know how.
We reached out to Grant Engine, who helped us design a grant application we felt confident submitting—and they gave us ongoing advice throughout the process. They explained how they would get us in front of the right people and help us craft an application that would make them want to fund us! I found the Grant Engine team to be responsive and knowledgeable. They offered practical advice throughout the process. It was amazing! Grant Engine was so helpful and knowledgeable that I highly recommend them to other companies looking for non-dilutive funding.”
– Jennifer Cheng
Founder & CEO
PTM Therapeutics
““The Grant Engine team worked with us to deliver a focused SBIR Direct to Phase 2 grant that secured non-dilutive funding for our project—and now we can keep doing the work that matters most: making the world better through our science!
In this approach, Grant Engine has helped us win two vital projects, a transformational outcome! I highly recommend The Grant Engine team if you are looking for help obtaining non-dilutive funding for your project or company.”
– Rick Morello
Chief Executive Officer
CND Life Sciences
Our BioStrategies team enjoyed a transformative and positive experience in working with Grant Engine to complete the recent submission of an NIH CRP proposal to support preclinical commercialization goals for our lead therapeutic product.
Although it was more work for us than we anticipated, Jun (project manager) and the Lead Writer from Grant Engine led us through the essentials of constructing a persuasive application and introduced us to all of the essential outside CRO’s that we would need to put together a credible grant proposal package. Most important for us in the long run is that we learned an incredible amount about the next stage of biopharmaceutical drug development, knowledge that will inform us significantly as we plan the future of our company’s development.”
– David Radin
Managing Director & Owner
BioStrategies
“Grant Engine is the best grant writing partner in industry for any startup seeking it.”
– Harsha K Rajasimha
Founder and CEO
Jeeva Infromatics Solutions
“I wanted to write and provide an update on our two grant proposals submitted last year to the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. As of yesterday, we have officially gone 2/2 with our SBIR Phase I awards! I especially appreciate the work from Ron on proposal editing and Jun in shepherding these through the external peer review process. I know that they emerged from the Grant Engine process as much stronger proposals, and we’re grateful that the DOE and NSF saw merit in each of these documents.”
– Johan Kers, PhD
Founder and CEO
Birch Biosciences, LLC
“I have contracted with many companies that offer professional services. Ron Godiska and Jun Wang’s superlative work ethic, keen intellect, genuine kindness, and unfailing attention to detail have surpassed my wildest expectations. You both are a credit to your disciplines and reflect well on Grant Engine. We would not have been able to do this without you both.”
– David Hagedorn Ph.D.,
BCN, CEO
Evoke Neuroscience, Inc
“Emily, Ron and Chris were all an absolute pleasure to work with, are very talented, and went out of their way on the whole process and our submission.”
– Ben Lindborg
CEO
Sarcio
“I have contracted with many companies that offer professional services. Ron Godiska and Jun Wang’s superlative work ethic, keen intellect, genuine kindness, and unfailing attention to detail have surpassed my wildest expectations. You both are a credit to your disciplines and reflect well on Grant Engine. We would not have been able to do this without you both.”
– David Hagedorn Ph.D.,
BCN, CEO
Evoke Neuroscience, Inc
“Emily, Ron and Chris were all an absolute pleasure to work with, are very talented, and went out of their way on the whole process and our submission.”
– Ben Lindborg
CEO
Sarcio
“Dear Sam, On behalf of Magpad, I wanted to express our utmost gratitude to your team for their work on our NIH SBIR grant application. From the start, Zachary, Simon, Chris, Diane, and yourself have been exceptional in your professionalism and responsiveness to our needs.
I especially wanted to commend our grant writers Jun Wang and Ian Bruzas for their tireless work on our behalf. They kept us on top of our tasks, advised and assisted us, and guided us through the entire tortuous (and torturous) application process. Having once attempted to do the application myself (unsubmitted), I understand how difficult it is. Jun and Ian were able to fully understand and demonstrate our device and accentuate its advantages.
The weekly calls kept us updated and perfectly on time for the deadline. The process could not have been smoother. After our final draft and the review comments from the external reviewers, we believe that Jun and Ian were able to present our company and device in the best possible light. We are in their debt. Here’s to hoping that we will have a long and productive relationship with Grant Engine for our budgeting and Phase II application!”
– John Leo
CEO
Magpad
“We were very happy with our experience with Grant Engine! Their team was helpful, organized, and our communication with the team was great. They took the time to understand our project and had the grantsmanship and expertise needed to do the job well! We are already a repeat customer and will definitely be turning to Grant Engine again in the future.”
– Peter Tam
President & COO
Quadriga Biosciences
“The Grant Engine team made the onboarding process quick and straightforward, and the reviewers provided an extremely fast and comprehensive review of our proposal. Overall, Grant Engine helped us to resubmit an NIH SBIR that we are incredibly proud of and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”
– Todd Roberts
Founder and CEO
Assistive Technology Development
“Culturally and professionally Grant Engine is a perfect fit for NellOne Therapeutics. Our company is driven by a passion for service. That means overcoming obstacles to get to market.
The Grant Engine team shares in our passion and has delivered tremendous commitment coupled with incredible insight in our drive for non-dilutive funding. They listen, consider and endow exceptional feedback that is instrumental in communicating our value proposition and plan. They have my unqualified endorsement.”
– Bill Malkes
CEO
NellOne Therapeutics
“Our experience with Grant Engine was outstanding. They were knowledgeable, supportive, and thorough in their work for us. Working with them not only saved us time and stress but was also an educational experience for our whole team. I would strongly recommend them to any organizations looking for guidance through the grant process.”
– Enrique Alvarez Sotomayor
Co-Founder, Senior VP Research and Development
Pangolin Therapeutics
“At Taproot, we insist on the highest quality of product and effort – Grant Engine surpassed our expectations. The Grant Engine team worked closely with us to create a grant submission that we felt confident in, and were patient with us throughout the process. I will definitely be looking to them again in the future!”
– Linda Buscemi
Chief Clinical Officer
TapRoot
“We have a high bar in working with partners as we leverage our decades of successful pharmaceutical experience to the microbiome.
With Sam Tetlow and Kristin Scott at Grant Engine, we have found partners who deeply understand the research and business aspects behind drug discovery and development and who have an excellent track record in obtaining non-dilutive funding. In the 2+ years since engaging Grant Engine, we have submitted five SBIR applications and been awarded all five.
While there is surely some good fortune involved with this perfect track record, Grant Engine’s process and team is a fundamental reason that has generated these results. We recommend their exceptional approach to helping you build a great product and company, just like they have helped us realize our success.”
– Ward Petersen
CEO & PI
Symberix
“We were so pleased to get world class support from Grant Engine. While we were enthusiastic about applying for our Phase II project, time was tight. Grant Engine showed a flexible and responsive approach with a highly qualified team, superior process, and we were really satisfied with and proud of the final product.
The Grant Engine team was truly dedicated to ensuring all details were addressed leading up to the submission and they continued to work with us as JIT requests came through. I highly recommend engaging Grant Engine for all of your Phase II projects! The value and insight they added to our small team cannot be overstated.”
– Lyndsey M. Linke, PhD
CEO
Sivec Biotechnologies
“At Taproot, we insist on the highest quality of product and effort – Grant Engine surpassed our expectations. The Grant Engine team worked closely with us to create a grant submission that we felt confident in, and were patient with us throughout the process. I will definitely be looking to them again in the future!”
– Carleton Sage, PhD
Co-founder and VP Computational Sciences
Beacon Discovery Inc
– Michael Jay, PhD
CEO & CSO
Arcato
Grant Engine embodies persistence and hard work under pressure. As our product developed and we continued to meet key milestones, Kristin Scott, Lanika Stark and the entire Grant Engine team worked to deliver a focused SBIR Direct to Phase 2 grant to secure non-dilutive funding.
They are not only dedicated to their work and detail-oriented, they are also a pleasure to work with, especially under tight deadlines. We look forward to working with them again in the future, and we hope you do as well!“
– Carolyn Durham, PhD
CSO
Renovion
“We are very grateful for the guidance and experience of Grant Engine’s team! We appreciate the time they took in developing our grant thesis and positioning our product for a compelling grant submission. We recommend Grant Engine’s approach to helping to position a winning product for non-dilutive funding.”
– Anand Parikh
Co-Founder & CEO
Chronus
– Rolf Müller, PhD
CEO & PI
BioFluidica
| 2024 | n=25 |
| 2023 | n=10 |
| 2022 | n=9 |
| 2021 | n=2 |
| 2020 and prior | n=18 |
(n = 64 total)