Translational - Public GAITS Site

Translational funding is the first rung of the funding ladder. Funders at this stage are mission-driven — government agencies, foundations, and academic programs — and they are evaluating whether the science is plausible and the unmet need is real. In the US, SBIR and STTR Phase I are the primary instruments. In the EU, equivalents include EIC Pathfinder and national translational grant programs.

The bar at this stage is not commercial viability. It is scientific credibility combined with a clearly articulated problem. Teams that fail here most often describe the problem in technical terms rather than clinical or patient terms, making it impossible for reviewers to connect the technology to a real-world need.

Must Have

Gating criteria. A team that cannot demonstrate these is not fundable at this stage regardless of other strengths. Must-Have gaps should be addressed before submitting.

Project	Team
Clearly defined unmet need and target user Real-world problem context — workflow, clinical setting Initial solution concept Plausible technical or scientific rationale Key risks identified Hypothesis for outcome improvement	Domain expertise — clinical, scientific, or technical Access to the problem environment Direct insight into the problem

Should Have

Strengthening criteria. These increase confidence and competitiveness but do not override a Must-Have failure. Teams with strong Should-Have evidence stand out from the field.

Project	Team
Early concept testing Initial user or stakeholder feedback Exploration of alternatives Preliminary IP and competitive awareness High-level development path Preliminary regulatory awarenessMust-Have for medical devices; Should-Have for digital health tools	Exposure to commercialisation Early user engagement Willingness to iterate Relevant network

Common failure mode

The unmet need is described in scientific terms rather than clinical or patient terms. Reviewers cannot connect the technology to a real-world problem.

Overview › Translational › Pre-seed › Seed › Seed+ › Series A › Raise Size › Funding Sources