Initial funding associated with solutions selected by AFWERX Challenge is funded by a budget specifically allocated for the challenge topic. The funding is not awarded using SBIR/STTR.
AFWERX Challenge has awarded funding to organizations of varying sizes from very small to very large. Solutions that continue to show progress after initial funding may be awarded additional prototype funding. SBIR/STTR is one of the many contracting methods that the USAF may leverage to continue to explore a promising solution but is not the only approach that is used.