State startup money comes from economic development agencies and state-chartered funds: Delaware's EDGE grants, Virginia's VIPC Launch Grant, Alabama Launchpad, Nebraska's prototype grants, Maine Technology Institute, New Jersey's Innovation Fellows income-replacement grants, and seed funds such as Missouri's IDEA Fund, Michigan Rise and New York's Pre-Seed and Seed Matching Fund. It fits a founder already based in the state, or willing to move there, who is building something that can sell beyond a local market. Equity-free grants here usually run $10,000 to $100,000, with a few reaching $250,000, and almost all require a cash match or pay only after you spend. The seed funds write $25,000 to $1 million checks as convertible notes, SAFEs, equity or low-interest loans matched by private investors. Most run quarterly reviews, twice-yearly competitions or rolling intake. State SBIR matching, Phase 0 and lab programs are covered in the deep tech funding guide. The common mistake is counting a state investment or loan as a grant: read each card's equity line first.
Alabama
Alabama Launchpad Startup Pitch Competition (Technology, Life Sciences and Consumer Goods)
Alabama — Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) Foundation
$75,000 or $100,000 to winners chosen by sector investment committees; $2,500 to every named finalist
PrizeEquity-freeanysoftware & AIhealthconsumer & retail
The catch: $150 application fee. Winners sign a funding agreement within 30 days, get no more than half the prize up front and the rest against judge-set milestones; misrepresentation or missed milestones can trigger repayment plus 10% interest. Any IP must be exclusively yours during the competition and for five years after.
Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · twice a year (two cycles; the second cycle opens in March and closes in August)
Founder tip: Grants and prior competition wins don't count toward the $1 million raise cap, so a company funded by grants stays eligible longer than one funded by angels. The 90-second video limit is a hard quality check: a longer video gets the application rejected.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Alabama-headquartered ventures in concept or early seed stage whose senior management lives in Alabama; you are out if the venture has raised $1 million or more in equity or convertible securities (SAFEs and notes count; federal grants, SBIR/STTR and competition awards do not) or had more than $2 million in sales in the past 12 months.
- How to apply
- Pitch gate: online application with a 90-second founder video, a pitch deck on the Launchpad template and a $150 fee; Launch Advisors pick finalists, who get mentoring and pitch closed-door investor committees.
- Stage fit
- idea, pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None
- Who wins
- EDPA reports more than $6.4 million invested in 124 startups through Launchpad.
Arizona
Arizona Innovation Challenge (SaaS-focused rounds)
Arizona — Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA)
$100,000 non-dilutive per awardee, paid after three months of milestones (the Fall 2026 round expects five awardees)
PrizeEquity-freesoftware & AI
The catch: Awardees contract with ACA and work for three months with ACA-designated partners (PHX FWD and PHX Angels in the Fall 2026 round); the $100,000 is paid only after the required milestones. ACA expects every applicant to complete all judging phases.
Next deadline: Varies by round — see official page (Fall 2026 applications closed September 28 and awardees are named November 4; the next round is not announced) · periodic rounds (ACA has run fall and spring cohorts; the fall window is two weeks in September)
Founder tip: The gate is a revenue band, not an idea: below $5,000 or above $50,000 in MRR you are ineligible, so time your entry to that window. Semifinal judges are Arizona VCs and angels, so treat the pitch day as a fundraising meeting.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Arizona startups incorporated less than three years ago (after August 2023 for the Fall 2026 round) with a working product used by real customers, $5,000 to $50,000 in monthly recurring revenue, founder-led sales and a plan to raise capital; the last two fall rounds were SaaS-only.
- How to apply
- Pitch gate: online application, then about 25 semifinalists pitch Arizona investors, 15 finalists are interviewed, and judges recommend awardees.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None
- Who wins
- 156 awardees chosen from more than 3,000 applicants since 2011; the Fall 2026 round expects five awardees.
Colorado
Advanced Industries Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grant
Colorado — Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT)
Up to $250,000 per project (cap can be lifted to $500,000 for projects that affect more than one advanced industry)
GrantEquity-freesoftware & AIhealthclimate & energyhardware & manufacturing
The catch: You need $2 of non-state cash for every $1 of grant, held in the company's account when the grant is executed; in-kind does not count. A conditional award made without the match is forfeited if you don't raise it within six months. Continuation projects are not funded.
Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · twice a year (a spring window that opens in January and a fall window that opens in July)
Founder tip: If you list information technology as one of your industries, OEDIT treats it as an enabling industry and the application must show how it changes the scalability, process or market adoption of a product in another advanced industry. Preference points go to companies that went through an accelerator or were referred by an angel or VC group.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Colorado-registered companies headquartered in Colorado (or with at least half of employees there) building a disruptive technology in one of seven advanced industries, including technology and information; under $20 million raised from grants and investors and under $10 million in annual revenue; owned IP, a completed prototype, technical validation and a commercialization plan.
- How to apply
- Direct application: OEDIT application portal during a twice-yearly window; request a portal account early because new users are added manually.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None
Delaware
Delaware EDGE Grant — STEM Class
Delaware — Division of Small Business
Share of an up to $750,000 STEM pool, scaled by pitch quality (Spring 2026 STEM awards ran $150,000 to $275,000)
GrantEquity-freesoftware & AIhealthfintechclimate & energyhardware & manufacturing
The catch: 3:1 match: the business puts in $1 for every $3 of state money. Money goes to listed uses (market analysis, advertising, building or cosmetic improvements, essential equipment, website design, lab-space rent), not general operating costs. Award size is set by the judges based on your pitch, not your request.
Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · twice a year (spring and fall rounds; the fall window runs mid-August to mid-September)
Founder tip: The STEM pool is nearly twice the Entrepreneur pool and recent STEM awards were larger, so a software or health-tech company that genuinely builds technology should file STEM. A DSB business manager will tell you which class fits before you apply.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Companies that use science, technology, engineering or math in their core operations (software, hardware, biotech, engineering), majority located in Delaware, in business under seven years, with 15 or fewer full-time employees and under $700,000 in assets.
- How to apply
- Pitch gate: apply through the Division of Small Business portal with the STEM proposal template; applications pass four rounds of internal scoring and finalists pitch an outside judging panel.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None
- Who wins
- Spring 2026 STEM winners: Trial IQ Technologies $275,000, HouseCall VR $175,000, Dunya Analytics and NeuroSync $150,000 each; the spring round drew 123 applicants, and EDGE has funded 136 businesses with $10.3 million since 2019.
Delaware EDGE Grant — Entrepreneur Class
Delaware — Division of Small Business
Share of an up to $400,000 Entrepreneur pool, scaled by pitch quality (Spring 2026 Entrepreneur awards ran $40,000 to $100,000)
GrantEquity-freeanyconsumer & retailfood & agriculturesocial impact
The catch: 3:1 match: the business puts in $1 for every $3 of state money. Money goes to listed uses (market analysis, advertising, building or cosmetic improvements, essential equipment, website design, lab-space rent), not general operating costs. Award size is set by the judges based on your pitch.
Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · twice a year (spring and fall rounds; the fall window runs mid-August to mid-September)
Founder tip: Recent Entrepreneur winners used the money for build-outs and equipment, so a consumer or service startup with a concrete physical or marketing project fits best. Budget your 25% share against the most you could win, because the judges may award more or less than you ask.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Non-STEM businesses majority located in Delaware, in business under seven years, with 15 or fewer full-time employees and under $700,000 in assets.
- How to apply
- Pitch gate: apply through the Division of Small Business portal with the Entrepreneur proposal template; finalists pitch an outside judging panel.
- Stage fit
- idea, pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None
- Who wins
- Spring 2026 Entrepreneur winners received $40,000 to $100,000, including an equestrian education program, an independent bookstore and an early-learning play center.
Iowa
Iowa Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR)
Iowa — Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)
Loan or royalty award: up to $50,000
LoanEquity-freesoftware & AIhealthhardware & manufacturingfood & agriculture
The catch: 1:2 private-to-public match, so a $50,000 award needs $25,000 of your own. This is repayable money, not a grant, and the contract has a claw-back if you move out of Iowa.
Next deadline: Nov 9, 2026 · bimonthly (application deadlines fall about ten weeks before each IEDA board meeting)
Founder tip: Software-as-a-service companies qualify under information technology, as the January 2026 awards show. If you outgrow POCR, the Demonstration Fund (2026 awards of $100,000) and the Innovation Acceleration Fund Launch award (up to $250,000) use the same deadlines.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Iowa-registered companies with fewer than 500 employees in advanced manufacturing, bioscience or information technology, with a validated concept and a working prototype, seeking market validation before commercial launch, and at least two active co-founders.
- How to apply
- Direct application: request the application from VentureNet Iowa ([email protected]), then complete a panel review and present to IEDA's Technology Commercialization Committee.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed
- Equity taken
- None — loan or royalty award, repaid: a 5-year loan at 3% with a 6-month deferral, or a 3% royalty on prior-year gross revenue until 1x the award is repaid; the loan comes due in a lump sum at 6% if you IPO, leave Iowa or sell 51% or more of the company during the contract
- Who wins
- In January 2026 IEDA approved $50,000 POCR loans for three software companies: Broker Hero AI, MorriganAI and Renewabl App.
Maine
MTI Business Innovation Funding (grants)
Maine — Maine Technology Institute (MTI)
Grants typically $10,000 to $30,000 for first-time applicants, building to $100,000 cumulative per company (MTI may separately offer loans or equity to later-stage companies)
GrantEquity-freesoftware & AIhealthfood & agricultureclimate & energyhardware & manufacturing
The catch: At least a 1:1 match, mostly cash (in-kind is accepted for part of the match at lower funding levels). Tiers are cumulative, so each later request faces stiffer expectations.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Founder tip: Ask for $30,000 or less the first time: tiers are based on your cumulative MTI grant total, and first-time applicants typically start small and use that project to justify a larger follow-on. SBIR/STTR and MERC support don't count toward the cumulative total.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Maine-led businesses whose innovation solves a technical or scientific challenge in one of MTI's seven sectors (biotechnology, composites and advanced materials, environmental technologies, forest products and agriculture, information technology, marine technology and aquaculture, precision manufacturing), with customer validation and potential for Maine jobs and revenue.
- How to apply
- Direct application: start with MTI's self-assessment and interest form, meet an MTI team member, then submit the application, budget and scope of work; review takes about two months.
- Stage fit
- idea, pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None — Business Innovation Funding grants are not repaid; MTI's loans and equity investments are separate, later-stage options
- Who wins
- MTI's public awards list shows dozens of 2026 grants, many of them $30,000 to information technology companies.
Maryland
TEDCO Concept Capital
Maryland — Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
Investment: $25,000 to $50,000 convertible notes
OtherEquity: see termsany
The catch: It is a note that converts into equity, not a grant. Eligibility depends on the rural, disadvantaged-community or SEDI test.
Equity: Convertible note that converts to equity: zero interest, zero discount, negotiable valuation cap
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Founder tip: Zero interest and zero discount make this gentler than most convertible notes, but the valuation cap sets TEDCO's conversion price, so negotiate it with your next priced round in mind. The note comes with mentoring and investment-readiness tracking software.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Maryland-based (principal office in Maryland, 51% or more of workforce in state), technology-driven, non-retail businesses founded within the last seven years, where the founder or business is in a rural or disadvantaged community or the founder is a socially and economically disadvantaged individual (including minority, disabled or female founders).
- How to apply
- Direct application: apply to TEDCO's Concept Capital program; applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Stage fit
- idea, pre-seed
- Equity taken
- Convertible note that converts to equity: zero interest, zero discount, negotiable valuation cap
Michigan
Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III
Michigan — Michigan Strategic Fund / MEDC (fund managed by the MSU Research Foundation's Michigan Rise)
Investment: $50,000 to $150,000 initial, with follow-on up to $250,000
OtherEquity: see termssoftware & AIhealthclimate & energyhardware & manufacturingfood & agricultureconsumer & retail
The catch: You must secure matching investment from other funding sources. The fund is capitalized by Michigan Strategic Fund grants to the MSU Research Foundation, so it follows state program rules.
Equity: Investment, not a grant: convertible debt, equity or SAFE
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Founder tip: Recent checks went to plain software, edtech and consumer-facing startups, not just hard tech, so a non-deep-tech founder is a real fit. The fund also makes purchase-order financing loans (up to $500,000 in Michigan Strategic Fund records) that can carry a first large order without dilution.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- For-profit LLCs, C-corps or S-corps founded within the past seven years with a majority of full-time staff in Michigan, in technology sectors such as software and digital, health and life sciences, energy, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and consumer products, or mobility; matching investment from other sources is required.
- How to apply
- Direct application: contact Michigan Rise ([email protected]); no deadline is published.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- Investment, not a grant: convertible debt, equity or SAFE
- Who wins
- In January 2026 Michigan Rise invested in five Michigan startups, including restaurant software companies 86Repairs and Shifty, AI companion EverFriends AI and learning platform Ollivate.
Minnesota
Minnesota Growth Loan Fund
Minnesota — Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
Loan: $100,000 to $400,000, sized at 20% of the equity raised in one 12-month round
LoanEquity-freesoftware & AIhealthhardware & manufacturingfood & agriculture
The catch: You must raise at least 70% of the planned round or $500,000, whichever is greater, within 12 months, or you lose eligibility. SAFEs and convertible notes count only with a mandatory conversion date within 36 months, and money from officers, 20%-plus owners and their families does not count.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Founder tip: Write a hard conversion date into any SAFE or note you sign during the round; without one, DEED won't count that money toward the 20% loan calculation. Minnesota's Launch Minnesota innovation grants ended with FY2025, so this loan is now the state's main direct startup product.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Technologically innovative early-stage Minnesota businesses that plan an equity raise in the next 12 months and are certified for the Angel Tax Credit or identified for investment by a venture or angel fund or an accredited investor; aimed at companies that have raised under $250,000 or are not yet ready for Series A.
- How to apply
- Direct application: apply to DEED to enroll, raise your round during the 12-month period in your acceptance letter, then submit DEED's proof-of-investment and loan request form.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None — loan, repaid at 1% interest over a 7-year term with principal payments deferred until year 4
Mississippi
Mississippi Seed Fund ($10,000 grant tier)
Mississippi — Innovate Mississippi (Mississippi Seed Fund board)
$10,000 grant on a $20,000 project (a separate $25,000 tier is a loan with up to five years to repay)
GrantEquity-freeany
The catch: Reimbursement only, requested after a four-week waiting period with bank statements and invoices. Match of at least 25% cash plus up to 75% in-kind. No patents, reorganization, existing debt or pre-award costs, and quarterly financial reporting. The $100,000 and $250,000 convertible-note tiers are inactive because funds are spent.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Founder tip: Only $2,500 of the match has to be cash; founder hours can cover the rest as in-kind, so a $10,000 award needs little money in the bank. Budget for the four-week wait before your first reimbursement.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- High-tech, high-growth small businesses (500 or fewer employees) located in, or relocated to and primarily domiciled in, Mississippi.
- How to apply
- Invite-only: complete Innovate Mississippi's Entrepreneur's Survey, work through development meetings with the Innovate team, and you are invited to apply and pitch the Seed Fund board.
- Stage fit
- idea, pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None — the $10,000 tier is a grant; the separate $25,000 tier is a loan
Missouri
MTC IDEA Fund (TechLaunch and Seed Capital)
Missouri — Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC)
Investment: TechLaunch up to $250,000 (pre-seed rounds under $1 million); Seed Capital up to $1 million (rounds of $1 million to $5 million); Venture Capital up to $4 million (rounds of $5 million to $20 million)
OtherEquity: see termshealthfintechsoftware & AIclimate & energyhardware & manufacturing
The catch: At least 1:1 private co-investment on the same terms, and the round must close within six months of the award; investments closed before the award don't count as match. MTC typically takes 10% to 25% of the new round, and approved companies sign a participation agreement.
Equity: Investment, not a grant: equity or convertible debt on the same terms as a matching private investor
Next deadline: Nov 3, 2026 · quarterly (award cycles in January, April, July and October)
Founder tip: Apply once investors are already in conversation: the six-month clock to close the match starts at the award, and MTC usually closes last in the round alongside the matching investor. Software, fintech and health-services startups fit the focus areas, not just life sciences.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Missouri-headquartered early-stage companies with proprietary or protectable IP in one of seven focus areas (biomedical and life sciences, healthcare technology and services, financial technology and services, software and data, energy, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics), with a dollar-for-dollar private match at closing.
- How to apply
- Direct application: submit the IDEA Fund application before a quarterly deadline; selected companies present to MTC's Investment Committee, and the board approves awards.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed, Series A+
- Equity taken
- Investment, not a grant: equity or convertible debt on the same terms as a matching private investor
- Who wins
- MTC reports more than $64 million invested in over 174 startups since 2010.
Nebraska
Nebraska Innovation Fund Prototype Grant
Nebraska — Department of Economic Development (DED)
Up to $150,000 per project, reimbursed at 66% of project costs (80% for value-added agriculture)
GrantEquity-freeanyhardware & manufacturingfood & agriculture
The catch: Cash match of at least 50% of the grant request (25% for value-added agriculture) from non-state sources. Reimbursement only. The project must be finished and all funds drawn within 24 months.
Next deadline: Rolling (FY2027 window open until June 30, 2027 or until funds are exhausted) · rolling within the state fiscal year (July to June, until funds run out)
Founder tip: Eligible costs include employee and contractor wages and prototype materials, so a product startup can cover engineering payroll. Have the cash match documented before you apply, because evidence of match is part of the application, and ask DED early whether funds remain.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Nebraska-based businesses with fewer than 500 employees in non-retail primary industries that add value to products or processes in Nebraska and are developing a new product.
- How to apply
- Direct application: submit the application form, business plan and evidence of cash match to DED during the fiscal-year window; DED encourages applicants to contact program staff first.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None
New Jersey
New Jersey Innovation Fellows Program (Cohort III)
New Jersey — New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
$200,000 base income-replacement grant per founding team, plus bonuses up to $200,000 (up to $400,000 total), paid quarterly over two years
FellowshipEquity-freesoftware & AIhealthfintechclimate & energyhardware & manufacturing
The catch: $250 application fee. Each funded entrepreneur must work full-time (35 hours a week, no more than 20 hours of outside work) for two years, keep paying New Jersey income tax and attend a 24-month mentorship program. Disbursements are quarterly and depend on milestones and financial reporting, and the business must be registered within 30 days of award.
Next deadline: Dec 4, 2026 · periodic cohorts (the Cohort III window runs from September to early December)
Founder tip: Bonuses stack: $50,000 if any team member lives in a New Jersey Opportunity Zone, plus $50,000 for each leader who self-certifies as a woman or minority or graduated from a New Jersey college, so team composition can double the award. Don't form the company before applying; NJEDA says an already registered business may be ruled ineligible.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Teams of at least three full-time entrepreneurs (at least half first-time founders) launching a not-yet-formed business in one of New Jersey's targeted industries, located in an eligible municipality; each recipient must have paid New Jersey income tax within 60 days before applying and be leaving paid work, and the team must own more than 50% of the venture.
- How to apply
- Direct application: NJEDA application portal; the main contact submits the business plan and pitch deck, each entrepreneur completes a supplemental form, and the team pays a $250 fee.
- Stage fit
- idea
- Equity taken
- None
- Who wins
- Up to six teams will be recommended for Cohort III, with a seventh considered if funding remains.
NJEDA Angel Match Program
New Jersey — New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
Investment: $100,000 to $1,000,000 convertible note matching outside angel investment 1:1
OtherEquity: see termssoftware & AIhealthfintechclimate & energyhardware & manufacturing
The catch: Debt plus a warrant, not a grant. Service businesses are ineligible, SAFEs don't qualify as the matched investment, and you must keep at least 50% of full-time staff in New Jersey for the life of the note. Cannabis-linked applicants are excluded.
Equity: Convertible promissory note with a warrant equal to 50% of principal; 10-year maturity, 3% interest, no payments for the first seven years
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Founder tip: NJEDA puts no restriction on stacking this with its other incentives, including the Angel Investor Tax Credit (a refundable credit of up to 35% of the investment), which helps you recruit the angel whose check NJEDA matches.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Early-stage, product-based companies in New Jersey targeted industries (C-corp or LLC with unit structure) with New Jersey office, coworking or incubator space, at least half of full-time staff and two full-time founders or C-level executives in New Jersey, no more than 100 employees and at least $100,000 in trailing-12-month revenue; raising a priced preferred-equity round with at least $100,000 from a qualified outside investor.
- How to apply
- Direct application: apply to NJEDA once a qualified outside investor is lined up; the outside investment must close within 60 days of NJEDA's commitment letter.
- Stage fit
- seed
- Equity taken
- Convertible promissory note with a warrant equal to 50% of principal; 10-year maturity, 3% interest, no payments for the first seven years
New York
NY Ventures Pre-Seed and Seed Matching Fund
New York — Empire State Development (NY Ventures)
Investment: $50,000 to $250,000, matched 1:1 with private investment (a $40 million SSBCI program)
OtherEquity: see termssoftware & AIhealthclimate & energyfintech
The catch: You must raise at least $1 of qualified private investment for every $1 NY Ventures invests; private money in the same round counts only if it closed no earlier than 90 days before the SSBCI investment.
Equity: Investment, not a grant: convertible debt, SAFE or equity on the same terms as the matched private investors
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (no deadline published)
Founder tip: LaunchNY gives applicants free legal, accounting and financial advisory help through its SSBCI technical assistance program, with weekly Monday office hours; use it to get your round documents in shape before you submit.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Pre-seed and seed companies headquartered in New York State with at least one C-suite employee there, registered and in good standing in New York, that raised $2 million or less in dilutive funding before the current round; focus on technology markets such as SaaS and AI, life sciences, climate, fintech and healthcare; C-corporations preferred.
- How to apply
- Direct application: competitive application through the NY Ventures portal (nyventuresapply.esd.ny.gov).
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- Investment, not a grant: convertible debt, SAFE or equity on the same terms as the matched private investors
Pennsylvania
Ben Franklin Big Idea Contest
Pennsylvania — Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
$50,000 in total cash prizes split among winners, plus a $2,500 People's Choice award
PrizeEquity-freeany
The catch: Finalists should plan on about 5 to 6 hours a week for training, coaching and the finale. Ben Franklin takes no equity and charges no fees.
Next deadline: Expected: October 2027 · annual (applications close in mid-October; virtual finale in December)
Founder tip: Winners get a guaranteed spot in Ben Franklin's TechCelerator, the on-ramp to its larger early-stage funding, so even a modest prize opens that pipeline. Ideas count: you can apply before registering the business as long as you plan to register in Pennsylvania.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Founders and early-stage companies located in Ben Franklin CNP's 32-county region with a scalable, tech-enabled idea, no more than $1 million in annual sales and no prior Ben Franklin funding or Big Idea or TechCelerator cash prize; a registered business is not required to apply.
- How to apply
- Pitch gate: online application; 6 to 8 finalists complete pitch training, a 2-page business summary, a promotional video and coaching, then pitch at a virtual finale.
- Stage fit
- idea, pre-seed
- Equity taken
- None
- Who wins
- Usually 6 to 8 finalists per contest; past winners include Otzzy (2024 first prize) and PA Mushroom Company (2022).
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA — Early-Stage Funding
Pennsylvania — Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
Repayable funding: up to $500,000 for tech startups through a series of investments; up to $250,000 for existing manufacturers
LoanEquity-freeany
The catch: Cash match from the company and a payback obligation. Funds can't buy land, buildings, machinery, equipment or inventory. From first meeting to check usually takes 3 to 6 months.
Next deadline: Rolling · quarterly (Ben Franklin invests four times a year)
Founder tip: Plan the money around the uses Ben Franklin lists (hiring, software and prototype development, beta testing, sales and marketing, trade shows) and finance any equipment elsewhere, since hard assets are excluded. You don't need a full business plan to start, just a summary of what you're building and for whom.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- Technology startups and existing manufacturers located in Ben Franklin's 32-county Central & Northern Pennsylvania footprint.
- How to apply
- Direct application: brief introduction form, a meeting with a Ben Franklin representative, a videoconference presentation to the team, then a formal application reviewed by the board.
- Stage fit
- pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None — repayable award, repaid through a payback process that begins once your engagement ends (Ben Franklin says this is not a small business grant)
South Carolina
SCRA Startup, Academic Startup and Acceleration Grants
South Carolina — South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA)
Up to $25,000 (Startup Grant and Academic Startup Grant); up to $50,000 (Acceleration Grant)
GrantEquity-freeany
The catch: Membership comes first, and acceptance does not guarantee a grant. Grants are tied to commercialization milestones; the Acceleration Grant is meant to position the company for an SC Launch investment.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Founder tip: Frame each request around one milestone that moves you toward follow-on funding, because that is the stated purpose of the Startup and Acceleration grants. Membership also makes you eligible for SC Launch's convertible-note and equity investments later.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- South Carolina technology startups accepted as SCRA Member Companies (fewer than 40% of membership applicants are accepted); the Academic Startup Grant is for startups advancing IP from a higher-education institution, and the Acceleration Grant is for established early-stage companies.
- How to apply
- Invite-only: apply for SCRA membership; eligible Member Companies are invited by their assigned manager to apply, on a rolling basis.
- Stage fit
- idea, pre-seed, seed
- Equity taken
- None
- Who wins
- SCRA and its investment affiliate SC Launch report more than $20.3 million in grants to startups since 2006 and $4.7 million in grants and investments to member companies in FY2025.
Virginia
VIPC Launch Grant (Cycle 7)
Virginia — Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
$50,000
GrantEquity-freesoftware & AIhealthclimate & energyhardware & manufacturing
The catch: A 1:1 match of non-dilutive capital or in-kind contributions is required. Paid in a single tranche about 60 days after the window opens, and VIPC gets participation rights in a future round.
Next deadline: Oct 30, 2026 · quarterly (VIPC reviews applications each quarter and expects to award 40 to 60 grants a year)
Founder tip: Companies turned down in an earlier cycle may reapply, and in-kind contributions count toward the 1:1 match, so you don't need cash in the bank. Apply before you take angel money: any angel or VC raise disqualifies you.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
- Eligibility
- High-potential early-stage Virginia companies that are pre-MVP, have no product revenue (non-dilutive capital excluded), have raised no angel or venture money, and have raised no more than $300,000 from family and friends at least 90 days before applying.
- How to apply
- Direct application: apply during the quarterly window on VIPC's Virginia Venture Partners page; Round 1 selection is followed by company interviews and a Round 2 selection.
- Stage fit
- idea, pre-seed
- Equity taken
- None — VIPC receives participation rights (a right, not an obligation, to invest in a later round)
- Who wins
- VIPC expects to award 40 to 60 Launch Grants a year.
