Digital Sandbox KC

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites researchers to submit applications for support of clinical projects that address critical needs for clinical trial readiness in rare diseases. The initiative seeks applications that are intended to facilitate rare diseases research by enabling efficient and effective movement of candidate therapeutics or diagnostics toward clinical trials, and to increase their likelihood of success. This could be through the development and testing of rigorous biomarkers and clinical outcome assessment measures, or by defining the presentation and course of a rare disease to enable the design of upcoming clinical trials.

The Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites Program (PA SITES) was established to provide grant and loan funding to eligible applicants to develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within the Commonwealth. The Construction Grants and Loans component provides grants and loans to serve as gap financing for strategic sites that need financial assistance to help reduce development risk for businesses. The grant and loan funding is intended to help finance strategic investments that will enhance sites across the Commonwealth to effectively compete for expanding and relocating businesses. The program will help reduce development risk for businesses by timeline reduction from the development of public infrastructure or reducing unknown development costs.

The Grant for Revitalizing Office Workspaces (GROW) provides Baltimore County businesses signing their first commercial lease in the county with a one-time grant of $8 per square foot, up to a maximum of $80,000, to help offset initial leasing expenses. Administered by Baltimore County's Department of Economic and Workforce Development, the program is designed to encourage businesses to occupy and revitalize office workspaces across the county. To be eligible, businesses must execute a direct lease with a landlord for a minimum 36-month term on at least 500 square feet of Class A or Class B office space (Class A and Class B Flex space is also considered for businesses with a demonstrated need for laboratory space). Applicants must apply within 180 days of lease execution, have a minimum personal credit score of 625, and have signed their lease after February 14, 2025. Retail, restaurant, independent financial, and insurance agent or broker establishments are not eligible for this program. Awards are issued on a first-come, first-served basis subject to available funding approved by the County Executive and Baltimore County Council.

The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) Member Companies may apply for a variety of non-dilutive grants, each with its own eligibility and review criteria. The Academic Startup Grant is focused on startups advancing intellectual property from institutions of higher education. Managed by the Academic Innovations team, the objective of the Academic Startup Grant is to provide earlystage funding to academic startups to support one or more critical milestones towards commercialization and to advance the company’s pursuit of follow-on funding. Key milestones include developing the technology past the minimum viable product (MVP) and demonstrating product-market fit, in the DEVELOP stage of startup development. Academic Startup Grants provide funding for up to $25,000.

The Black Ambition Prize competition provides a platform for underrepresented founders across the nation to access growth capital, coaching, and a curated community of innovators and mentors. Eligible applicants consist of diverse innovators building early-stage ventures