LaunchLNK Grant

The LaunchLNK Grant awards six early-stage scalable startups building their businesses in Lincoln, Nebraska with a $20,000 non-dilutive cash grant, plus more than $15,000 in in-kind services and benefits. Administered by StartupLNK in partnership with Select Lincoln, the program is designed to help promising startups establish and grow their companies in Lincoln by combining meaningful capital with the connections and support needed to move from early-stage to fully operational business.

Beyond the cash grant, recipients receive four additional forms of support: introductions to potential sources of additional capital through StartupLNK's Midwest investor relationships; connections to mentors and to local and regional corporations that may become early customers or partners; access to professional services (legal, accounting, marketing, and other business needs) at little or no cost through corporate and service provider partnerships; and inclusion in the LaunchLNK alumni network, which has supported dozens of Lincoln-area startups since the program launched. Grant funds are distributed as the company meets milestones defined jointly with the LaunchLNK Program Manager.

Applications are open to all industries and types of companies, with a clear goal and vision for business growth required. Applicants are prioritized based on the grant's potential economic impact in Lincoln, meaning reviewers look for companies where the funding could spur revenue and job creation and attract additional capital investment. Standout applications tend to demonstrate a clear use of funds tied to a specific next milestone, and founders actively contributing to the Lincoln business or innovation community receive additional consideration. The selection process includes an initial application review, screening calls, and interviews with a selection committee that ultimately selects the six recipients from a pool of 50 to 100 applications each cycle. Previous applicants who were not selected are welcome to reapply, as long as they have not already been awarded a LaunchLNK grant.