seCTerRise $25k Grant

The Nebraska Innovation Fund (NIF) Prototype Grant is a grant-matching program that provides up to $150,000 to support early-stage product development. Eligible businesses include Nebraska-based companies engaged in non-retail industries with fewer than 500 employees. Grant winners can use the funds for costs related to developing products, such as wages, prototype materials, and equipment.

HSBIR provides matching grants to help companies further develop new products that solve critical issues for the nation. Applicants must have received Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) /Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants or contracts to qualify for the state matching grant program. The HSBIR program provides up to 50% match for companies receiving SBIR/STTR awards. Companies may apply also for reimbursement for grant writing costs for their initial Federal grant application (Phase 0). The Hawaiʻi SBIR matching grant program is the longest state funded SBIR matching program in the United States. Initially the grant program only funded companies that received Phase I grants but in 2016, the program was expanded to help companies who are moving their advanced technology products from research into the market. Hawaiʻi’s SBIR Phase II and Phase III winners are creating the best technology solutions in the nation.

The Manufacturing Reinvented grant is a fully-funded opportunity tailored for Cook County manufacturers to enhance their production and sales, develop leadership, and train their workforce. It offers reimbursement for projects that focus on operational improvements, leadership and strategy development, sales and marketing growth, and workforce training.

The Seattle Small Business Capital Access Program (CAP) pays down up to $30,000 (or 20% of the loan principal, whichever is less) on qualifying small business loans for Seattle-based businesses. Administered by the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED), the program is designed to lower the cost of borrowing for small businesses, particularly those that have historically lacked equitable access to financial services. CAP is not a standalone grant application and businesses do not apply directly. Instead, eligibility is evaluated by a participating community lender at the time of loan approval, and qualifying borrowers receive the principal paydown automatically as part of their financing. Because of this, the most important step for interested business owners is knowing to work with one of CAP's participating community lenders when seeking a small business loan; loans from non-participating lenders are not eligible. Participating lenders include Business Impact NW, Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, Seattle Credit Union, MoFi, Grow America Community Impact Loan Fund, Pursuit, Evergreen Business Capital and Community Finance, and Denkyem Co-Op. Paydowns are issued in two installments — one after the borrower makes 12 on-time monthly payments, and a second after 24 on-time monthly payments — and are applied directly to the loan account rather than disbursed to the borrower, effectively reducing the principal owed. To be eligible, businesses must be for-profit, independently owned, located within Seattle city limits, in operation for at least 12 months, have an active City of Seattle Business License, employ no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees, generate annual gross revenue of $2 million or less, and be current on loan payments at the time of the paydown award.

The SBA Patriot Pitch Competition awards a $1 million cash prize pool to small businesses across the United States as part of the Freedom 250 celebration of 250 years of American free enterprise. Administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) with prize funding donated by Clover Network, Inc., the competition is a national pitch contest designed to spotlight small businesses driving innovation, job creation, and economic growth. Eligibility is limited to small businesses that have utilized qualifying SBA capital products (including 7(a) loans, PPP loans, 504 loans, microloans, and certain disaster loans), that meet the SBA's definition of a small business, and that have at least $100,000 of annual revenue. Individual applicants and team members must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age at the time of submission. Submissions are evaluated across four stages of judging panels that assess each business on factors such as innovation, demonstrated growth, job creation, and domestic production, with the top ten semifinalists narrowed down to five finalists who pitch live before judges and a national audience at a finals event in Washington, D.C. In addition to the cash prize, the finals feature a supplier matchmaking expo connecting small businesses with larger corporate buyers and government contracting opportunities, alongside networking with investors, industry leaders, and policymakers. Finalists are responsible for their own travel costs to the live competition.