Grant Funding Assistance

Federal funding sources, such as SBIR/STTR grants, now grant more than $2 billion annually to small technology-based businesses across the country. In addition, disease and issue-specific foundations (e.g., Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) are starting to make significant program-related grants/investments into for-profit technology companies for product development and commercialization. Technology companies can receive from $100,000 to $3 million plus from these sources and are increasingly using grant funding sources as a complement to traditional capital sources for financing their business growth.

Grant funding can be a great driver for an early stage business and can often substitute for attracting investment capital in the early stage. While there may be drawbacks such as losing focus on your commercial mission, for the right company, grants can be a great way to develop your technology and solution, while solving problems for the country and offsetting your need for cash.

Working with federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Education, the Department of Development, the National Science Foundation, Homeland Security, and others requires a specific body of knowledge and a set of skills. The entrepreneurs who have worked in this environment seem to “know the ropes” and know how to access grants. Others, however, find it to be arcane and mysterious. TechLift’s Grant Funding Assistance programs aim to bridge that gap.

TechLift has chosen to work with two partners, BioEnterprise and Ohio Aerospace Institute to help Northeast Ohio technology entrepreneurs learn about grant funding opportunities, hone their skills at negotiating the grant funding maze, and writing grant proposals that win.

For BioSciences Companies

BioEnterprise and TechLift have designed a program to train and assist BioSciences entrepreneurs in successfully applying for funding, with a specific focus on the BioSciences and the NIH. The program runs regular training classes on grant funding opportunities and methodology to access them. Through the program, companies can receive financial assistance for 60 percent of the actual costs of the professional grant writer, to a maximum of $4,000 in support per grant application, with payback only if a grant is awarded to the company based on that application.

For Non-BioSciences Companies

Ohio Aerospace Institute and TechLift have designed a program to train and assist technology entrepreneurs in successfully applying for funding, with focus on opportunities with the Departments of Defense, Energy and Homeland Security, and the National Science Foundation. The program will run training classes on grant funding opportunities and methodology to access them, tied in to the federal funding calendar. Through this program, companies can receive financial assistance for professional grant writers and can compare notes with other entrepreneurs. Another facet of the program will raise the level of grant writing resources in Northeast Ohio through collaboration with The American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP).

You can also check out our Funding Resources page for a broader list of organizations that invest in early-stage technology companies.

We are focused on Northeast Ohio's signature technologies:

Advanced Materials, BioSciences, Electronics, Information Technology, Advanced Energy

Click here to register with TechLift and connect with a Signature EIR.