Deadlines approach for $100K, $500K co-investment opportunities for MO startups
October 12, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
It’s easy to form an idea. It’s more difficult to take it to market.
The Missouri Tech Corporation’s IDEA Funds seek to facilitate the commercialization process for high-tech Missouri technologies, via a variety of co-investment opportunities.
The IDEA Funds divide financing into four components that correspond to four stages of growth for entrepreneurs, from pre-investment to high-growth enterprises. For the Missouri TechLaunch and Seed Capital Co-Investment Program, applications are now open, with a Nov. 15 deadline.
The Venture Capital Co-Investment Program and the High-Tech Industrial Expansion Program are not taking applications in November.
MTC’s future is uncertain. The agency’s budget was cut substantially from nearly $23 million in 2017 to $3.4 million in spending authority for 2018.
More recently, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ office released a report suggesting MTC existing programming be replaced with a privately-managed innovation fund.
Here’s more about the funding opportunities:
MTC will award pre-seed funding — no more than $100,000 per individual award — to Missouri startups that are committed to a discovery in one of the following high-tech industry clusters: animal health, plant science, biomedical science, applied engineering, or defense and homeland security.
Startups must have less than 500 employees and will be evaluated on their market potential, proof of concept and intellectual property development. Applicants must also be in partnership with a Missouri research university or inst ution, or be willing to establish one. For more information about the opportunity, click here.
Seed Capital Co-Investment Program
High-tech startups that have succeeded in proving concept, but need access to seed capital might be eligible for the Seed Capital Co-Investment program.
With a maximum funding amount of $500,000 per individual, this grant is designed to accelerate private investment in Missouri companies who are looking to conduct competitive analysis, advanced prototype design and other advancements of intellectual property development.
Eligible applicants must have a committed leadership team, a third-party investment commitment and a viable plan. To apply, click here.
Featured Business
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Report: Kansas City is the 8th-worst metro for entrepreneur diversity
It’s a dreary day for Kansas City in terms of successfully supporting a diverse entrepreneurial community. The City of Fountains is far below the national average — and the majority of the most-populated metros — when it comes to minority business ownership, according to the United States Census Bureau. The bureau on Thursday unveiled the…
KCMO reveals seven innovation partners and inaugural demo day
Mayor Sly James on Tuesday announced seven partners for the 2016 Innovation Partnership Program and the program’s new accelerator-like approach. Now in its second year, the IPP provides select startups with city data and infrastructure at no cost and the opportunity to develop, test and demonstrate innovative solutions for the city. For the first time, the…
With traction in tow, Super Dispatch is a model ‘lean startup’
Super Dispatch began like every tech startup: with a good idea. But as founder Bek Abdullayev will tell you, it takes more than that to be successful. In 2013, Abdullayev founded Super Dispatch, a software-as-a-service platform for the trucking industry intended to eliminate paperwork. Super Dispatch streamlines the communication of documents between truckers and their…
‘Makerspace in the ‘Hood’ wants to smother poverty and crime with creativity
Every successful entrepreneur is born with a seed of opportunity. It is impossible for one person to be successful on their own; whether you extend gratitude to your family for their support, your university for its resources, or the angel investor who believed in you when nobody else did. Now imagine you grew up in…