Ready to bet big? Kansas wants to help entrepreneurs win more federal innovation grants

Kansas innovators now have access to a new tool designed to help them compete for major federal funding.

The Kansas Department of Commerce has opened applications for the state’s SBIR and STTR Matching Program, which provides financial support and hands-on guidance for entrepreneurs pursuing federal innovation grants.

Romaine Redman, chief innovation and strategy officer for the Kansas Department of Commerce, speaks in June during a panel conversation at Plug and Play Topeka’s Expo Day; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

The matching initiative is part of ACCEL-KS, a broader strategy led by Romaine Redman, chief innovation and strategy officer for the Kansas Department of Commerce. The proof-of-concept program grew directly from feedback gathered from across the state, Redman said.

“When I took over the office, we went on a listening tour across the state just to understand where we were as an ecosystem. One of the things we heard is that the journey toward commercialization was a major challenge,” he said.

Kansas entrepreneurs, he explained, often lacked the early funding and technical support needed to move from idea to market. That gap prevented the state from keeping pace with regional competitors when pursuing federal SBIR and STTR awards.

“We saw that we were really underperforming in terms of how many of those federal contracts and awards we were able to win,” said Redman, “I think last year we did only 14, while Missouri did almost double that number. Iowa and Oklahoma are doing a lot more.”

A connected statewide support system

Rather than create a single grant program, the Department of Commerce designed a coordinated statewide effort. Partners include KU Innovation Park, Groover Labs, the Kansas SBDC, Network Kansas, and the FAST program at Wichita State University.

This structure helps ensure entrepreneurs receive support at every stage, Redman said.

“It is a continuum,” he said. “We are making sure we do not stop along the way. We want to ensure people do not get these funds and then are left to figure it out. We put the network in place from the start.”

The process typically begins with the FAST program, which helps applicants understand agency requirements, receive initial feedback, and identify appropriate grant writers. Once an entrepreneur is ready to move forward, they can apply for phase zero support from Commerce.

The state provides up to $3,000 for proposal development, market research, intellectual property guidance, and other preparation needs.

“At the proposal development phase, we want folks to get everything from help procuring a grant writer to research support,” Redman said. “It requires real technical understanding to put together an award application that makes the best federal presentation.”

Support continues even after applications are submitted. Entrepreneurs stay connected to incubation resources, angel networks, and the state’s equity fund, which is managed by Network Kansas.

“We have that network that ensures they are supported all the way through to becoming mature companies,” he said.

Romaine Redman, chief innovation and strategy officer for the Kansas Department of Commerce, speaks in August during Digital Health KC’s Digital Health Day event; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Backing Kansans with big ideas

Redman described the new matching program as an opportunity for startups ready to bring their ideas to major national challenges. Applicants often work with such federal agencies as the Department of Defense or the National Institutes of Health.

“Any Kansan who is ready to bet big and to bet big on themselves and their ideas, this is for you,” he said.

Early interest reflects the demand. Applications arrived on the first day the program opened, Redman recalled, and attendance has been strong at outreach events.

“When we did a roadshow one Monday in Wichita, we had about 15 or so people show up who were interested,” he said. “Then we were in Manhattan and had a room of over 30 prospective applicants.”

Additional stops, including one at KU Innovation Park next week, are expected to draw even more entrepreneurs.

A call for innovators to start the conversation

For Kansas founders who are unsure about applying, Redman encouraged them to take the first step.

“Reach out. It starts with a question. It starts with a conversation,” he said. “We are supporting Kansas made. We are supporting Kansan born ideas, and we are willing to put funding and the ecosystem behind you.”

Kansas, he added, is ready to strengthen its standing in the regional innovation economy — a position Redman believes has the potential to be far higher.

“The Office of Innovation is here to correct that. We want to back our own folks,” he said.

Entrepreneurs can find program details, partner contacts, and application information on the Kansas Department of Commerce website.