Cooperative Agreement AIDOAAF1700035

The Wayne State University Research & Technology Park in Detroit, Michigan (Techtown Detroit) received a $1.17 million project grant award from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration under the BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program (CFDA 11.024) to recruit and train 200 high-net-worth individuals from Michigan and the Great Lakes region as angel investors from October 2021 through September 2024. The project aims to activate the potential of underrepresented investors...

This $1.2 million project grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's BUILD TO SCALE program will fund the Diversify-Connect-Fund Project to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Greater Charlottesville, Virginia. The two-year project aims to improve outcomes for underrepresented startup founders and investors. Key services include an Angel Academy program modeled after an accelerator to provide outreach, recruitment, selection and six-to-eight week training...

Directed Analytics Inc. received a $276,000 National Science Foundation Project Grant under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program to develop an automated employability skills framework. The one-year project will create a scalable software platform integrating data from school districts and higher education programs on transition methods and employment outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities. Using machine learning, the...

The Economic Development Administration awarded a $2.17 million Project Grant to Vilcap, Inc. to develop lasting investment infrastructure for technology startups led by founders of color in the Southeast region of the United States. Under the Resource Invests initiative funded through the agency's BUILD TO SCALE program (CFDA #11.024), Vilcap will work with the Black Innovation Alliance from November 2022 to April 2024 to launch infrastructure and a replicable model to improve...

This $700,013 project grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program will fund Nxtus, Inc.'s efforts to diversify Kansas' risk capital ecosystem through September 2024. Nxtus will expand its Accelerate Venture Partners program membership and engage additional entrepreneurs, some requiring broader financing support. Activities will include founder capital education sessions, investor education programs, Kansas company...

This $1.2 million project grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's BUILD TO SCALE program will fund the Charlotte Community Capital Access Investment Initiative. Over three years, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte will engage multiple university and community resources to identify new local capital sources, educate underrepresented potential angel investors, and ensure 120 emerging entrepreneurs are fully prepared for investment. Specifically, the...

This $1.4 million Project Grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's BUILD TO SCALE program funds the Southern California Venture Pipeline (SVP) Capital Fund Development Project. The Alliance for Southern California Innovation will review startup applications, vet companies, and forward qualified deals to an evaluator panel. Roughly 75% of applicants will need mentorship to prepare for future funding rounds. Startups selected by the panel will pitch to a...

This $2.26 million project grant from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration funds the Capital Gravity Arizona: Startup and Innovation Ecosystem Capital Accelerator Program. Delivered by Next Foundation, the program aims to create Capital Gravity Arizona, a transformational capital accelerator for Arizona's startup and innovation ecosystems. Key services include welcome programming, pipeline access, diverse learning communities, and innovation ecosystems for each cohort...

The University of Maryland, College Park will launch the UMD Terrapin Fund to provide early-stage risk capital and entrepreneurial support services to University-affiliated startups through September 2024. Funded by a $667,527 Project Grant from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration under the BUILD TO SCALE program, the UMD Terrapin Fund aims to accelerate the commercial success of startup companies emerging from the University's innovation ecosystem. The Fund will...

The Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration awarded a $596,289 Project Grant to Thryve Incubator, doing business as Startup Tucson, to develop a financial capital investor ecosystem in Tucson, Arizona under the BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program (CFDA 11.024). The grant will support outreach and recruitment of prospective investors, delivery of investment training and education, and development and deployment of an online data network connecting existing investor information...