Project Grant ED19HDQ0200030

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 $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...

This $6,021,480 project grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's BUILD TO SCALE program will fund the Village to Venture: EDA Build to Scale Venture Challenge. Through a partnership between Southwestern Community College, the University of San Diego, and the Connect Foundation, this project will support underrepresented entrepreneurs in the San Diego region in accessing traditional capital sources and creating new jobs. Specifically, the partnership will...

The Economic Development Administration awarded Cornell University a $824,603 Project Grant under the BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program. The grant will fund the BRV Investor Network, which will serve as an upstate-downstate bridge to screen and connect scalable New York startups with investors from the global venture capital community. Specifically, the Network will deliver three functions to increase capital flows to seed and early-stage startups in New York. First, it will serve as an...

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...

This $3.2 million project grant from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration funds the Upstate NY Capital Gap Angel Fund. The grant supports the launch of a new seed fund to expand venture capital investment and mentorship opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs across upstate New York. The awardee, Excell Partners, Inc., will use the three-year grant to attract follow-on capital for portfolio companies by mentoring ventures. Once implemented, the Upstate NY...

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 $3,060,344 Project Grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's BUILD TO SCALE program funds the Stitchcrew Vest Her Ventures project. The project establishes one of Oklahoma's first accelerators to connect traditionally overlooked entrepreneurs with capital, networks, and resources needed to build and scale companies. It provides executive coaching to over 100 members annually and uses its extended network as a talent bank and trusted pipeline. Stitchcrew and...

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...

The Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration awarded Innovation Works $8 million under the BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program (CFDA 11.024) to implement the Scaling Networks in Southwestern Pennsylvania Project from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2025. The project aims to deepen, strengthen and cross-pollinate networks of mentors, corporate partners, investors and supply chain partners to more scalably deliver entrepreneurial services to startups in the region. Key...