New York Global Entrepreneurs Program

Empire State Development (ESD) is requesting applications for the New York Global Entrepreneurs Program (NYGEP), Round 2, a grant program to establish or expand Global Entrepreneurs in Residence (GEIR) programs at higher-education institutions and affiliated nonprofits in New York State, with applications due November 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET through the Submittable portal.

Eligible applicants are public and private institutions of higher education in New York State and affiliated not-for-profit organizations. The program targets international entrepreneurs launching innovative startups within New York to address visa-availability constraints and bolster the state's innovation economy and research universities. SDVOB and DBE contracting goals are 0.00%; no prior contract incumbents are identified.

GEIR programs must provide part-time employment, mentorship, and business-development support services including customer introductions, talent recruitment assistance, investor connections, and market research guidance to international founders. Eligible expenses include staff and participant wages, legal expenses tied to H-1B visa implementation and administration, immigration-compliance software, and outreach materials. Capital expenses and legal fees unrelated to cap-exempt H-1B visas are ineligible.

The maximum grant award is $1.5 million per entity. Applicants must provide a minimum 25% cash match; in-kind contributions do not satisfy the match requirement but receive favorable consideration. The grant term is four years, with potential extensions on a case-by-case basis. Evaluation emphasizes experience and capacity (30 points), budget alignment and efficiency (20 points), leveraging additional resources and ecosystem engagement (20 points), planning (15 points), and entrepreneur identification and outreach processes (15 points). ESD prioritizes awardees' ability to serve multiple regions outside New York City and the Capital Region.

Applicants must register in the Vendor Responsibility System, maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1 million, and comply with MWBE and SDVOB participation goals. All partners must comply with ISO Standards 27001, 27005, and 27035 for information security and GDPR standards when processing data within GDPR scope. Applicant information sessions are scheduled for October 13 and October 22, 2026. Questions are due November 5, 2026, with ESD responses posted by November 12.