Funding Resources
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Kentucky offers a series of pre-seed and seed stage funds that focus on the early stage commercialization of a technical business, product or process. The application process was designed to emulate the venture capital due diligence process. See www.startupkentucky.com for on-line applications and deadlines (typically quarterly). Applicants must step through three screens of increasingly more detailed analysis before an investment decision is made. The heart of the due diligence process is a technical and business analysis. The intent is to invest in those companies that have the greatest probability of successfully commercializing a technology and capturing a significant market share. ICC offices provide business development and commercialization support.

Fund	Purpose	Funding	Eligibility	Structure
Rural Innovation Fund Level 1 Grant	Technical Business or product development, Proof of concept development or early stage prototype.	$30,000 1:1 match	Small, rural Kentucky based companies. Must use funds to contract with a third party. 50 or fewer employees.	Grant
Rural Innovation Fund Level 2 Investment	Technical proof of concept development or early stage prototype project toward commercialization.	$50,000 per year up to 2 years. (If RL 1 received that $30K is included and part of note) 1:1 match	Small, rural Kentucky based companies. Must use funds to contract with a third party. 50 or fewer employees.	Convertible note
Kentucky Enterprise Fund Grant	Technical business development activities	$30,000 1:1 match	150 or fewer employees	Grant
Kentucky Enterprise Fund Investment	Executive talent, business and market development.	$250,000, $500,000 or $750,000 1:1 match only for qualified round	ICC Client, technology enterprise 150 or fewer employees	Convertible note or syndication
Kentucky Commercialization	University based technology commercialization.	$75,000 per year up to 2 years	Faculty	Royalty payback
SBIR/STTR Match	Incentive for development projects towards commercialization	Phase 0/00 $4K Phase 1 $100K Phase 2 $1MM 1:1 Fed. match	SBIR/STTR applicant and award recipient	Grants

R. Gary Marshall, Executive Director                                                        Office: 859-622-8578
Innovation and Commercialization Center (ICC)                                        Fax:  859-622-8870
EKU Business & Technology Incubator for Safety & Security                    Cell: 859-200-6017
EKU BTC 041, Richmond, KY 40475                                                           gary.marshall@eku.edu

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KEF Grant Application Info | KY SBIR/STTR matching funds application info