Funding can be important for many startups. However, it’s helpful to remember that funding itself is not a panacea. Moreover, funding without having validated your problem with prospective customers and testing your assumptions may just be throwing good money after bad.
Once you have validated the problem, tested your assumptions, and built a minimally viable product, funding can be helpful. Here are some options that you can consider:
Fuqua Fast Pitch // applications open in February
Fuqua Fast Pitch celebrates the entrepreneurial activity happening across Fuqua. All Fuqua student-founders are encouraged to apply to compete for non-dilutive funding and access to resources and support. Applications open in February with the event taking place on April 8, 2022.
CASE Launch Pad // Spring
The CASE Launch Pad includes a $10,000 grant, plus tailored coaching from CASE staff and our global network of impact enterprise leaders. Required Pop-up Workshop in January, application due in February.
Prototyping Funds // rolling
Funding to prototype or test your startup idea. Applications are accepted on a rolling-basis.
Co-lab funding // rolling
Small seed funding and mentorship for innovative projects with technology.
NC IDEA // Fall (August) and spring (February) grant cycles
Micro grants: awards $10K in funding to young companies looking to validate and advance their idea.
Seed grants: offers early stage companies the critical funding they need to scale faster; 50K grants are awarded to innovative startups with a proven concept — even if they are not yet profitable.
Rice Business Plan Competition // applications open in February
The competition, entering its 21st year, gives collegiate entrepreneurs real-world experience to pitch their startups, enhance their business strategy and learn what it takes to launch a successful company. 54 teams from around the world competing for more than $1.6 million in cash and prizes.
Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge // Duke application opens after November 2023
For social ventures that are addressing one of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Finalists are selected from an internal competition facilitated by Duke.
🎯Duke I&E also maintains a list of Duke and regional funding opportunities, which you can view here.
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