LAUNCH FUNDING
Launch Funding provides emerging, pre-revenue businesses that have a Prototype or Product (showing clear evidence of direct customer engagement validating the business model and product) with $5,000 - $10,000 of equity free funding to continue development and prepare for market entry.
TIMELINE
APPLICATION OPENS
APPLICATION
CLOSES
RECIPIENTS
ANNOUNCED
APPLICATION
RE OPENS
January 3rd, 2023
January & February
Tuesday & Thursday Afternoons
February 13th, 2023
March 2023
April 2023
Criteria and Special Considerations
Criteria
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Applicant MUST be a business entity (C-Corp, S-Corp, or LLC) with a Federal Tax ID (EIN).
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Business entity MUST be located in the Greater Cincinnati Region (see below)
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Application MUST be project-based where results can be tracked by a defined metric. Main Street Ventures does not provide general business operating funds.
Special consideration will be granted to:
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Women and Minority-Owned businesses
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Businesses that can show matching funds from other sources.
Policies & Restrictions
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Programs to be funded MUST be located in the Greater Cincinnati region (Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana.). Grant requests from other regions will NOT be considered.
Common Questions
Which Grant Should I Apply For?
We are happy to guide you through the application process and help you determine which of our grants is most applicable to your business via our Office Hours which are available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons until the Application period closes.
Our general guideline, however, is to assess your business stage in terms of revenue. If your business is pre-revenue, you should consider applying for the Launch Grant. If your business has generated sufficient revenue relative to your industry, you should likely apply for the Leap Grant.
What types of Projects are eligible for MSV Grant Programs?
Some examples of projects are - “Need to purchase more materials for open purchase orders in hand”, “Need to hire X position(s) to deliver for new client(s)”, or "Need specific new equipment to expand or launch new operations."
Main Street Ventures Grants do not cover Operating Expenses such as Existing Payroll, Insurance, Legal Fees, Marketing Expenses, etc.
If you have questions on what is considered a strong project, please reach out to the MSV Team at hello@mainstventures.org or sign up for Office Hours!
When will I receive a response in regard to my Grant Application?
Grants are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Review the timeline provided above. Please do not contact us for updates if within that timeframe.
Why was my Grant Application declined?
While we try to give specific feedback to as many applications as possible, sometimes we are unable to provide a detailed reply. Please read all of the criteria, an application that has been declined usually fails to meet some of the required aspects.
My Grant Application was declined, when can I apply again?
We will consider new applications from the same company, organization after one full quarter if the business has experienced significant changes and growth.
Who decides grant award recipients?
The Main Street Ventures Board of Directors approves the grant award recipients each quarter.