Launch Funding Grants

Main Street Ventures wants to support the survival of good ideas and founders within our region. Our Launch Grant program provides funds for for-profit businesses at either the Prototype or Product Stage. (meaning there is clear evidence of direct customer engagement in validating the business model and product)

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$5-$10,000 grants going directly to companies in need.

 

Provided only for specific projects - e.g. “need X of development hours to build next phase of prototype.”

 

In every case, we have very specific ways to check on the positive or negative outcome of the grant funding to better hone future activities.

Grant Review Timeline

Application Opens

July 1st, 2021

Open Office Hours

SCHEDULE A MEETING

July - August 2021

Tuesday and Thursday Afternoons

Application Closes 

ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS DUE

August 20th, 2021

Decisions Delivered

during September 2021

Application Open for next cycle

October 1st, 2021

Criteria to Apply for a Launch Grant

  • Applicant MUST be a business entity (C-Corp, S-Corp, or LLC) with a Federal Tax ID (EIN).

  • Business entity must be be located in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky/Southeastern Indiana Region

    • Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana

  • Applicant’s business should be pre-revenue, but be able to demonstrate clear evidence of direct customer engagement in validating the business model and product.

  • Application MUST be project-based where results can be tracked by a defined metric. 

    • The Launch Grant does not provide funds for general business operating funds.

    • The Launch Grant does not provide funds for property acquisitions or renovations.

  • Grant Recipients must agree to limited reporting for 24 months from the time of grant award.

Special consideration will be granted to​

  • Companies that are"tech-enabled."

    • Industries such as Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Materials, Biomedical, Energy, Life Sciences, Sensors, and Software / IT

  • Women and Minority-Owned Businesses. 

  • Businesses that can show matching funds from other sources.

Application Opens on October 1st, 2021