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Find similar grantsFY25 cycle closed 2026-01-05; FY26 cycle TBD
SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) 2026 is sponsored by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Awards grants to entrepreneur support organizations building and strengthening innovation-driven startup ecosystems.
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# SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition to Accelerate Innovation-Driven Ecosystem Building with Up to $9 Million in Awards | U.S. Small Business Administration A **. gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
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gov website * Privacy Act request guide * Made in America waivers * SMS terms and conditions * Disaster response jobs at SBA * Federal advisory committees * Office of Hearings and Appeals * Office of the National Ombudsman [](https://www. sba. gov/article/2024/12/19/sba-growth-accelerator-fund-competition-accelerate-innovation-driven-ecosystem-building-9-million) 3.
SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition to Accelerate Innovation-Driven Ecosystem Building with Up to $9 Million in Awards Archived news release 25-18 # SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition to Accelerate Innovation-Driven Ecosystem Building with Up to $9 Million in Awards Entrepreneur Support Organizations Will Compete in Two Stages for $75,000 to $150,000; 2025 Application Opens Jan.
8, 2025 Published on December 19, 2024 **WASHINGTON**– Today,**Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman**,head of the**U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)**and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses and startups, announced the upcoming launch of the 2025 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) for entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) focused on innovation-driven startups and entrepreneurs in underserved regions, industries, and communities to launch, grow, and scale.
The competition strengthens ESO capacity, builds connections, and fosters collaboration – expanding access to the innovation economy and boosting entrepreneurial activity nationwide.
“The 2025 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition will build on SBA’s legacy of strengthening innovation ecosystems by deepening the incredible entrepreneur support organization partnerships we have on the ground in undercapitalized communities across the country that are providing resources to our nation’s innovators.
This year’s competition will emphasize advancing America’s global leadership in critical industries and ensuring creative ideas make it to market,” **said Administrator Guzman. ** “SBA is eager to engage new entrants in the innovation economy around this year’s themes to further support our nation’s leadership in emerging technologies and advance our global competitiveness.
” The 2025 competition offers $75,000 to $150,000 in awards to organizations to accelerate the growth and maturity of innovation ecosystems in two stages. **Stage One: Application opens Jan. 8, 2025** The Stage One application offers$75,000 in cash prizes to organizations that identify challenges within their innovation ecosystems and propose unique solutions.
The SBA welcomes submissions from a broad range of organizations with a collaborative vision to nurture a national ecosystem for equitable access to entrepreneurship. Applicants should align their application with one of two**GAFC theme areas**: 1.
**Lab-to-market, bridging the gap between research and commercialization, in areas including but not limited to:** * National and economic security * Domestic manufacturing and production * Other critical and emerging technologies 1.
**Capital formation, expanding investment access for entrepreneurs and small businesses during the stages of business formation and growth, through activities including but not limited to:** * Creating new funding mechanisms * Developing more financial stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem * Improving investment literacy among entrepreneurs * Other mechanisms focused on addressing challenges to investment access for entrepreneurs and small businesses Stage One applications will close on Jan.
31, 2025, with awards announced by April 2025. Eligible Stage One winners can compete for additional $150,000 Stage Two awards to scale their proposed solutions. Stage Two winners will be announced by September 2025.
For more information, those interested can: * Attend the GAFC Pre-Application Webinar for potential Stage One applicants. The webinar is free and open to the public: * Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, from 3-4 p.
m. EST * **Register for the pre-application webinar Link is external** * Access the**2025 GAFC guidelines Link is external**. **About SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation** The SBA’s**Office of Investment and Innovation** leads programs that provide the high-growth small business community with access to two things: financial capital and research and development funds to develop commercially viable innovations.
Its work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to initial public offering. **About the U.S. Small Business Administration** The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership.
As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow,or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit**www.
sba. gov**. **U.S. Small Business Administration** EmailPress_Office@sba.
gov * Freedom of Information Act * Regulations. gov Link is external * Fraud and identity theft Receive information about upcoming SBA events, news alerts, and program updates. * indicates a required field **U.S. Small Business Administration** 800-827-5722 Link opens phone app
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Entrepreneur support organizations focused on innovation-driven startups. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $75,000 - $150,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
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Manufacturing Grants (Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund) is sponsored by FuzeHub (New York State). These grants, part of the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, encourage collaboration between not-for-profit organizations and small to medium-sized manufacturing companies in New York State. Project categories include adoption of new technology to enhance a process and/or product, prototype development, design for manufacturing, proof-of-concept manufacturing, certain equipment purchases, and manufacturing scale-up.
The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to four (4) Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) that will provide entrepreneurial development services to Native American communities, focusing on supplying services to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing SBA resources. Eligible applicants must be Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined in the Higher Education Act HEA 316 (U.S.C. 1059c). Funding Opportunity Number: SB-GC7J-23-002. Assistance Listing: 59.007. Funding Instrument: G. Category: BC,ED. Award Amount: Up to $250K per award.
The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to two (2) private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing WBCs for the District of Columbia (DC) and the State of Oregon. There will be one award for each location. Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax exempt status from the U.S. Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the District of Columbia (DC) and State of Oregon. Funding Opportunity Number: SB-OEDWB-23-002. Assistance Listing: 59.043. Funding Instrument: G. Category: BC,CD,RD. Award Amount: $75K – $150K per award.