Funding Resources
Funding Resources
EDA University Center's Commercial Grant Funding Assistance
Cowboy Innovations Accelerator provides commercial grant assistance for innovators and companies in the northeast region of Oklahoma, including innovators at OSU, in the energy, aerospace, agriculture, and One Health sectors interested in SBIR/STTR grants and other commercial opportunities as supported by the Economic Development Agency’s University Center’s grant.
Investment Funding
Cowboy Technologies is the for-profit venture capital arm of The Innovation Foundation at OSU. Cowboy Technologies, LLC, makes returns-based investments in internal OSU technology development projects and growth startups affiliated with OSU, including those licensing OSU intellectual property. Cowboy Technologies, LLC prepares the portfolio startups to successfully raise capital from our network of aligned venture capital partners.
Resources for Advancing Innovations
A wide variety of funding and assistance are available for OSU researchers to advance their innovations. A comprehensive list of funding opportunities and commercialization assistance available to OSU researchers, based on the stage of the innovation, are listed here.
- Basic Research
Funding Resources
Federal and state basic research grants
Assistance Resources
Business Advising/Networking/Education
NSF's OSU I-Corps Site Program Lean Launch, Customer Discovery Co-Horts
OK Catalyst Roadmap Program
- Invention Protection & Proof of Concept
Funding Resources
Gap funding grant ($5k - $50k)
NSF's I-Corps Regional Customer Discovery Program ($1k)
NSF I-Corps National Program Commercial Grant ($50k)
VentureWell eTeam Commercial Grant ($25k)
NSF Partnerships for Innovation Commercial Grant ($550k - $1,000k)
OCAST Industry Innovation Program ($500k)
OCAST Intern Program ($30k)
Assistance Resources
Business Advising/Networking/Education:
NSF's I-Corps Regional Customer Discovery Program ($1k)
Business Development through Customer Dicsovery
EDA University Center's Commercial Grant FUning Assistance
Cowboy Leaders Network Mentoring and Advising
Connecting Innovators and Startups with OSU Applied Research Expertise
OK Catalyst SBIR/STTR Funding Labs
Invention Protection & Licensing
Invention marketing/licensing to existing companies
- Product Development
Funding Resources
Cowboy Technologies Internal OSU Project Investment ($20k - $100k)
NSF I-Corps Regional Customer Discovery Program ($1k)
NSF I-Corps National Program Commercial Grant ($50k)
VentureWell eTeam Commercial Grant ($25k)
NSF Partnerships for Innovation Commercial Grant ($550k - $1,000,000)
Industry Sponsored Research
OCAST Industry Innovation Program ($500k)
OCAST Intern Program ($30k)
Federal SBIR/STTR Phase I Commercialization Grant ($100k+)
Federal SBIR/STTR Phase II Commercialization Grant ($1,000k+)
Riata Pre-Seed Fund Investment ($5k - $25k)
Various Business Plan Competitions ($5k - $50k+)
Assistance Resources
Business Advising/Networking/Education:
NSF I-Corps Regional Customer Discovery Program ($1k)
Cowboy Innovations Accelerator Startup Formation, Registration, and Business Operations Assistance
Cowboy Innovations Accelerator Education Workshops and Networking Events
Cowboy Leaders Network Mentoring and Advising
OSU Riata Center for Entrepreneurship
36 Degrees North, Tulsa Incubator
Meridian Technology Center CBD
Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Commercial Grant Assistance:
Cowboy Innovations Accelerator’s EDA University Center’s Commercial Grant Funding Assistance
OK Catalyst SBIR/STTR Funding Labs
Invention Protection & Licensing
Invention marketing/licensing to existing companies or startup companies
Prototyping Design/Fab/Testing Assistance:
OSU New Product Development Center
- OSU Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE)
- OSU Hamm Institute for American Enegery (HIAE)
- OSU Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute (HPNRI)
OSU Design Manufacturing Lab / FabLab
OSU Biosystems Engineering Laboratory
OSU Food and Agricultural Products Center
OSU Helmerich Research Center, Tulsa
Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
Industry Consultants
Physical Space:
OSU Riata Center for Entrepreneurship
36 Degrees North, Tulsa
Meridian Technology Center
- Launch
Funding Resources
Cowboy Technologies startup seed investment ($50-$100k+)
Riata Pre-Seed Fund investment ($5k-$25k)
Cowboy Technology Angels investment ($25k+)
i2E TBFP loan (matching) ($50k)
i2E Seed Step Angels investment ($25k+)
i2E various fund investment (some matching) ($100k+)
REI Oklahoma loan ($2k-$200k+)
Various Angel and Venture Capital investment ($100k+)
Assistance Resources
Business Advising/Networking/Education:
Cowboy Innovations Accelerator Startup Formation, Registration, and Business Operations Assistance
Cowboy Leaders Network Mentoring and Advising
OSU Riata Center for Entrepreneurship
36 Degrees North, Tulsa
Meridian Technology Center CBD
Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Physical Space:
OSU Research Park scalable space for rent
OSU facilities/labs space and equipment for rent
36 Degrees North, Tulsa
Meridian Technology Center CBD
- Growth
Funding Resources
Cowboy Technologies Startup Investment ($100k+)
Various Angel and Venture Capital investment ($100k+)
Assistance Resources
Business Advising/Networking/Education:
Cowboy Technologies Business Advising
Cowboy Innovations Mentor Program
- 36 Degrees North, Tulsa
Meridian Technology Center CBD
Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Physical Space:
OSU Research Park Scalable Space for Rent
OSU Facilities/Labs Space and Equipment for Rent