Seed Capital Co-Investment Program
Bill Vega
(573) 751-3934
william.vega@ded.mo.gov
Purpose of Initiative
“High-tech start-ups that succeed in proving a concept and launching a business need access to seed capital to position the company for venture capital financing. By increasing the quantity and quality of these high-tech start-up companies, Missouri can attract more venture capital investment to fuel the growth of our State’s economy and create high-paying jobs. MTC’s Seed Capital Co-Investment program (SeedCap) is designed to accelerate private investment in Missouri-based start-up companies and to increase the overall investment impact of that third-party investment. Through this program, MTC will award seed capital funds that match other capital investments. The seed capital may be used by the start-up company for advanced intellectual property development and evaluation, including in-depth analysis of market potential, conducting competitive analysis, advanced proof of concept work for a scientific discovery, advanced prototype design and development, research and development needed to attract venture capital financing, hiring key personnel, and related activities.”
Application Process
The submissions by Eligible Applicants will be evaluated based on dimensions of the quality of the submission and a demonstrated likelihood to achieve the following outcomes in Missouri:
- Accelerate the growth of a high-tech, start-up company;
- Increase research and capital investment funding;
- Leverage private investment;
- Create successful collaborations and partnerships needed to commercialize technology and accelerate the growth of a high-tech start-up company;
- Develop solutions to solve key business and technical milestones to position the start-up company and its core technology for additional venture capital funding and marketplace penetration;
- Strengthen one or more of MTC’s targeted high-tech clusters; and
- Create sustainable high-paying, private sector jobs.
- For applicants that have received an award through the Seed Capital Co-Investment Program, applications for a subsequent award through the Program will be evaluated for achievement of milestones outlined under the prior proposal and general performance in addition to the evaluation criteria listed above.
Application available on website.
Award Details
The amount of requested co-investment should be specifically and narrowly tailored to the plan outlined in the application submitted to MTC, but individual awards will not exceed $500,000. Accordingly, it is not expected that each applicant will request the maximum amount of funds that may be awarded under this program. Awards will be in the form of equity or convertible debt.
Missouri Tech Launch
Purpose of Initiative
Commercializing research and launching new high-tech companies in Missouri has been shown to have a lasting and significant economic impact. Missouri-based companies such as Emerson Electric, Monsanto Company, and Leggett & Platt, among others, all started as entrepreneurial start-ups developing then-cutting-edge technologies. For over 100 years, these companies have contributed to the Missouri economy in irreplaceable ways, including creating high-paying jobs throughout the State. The Missouri TechLaunch program is designed to help high-tech entrepreneurs overcome the principal financing challenges of launching new start-ups that leverage discoveries and talent at Missouri’s world-class public and private universities and other research organizations. This pre-seed funding will be awarded to entrepreneurial start-ups for intellectual property development and evaluation, including in-depth analysis of market potential, conducting competitive analysis, establishing proof of concept of a scientific discovery, prototype design and development, and related activities.
Funding Available
The amount of requested co-investment should be specifically and narrowly tailored to the plan outlined in the application submitted to MTC, but individual awards will not exceed $100,000. Accordingly, it is not expected that each applicant will request the maximum amount of funds that may be awarded under this program. Awards will be in the form of equity or convertible debt.
Application may be found on the website.
Special Projects Research and Development Program
Kathy Volz, Technical Program Manager
Leonard Wood Institute
Kathy.Volz@leonardwoodinstitute.org
573-329-8502, Extension 2273
Purpose of Initiative
“LWI currently administers a research and development program, the general object of which is to pursue research objectives that may 1) arise after Collaborative Research Program RFP requirements are published; 2) be aimed at addressing a high priority Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE) or Army Research Laboratory research needs, as established by LWI and the ARL Cooperative Agreement Manager or 3) be related to joint research needs of the Army and another service or agency of the Department of Defense or other federal department of critical interest to LWI, ARL or MSCoE. LWI’s research objectives identified under the program are consistent with the purposes stated in LWI’s Cooperative Agreement with ARL.”
Application Process
The Special Projects Research and Development program accepts proposals through the year. LWI may prepare and publish a request for proposals (RFP) during the third or fourth quarter of each calendar year, but it does not necessarily do so every year. In addition, LWI may require the submission of preliminary white papers prior to an invitation to submit a full proposal. LWI will determine the format required for white papers and proposals. Interested firms should contact the LWI Technical Program Manager at the contact information given above.
Award Details
“LWI’s decision to fund projects is primarily governed by availability of funding and the quality of applications received by LWI.”
Updated April 2018 by Kristin Stiner