Student Microgrants

Microgrants: Launch and Scale-Up

Thanks to generous support from Burton D. Morgan Foundation, LaunchNET is offering funding via microgrants to help Kent State student entrepreneurs move their businesses forward and reach their goals. This year we will be featuring a Launch Microgrant and a Scale-Up Microgrant.

Thanks to a generous donation from friend of Kent State University, Ken Robinson, we are able to provide microgrant support to additional, fashion-specific student entrepreneurs!

Launch Microgrant

Launch microgrants are awards of up to $500 to support current Kent State students in the idea or pre-revenue phase of their ventures. This funding is available to support inventory, capital, product, manufacturing, legal services, market research, web design, concept testing/development, and other related services.

Apply Here

Scale-Up Microgrant

Scale-up microgrants are awards of up to $1,250 to support current Kent State students in the revenue generating phase of their ventures. This funding is available to support inventory, capital, product, manufacturing, legal services, market research, web design, concept testing/development, and other related services.

Apply Here

If you have any questions, please email launchnet@kent.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

Launch Microgrant:

Open to pre-revenue generating businesses. If you are generating revenue, please apply for the Scale-Up Microgrant.

Applicants must be current Kent State students (undergraduate and graduate). There are no restrictions on majors, campus, etc.

Scale-Up Microgrant:

Open to revenue generating businesses. If you are in the pre-revenue phase, please apply for the Launch Microgrant.

Applicants must be current Kent State students (undergraduate and graduate). There are no restrictions on majors, campus, etc.

How Funds are Awarded and Used

This funding is used to support ventures in the revenue-generating stage to reach on-going business goals. This can include such support as additional inventory, equipment, product, manufacturing, legal services, web design and other related services. Applications should be clear in how this microgrant will move their venture goals forward.

Launch Microgrant: This funding is intended for launch support, applications for advertising funds such as social media ads and Google Adwords will not be considered.

Reporting Requirements

Applicants will be contacted to schedule a venture meeting with a LaunchNET advisor to discuss microgrant requests. Awarded applicants are required to complete a follow-up venture meeting to discuss outcomes as well as the completion of a feedback form. Awarded applicants will also be required to attend a showcase event in Fall 2023 (options include Elevator Pitch – October 19, 6-8pm, and Pitch and Ponder showcase – November 16, 4-6pm).

Awarded applicants are also encouraged to post about their experience on LinkedIn and may be contacted for future stories by the LaunchNET team.