Take Your Idea to the Next Stage
The Scalable Grant Program is designed to encourage hardware entrepreneurs to form strong relationships with local manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania. No more long-distance partnerships. No more precarious supply chains. Just the local, strong manufacturing connections you need to bring your prototype to production.
How Scalable Grants for Founders Work
Our model empowers entrepreneurs to advance from the prototype stage into production by providing startups with a reimbursement grant of up to $25,000 as an incentive to build lasting relationships with local manufacturing partners.
How to Apply for Scalable Grants
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- When you’ve completed the form, we recommend you sign up for a time to review your application.
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We will work with you to draft a proposal that will include: a scope of work, timeline, vendors, reimbursement maximum, and cost estimates.
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The proposal must then be approved by IW’s Investment Committee.
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Then the proposal will be put into a contract.
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After contract execution, IW reimburses 50% of eligible expenses up to the grant cap, with payments issued on the 1st and 15th.
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The grant concludes at the date specified in the contract or when the reimbursement cap is reached, whichever comes first.
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At the conclusion of the grant, we will send you a final report summarizing the project’s impact.
You can view the final report template here.
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You will be required to complete an annual impact survey for three years following the conclusion of the grant.
View an example of the impact survey here.
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Have questions or suggestions? Schedule a call. Looking for a manufacturer? Explore the Scalable Database. To add a manufacturer or list your own business, submit the form here. Not all submitted information will appear on the public database.
Eligibility Criteria
- Grantee must be a Pennsylvania based business
- Grantee must designate an eligible manufacturing partner/s that will provide products and/or services that help grantee reach the next stage of scale
- Grantee or eligible manufacturing partner/s must be based in one of these nine southwestern PA counties:
- Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, & Westmoreland
- Grantee must identify eligible expenses that will exceed 2 times the reimbursement cap outlined in the contract
- Grantee must be willing and able to pay vendors without receiving reimbursement for up to 1 month
- Grantee must complete a final report upon completion of the grant
- Grantee must agree to complete impact surveys, which include annual revenue and job creation statistics, annually for 3 years after the project is completed
- Grantee must agree to 1 site visit per fiscal year that the grant is active
- Grantee must not have any delinquent liens against their business
Frequently Asked Questions
Submit Your Idea
Join a community of entrepreneurs building what’s next. Apply for the Scalable Grant to secure funding designed to help scalable startups grow, hire, and reach new markets. Start your application today and see how Innovation Works can support your journey.
