Entrepreneur Innovation Awards
Jessica Dodge
Program Manager
CTNext
865 Brook Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(860) 258-7874
Jessica.Dodge@ctinnovations.com
CTNext is a support network for Connecticut entrepreneurs looking to give the state’s most promising startups grants of up to $10,000 to fund projects that help to advance businesses. Selected applicants are then invited to one of our Entrepreneur Innovation Awards (EIAs) events for the final phase of review, which includes the opportunity for an in-person presentation to a panel comprised of entrepreneurial experts.
Any Connecticut startup is eligible. Projects for an EIA must have a clear deliverable milestone that helps a company propel itself to the next stage. Projects can include:
- small-scale prototyping
- preparatory work for R&D
- performance testing
- compliance testing
- product or service development
- innovation or technology audits
- market research
- customer development
- engineering design
- technology transfer
- licensing
Applicants must submit:
- Online application
- PowerPoint describing the company, proposed project and budget (template provided)
- Letters of good standing from the Department of Labor, Secretary of State and Department of Revenue Services
- An optional five-minute video pitch, specific to the proposed project
- Online registration as a CTNext Member
Although each project cannot exceed $10,000, applicants are eligible to win $30,000 in grants over the lifetime of the company. Therefore, applicants can submit and be awarded $10,000 grants up to three times.
Updated March 2018, Kristin Stiner
