Boost Funds
Boost funding supports NC State startups seeking to answer critical business questions and reach key milestones for external funding and market success.
The Office of Research Commercialization, in collaboration with the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science at NC State created the Boost Funds program to provide targeted support to help NC State startups accelerate progress toward commercialization. These funds are designed to help teams answer critical questions in their business case and reach key milestones that position them for external funding and market success.
Now Accepting Applications
Fall 2026 applications are open from November 9th to December 4th.
Award Amount
Individual awards will be funded in the $5,000 – $10,000 range and are available to eligible NC State startups that have licensed IP from the university and are working toward commercialization milestones.
Application Requirements
Applicants should submit an application with their company’s information and a two-page max proposal outlining their project and need for funding support.
In this two-page proposal, applicants should clearly identify:
- The total funding amount requested
- How the funds would be used by the startup
- How that would help the company accelerate the path to their next milestone.
Eligible Expenses
Boost funds can be used to support specialized services such as:
- Regulatory assessments
- Grant writing assistance
- Product development planning
- Marketing preparation
- Short-term engagements with experienced entrepreneurs
- Other activities to support startups achieving their milestones.
By filling these early-stage gaps, Boost Funds help startups move forward faster and increase their chances of securing larger funding opportunities.
Want to learn more?
Reach out to a member of our New Ventures team to discuss your proposed Boost project.
Boost Fund Contacts
