Funding Resources

EDA University Center's Commercial Grant Funding Assistance

Cowboy Innovations Accelerator provides commercial grant assistance for innovators and companies in the northeast region of Oklahoma, including innovators at OSU, in the energy, aerospace, agriculture, and One Health sectors interested in SBIR/STTR grants and other commercial opportunities as supported by the Economic Development Agency’s University Center’s grant.

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Investment Funding

Cowboy Technologies is the for-profit venture capital arm of The Innovation Foundation at OSU. Cowboy Technologies, LLC, makes returns-based investments in internal OSU technology development projects and growth startups affiliated with OSU, including those licensing OSU intellectual property. Cowboy Technologies, LLC prepares the portfolio startups to successfully raise capital from our network of aligned venture capital partners.

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Resources for Advancing Innovations

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A wide variety of funding and assistance are available for OSU researchers to advance their innovations. A comprehensive list of funding opportunities and commercialization assistance available to OSU researchers, based on the stage of the innovation, are listed here.

Basic Research
Funding Resources
- Federal and state basic research grants
Assistance Resources

Business Advising/Networking/Education

NSF's OSU I-Corps Site Program Lean Launch, Customer Discovery Co-Horts
- OK Catalyst Roadmap Program
Invention Protection & Proof of Concept
Funding Resources

Gap funding grant ($5k - $50k)
- NSF's I-Corps Regional Customer Discovery Program ($1k)
- NSF I-Corps National Program Commercial Grant ($50k)
- VentureWell eTeam Commercial Grant ($25k)
- NSF Partnerships for Innovation Commercial Grant ($550k - $1,000k)
- OCAST Industry Innovation Program ($500k)
- OCAST Intern Program ($30k)
Assistance Resources

Business Advising/Networking/Education:
- NSF's I-Corps Regional Customer Discovery Program ($1k)
- Business Development through Customer Dicsovery
- EDA University Center's Commercial Grant FUning Assistance
- Cowboy Leaders Network Mentoring and Advising
- Connecting Innovators and Startups with OSU Applied Research Expertise
- OK Catalyst SBIR/STTR Funding Labs
Invention Protection & Licensing
- Invention marketing/licensing to existing companies
Product Development
Funding Resources
- Cowboy Technologies Internal OSU Project Investment ($20k - $100k)
- NSF I-Corps Regional Customer Discovery Program ($1k)
- NSF I-Corps National Program Commercial Grant ($50k)
- VentureWell eTeam Commercial Grant ($25k)
- NSF Partnerships for Innovation Commercial Grant ($550k - $1,000,000)
- Industry Sponsored Research
- OCAST Industry Innovation Program ($500k)
- OCAST Intern Program ($30k)
- Federal SBIR/STTR Phase I Commercialization Grant ($100k+)
- Federal SBIR/STTR Phase II Commercialization Grant ($1,000k+)
- Riata Pre-Seed Fund Investment ($5k - $25k)
- Various Business Plan Competitions ($5k - $50k+)
Assistance Resources

Business Advising/Networking/Education:
- NSF I-Corps Regional Customer Discovery Program ($1k)
- Cowboy Innovations Accelerator Startup Formation, Registration, and Business Operations Assistance
- Cowboy Innovations Accelerator Education Workshops and Networking Events
- Cowboy Leaders Network Mentoring and Advising
- OSU Riata Center for Entrepreneurship
- 36 Degrees North, Tulsa Incubator
- Meridian Technology Center CBD
- Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Commercial Grant Assistance:
- Cowboy Innovations Accelerator’s EDA University Center’s Commercial Grant Funding Assistance
- OK Catalyst SBIR/STTR Funding Labs
Invention Protection & Licensing

Invention marketing/licensing to existing companies or startup companies

Prototyping Design/Fab/Testing Assistance:
- OSU New Product Development Center
- OSU Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE)
- OSU Hamm Institute for American Enegery (HIAE)
- OSU Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute (HPNRI)
- OSU Design Manufacturing Lab / FabLab
- OSU Biosystems Engineering Laboratory
- OSU Food and Agricultural Products Center
- OSU Helmerich Research Center, Tulsa
- Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
- Industry Consultants
Physical Space:
- OSU Riata Center for Entrepreneurship
- 36 Degrees North, Tulsa
- Meridian Technology Center
Launch
Funding Resources

Cowboy Technologies startup seed investment ($50-$100k+)
- - - Riata Pre-Seed Fund investment ($5k-$25k)
    - Cowboy Technology Angels investment ($25k+)
    - i2E TBFP loan (matching) ($50k)
    - i2E Seed Step Angels investment ($25k+)
    - i2E various fund investment (some matching) ($100k+)
    - REI Oklahoma loan ($2k-$200k+)
    - Various Angel and Venture Capital investment ($100k+)
Assistance Resources

Business Advising/Networking/Education:

Cowboy Innovations Accelerator Startup Formation, Registration, and Business Operations Assistance

Cowboy Leaders Network Mentoring and Advising
- - - OSU Riata Center for Entrepreneurship
    - 36 Degrees North, Tulsa
    - Meridian Technology Center CBD
    - Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Physical Space:

OSU Research Park scalable space for rent

OSU facilities/labs space and equipment for rent
- - - 36 Degrees North, Tulsa
    - Meridian Technology Center CBD
Growth
Funding Resources

Cowboy Technologies Startup Investment ($100k+)
- - - Various Angel and Venture Capital investment ($100k+)
Assistance Resources

Business Advising/Networking/Education:

Cowboy Technologies Business Advising

Cowboy Innovations Mentor Program
- - - 36 Degrees North, Tulsa
    - Meridian Technology Center CBD
    - Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Physical Space:

OSU Research Park Scalable Space for Rent

OSU Facilities/Labs Space and Equipment for Rent

Funding Resources