2024 Program Overview
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers $50,000 to $150,000 in prize awards for impactful and inclusive approaches to foster a thriving, collaborative national innovation support ecosystem to advance research and development (R&D) from ideas to impact.
By fostering connections between entrepreneurs, advisors, mentors, partners, philanthropies, corporations, investors, and other shared resources, the 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) will catalyze strategic ecosystem partnerships to build community and organizational capacity for the successful launch, growth, and scale of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)-based entrepreneurs and startups.
Competition Goals:
- Increase the pipeline and success of STEM/R&D-focused entrepreneurs and small businesses;
- Increase the success of STEM/R&D-focused entrepreneurs in accessing capital and resources to advance their businesses;
- Incentivize innovation ecosystem stakeholders to provide equitable access to resources for underserved communities and industries;
- Catalyze partnerships and relationships between stakeholder groups to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem; and
- Connect both new and established participants in the national innovation ecosystem.
2024 GAFC Stage Two Winners
- Learn more about each organization by visiting the 2024 GAFC Public Directory.
- Read the 2024 GAFC Stage Two announcement press release.
- Learn more about the program and 2024 Stage One awardees.
National and Economic Security
- Ala., The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship
- Calif., Starburst Accelerator
- Colo., Catalyst Accelerator
- Ind., Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
- Ind., Indiana Center for Emerging Technologies
- La., Maven Scouts
- Md., Rural Autonomous Innovation Network (RAIN) Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
- Mo., Codefi Foundation on Rural Innovation
- Mont., Early Stage Montana
- Neb., Invest Nebraska
- N.M., NewSpace Nexus
Domestic Manufacturing and Production
- Ariz., Startup Tucson
- Ark., Endeavor NWA Entrepreneurs
- District of Columbia, National Disability Institute
- Fla., Florida Institute of Technology
- Fla., International Business Innovation Association
- Hawaii, XLR8HI
- N.C., RIoT
- N.D., Grand Farm Research and Education Initiative Inc.
- N.Y., FuzeHub
- N.Y., Southern Tier High Technology Incubator Inc.
- Utah, Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Institute
- Wash., 360 Social Impact Studios
Sustainability and Biotechnology
- Alaska, Spruce Root Inc.
- Calif., Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
- Conn., The Community Foundation-Mission Investments Company
- Ill., University of Illinois Research Park LLC
- Maine, Central Maine Growth Council
- Mass., SeaAhead Inc.
- Minn., RuralWorks Partners LLC
- N.C., Eva Garland Consulting LLC
- N.Y., The Hudson Valley Venture Hub at SUNY New Paltz
- Ore., Oregon Health and Science University
- Pa., University City Science Center
- Puerto Rico, CARBONO3 LLC
- Tenn., BioTN Foundation Inc.
- Tenn., Native American Investment and Capital Alliance
- Texas, Health Wildcatters
- Texas, Impact Hub Houston
- Utah, Altitude Lab
- Va., FedTech
- Vt., LaunchVT
- W.Va., U.S. Research Impact Alliance Corp.
- Washington, D.C., Women in Engineering ProActive Network
