Small Business Administration 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is hosting its 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC), which offers a total of more than $5M in prize awards to organizations seeking to foster a national innovation support ecosystem that advances small business research and development (R&D) from ideas to the commercial market.  

Stage One submission period: January 8 - Feb. 16

2024 Prizes awarded in Two Stages 

• Stage One: $50,000 in cash prizes awarded to organizations (“Catalysts”) for ecosystem-building activities, including recruitment of new partners, and strengthening existing alliances among stakeholders (including public, private, non-profit, and academic partners). 
• Stage Two: Offers an additional $50,000 to $150,000 in cash prizes to eligible Stage One winners to provide direct assistance to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startups that are looking to commercialize their innovation, from R&D to the commercial market. 

Learn more: https://www.americasseedfund.us/accelerators

Additional Resources 

• To access the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Guidelines and Application Portal, please visit America’s Seed Fund Accelerators 
• For information on previous Growth Accelerator Fund Competitions: Accelerators | SBIR.gov 
• Two information webinars will be held to support potential Stage One applicants. The webinars are free and open to the public.  
• GAFC Pre-Application Webinar: Goals, rules, and how to apply  
         Jan. 16, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EST 
  Register: https://bit.ly/2024GAFCPreApplicationWebinar 
• GAFC Theme Explanation Webinar: A deep-dive into the tech themes with experts from relevant federal agencies 
         Jan. 31, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EST 
         Register: https://bit.ly/2024GAFCThemes