ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ Research Foundation

ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ Start-Up Funding

Foundation BRAG

The Foundation Bull Ring Accelerator Grant program (BRAG) is a joint initiative of the University of South ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ Foundation  and the University of South ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ Research Foundation. BRAG is designed to support early-stage start-up companies that were formed on the basis of licensed University of South ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ technologies (ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ start-ups). To be eligible, a company shall:

  • Be formed and registered by the time of application,
  • Be formed on the basis of licensed University of South ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ (ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬) technologies (ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ start-ups)
  • Have an active license or option to a ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ technology upon which the company was established,
  • Be in good standing with ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ (no delinquent payments on license, rent, etc.).

BRAG provides up to $25,000 of grant funding to help bridge the "valley" or "ditch" of death experienced by early-stage technology companies — the point between when academic research funding runs out and when a team is credible enough, with sufficient customer and market knowledge, to raise private capital or license/partner with existing companies. The goal is not to replace private capital, but to help reduce risk and develop ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ start-ups to a point where they can attract other sources of funding. The number of grants awarded per funding cycle may vary based on available funding.

Interested applicants are encouraged to take full advantage of ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬â€™s innovation and start-up support resources both before submitting a proposal and during the funding period, if awarded. These resources include the expertise of ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬â€™s Technology Transfer Office, ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ CONNECT, ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ High Tech Corridor, and the .

For more information on the BRAG program, contact the ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ Research Foundation:

Allison Madden
Chief Operating Officer, ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ Research Foundation, Inc.
amadden@usf.edu
813-974-5095