ACCEL-KS – Accelerating Concept to Commercialization in Kansas

Amount

Up to $25,000

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026

Closes in 19 days

Odds

~25 of 70 applicants

Effort

Applications open Au

Can you get this?

✓Must be a Kansas resident

✓Must be a U.S. citizen

✓Must involve proprietary technology or prototype

✕Retail, storefront, or consulting businesses without a tech component are not eligible

✕Salaries and overhead costs are not eligible for funding

Your real odds

Last year, roughly 25 of nearly 70 applicants were funded, giving you about a 1-in-3 shot.

The program reserves 30% of awards for rural Kansas founders, so if you qualify geographically, you are competing in a smaller pool. The committee reviews eligible applications, then selected finalists present in person before the class is announced.

What it takes

Submit online application at grooverlabs.org/accel-ksApplications open August 24, close September 30, 2026 at 5 p.m. CT

Attend optional webinar or virtual office hours to strengthen your applicationWebinar August 27; office hours Aug 31, Sep 8, 14, 21

Present to review committee if selected as a finalistOctober

Receive funding in two tranches, triggered by a midpoint milestone reportStarting November after orientation

Worth knowing

Hardware projects outnumbered software nearly two to one last year, and rural founders exceeded the 30% target, so if you are building physical technology or are based outside a major Kansas city, you fit the profile this program is actively trying to fund.

Apply on funder's site →

What else do you qualify for?

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