Learn more about external funding opportunities open for Cornell University innovators and entrepreneurs.

For Researchers

For Startups

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research logo

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research ASPIRE Awards

  • Funding: ASPIRE I Awards ($250K), ASPIRE II Awards ($750K)
  • Target audience: Principal Investigators with innovative ideas that have the potential to solve high-impact problems in cancer research,
  • Applications deadline: Ongoing
Visit Website
America's Seed Fund logo

America’s Seed Fund SBIR | STTR

  • Funding: up to $2 Million in seed funding
  • Target audience: startups developing deep technologies
  • Applications deadline: ongoing
Visit Website

Cornell Research&Innovation

  • Description: Several Cornell entities have funding opportunities for which individuals at Cornell can apply. The list provides summaries of many of these opportunities. Details may be found by following the links and the program contacts can provide more information.
Visit Website

D-Prize

  • Topic: Social entrepreneurship
  • Target: NGO and early-stage ventures worldwide
  • Amount: $20K to start new organizations fighting poverty in low-income countries.
Visit Website
New York State logo

Innovation Matching Grants Program

  • Topic: Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (“NYSTAR”), Innovation Matching Grants Program
  • Target: Small businesses and new technologies in New York State
  • Amount: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants
    • The award for Phase I applicants, not to exceed $100,000.
    • The award for Phase II applicants, not to exceed $200,000.
  • Deadline: July 31, 2024
Visit Website

2024 Mission BioCapital Platinum Program

  • Funding: Up to $500,000 of seed capital
  • Target audience: biotech entrepreneurs
  • Application deadline: July 15, 2024.
Visit Website

Equalize Pitchers

  • Applications deadline: November 17, 2023
  • Target audience: Academic appointment (tenured/tenure track/research) or a post-doc or graduate student position at an academic research institution as well as having a pending or issued patent or copyright.
Visit Website

Fuzehub Commercialization Competition 2023

  • Applications Open: July 10 through August 9, 2023
  • Finalists Pitch Live: October 16 – 17, 2023
  • Awards up to $50,000 each; one company has the chance to win an additional $100,000 for a grand award of $150,000
  • Eligibility: Companies are required to have an existing tangible prototype
Visit Website