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
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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
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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.
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D-Prize

  • Topic: Social entrepreneurship
  • Target: NGO and early-stage ventures worldwide
  • Amount: $20K to start new organizations fighting poverty in low-income countries.
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National Science Foundation logo

Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) – National Science Foundation

Two tracks:

  1. PFI Technology Translation with $550,000 for up to two years. Target audience: PI with one basic research project into early technology/product development
  2. PFI-Research Partnership with $1,000,000 for three years
  • Annual submission deadlines for the PFI program are:
    • Tuesday, May 2, 2023
    • Tuesday, September 5, 2023
    • Tuesday, January 2, 2024
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Materialize New York

  • Description 
    • deep tech accelerator that aims to advance technologies from the academic lab towards startup formation with a seed investment from MI.
  • Eligibility  
    (1) Must have Intellectual Property from the respective university.  
    (2) A team ready to spin out at the end of the program and led by entrepreneurially minded graduate students, postdocs, or undergraduate students with permission from the PI.   
    (3) A proposed startup aligned with at least one of Material Impact’s areas of interest below: Biomanufacturing and Sustainable Products  

  • Timeline  
    • Phase 1 –  Application Review (Oct – Dec 2023)
    • Phase 2 – Education & Mentorship (Jan – May 2024)  
    • Phase 3 – Startup Formation (May/June 2024)  
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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.
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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
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2024 Servier Golden Ticket Contest

  • Description 
    • Open to interested startups developing innovative approaches in oncology, neuroscience and immuno-inflammation; AI/ML data-driven platforms for drug design; and modality development strategies for small molecules, biologics and oligonucleotides, as well as targeted delivery strategies.
  • Timeline  
    • Application submission opens February 13, 2024
    • Application deadline March 22, 2024
    • Golden Ticket semi-finalists notified: April 22, 2024
    • Servier Golden Ticket pitch event and announcement of finalist: May 22, 2024
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BenDaniel Venture Challenge

  • Description 
    • BRV will select five finalists to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors during the Entrepreneurship at Cornell Celebration on April 12. Winners will earn a cash prize totaling $25,000 with an additional $25,000 match if the company’s technology is licensed through Cornell.
  • Eligibility requirements: Companies must be either headquartered in New York state, or have a Cornell affiliation.
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