EDA Build to Scale — Venture Challenge
U.S. Economic Development Administration
$300K–$3,000,000
Grants for startup ecosystem builders
EDA's Build to Scale Venture Challenge awards grants of $300K–$3M to nonprofit and government intermediaries that operate programs helping innovation-driven entrepreneurs commercialize technology and scale startups. Grantees — typically accelerators, university tech-transfer offices, and economic development organizations — use awards to fund their own programming: pitch competitions, technical assistance, mentorship, and capital access. Individual entrepreneurs do not apply directly; they participate through a funded intermediary.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $300,000 – $3,000,000
- Realistic amount
- Most Venture Challenge awards fall in the $500K–$1.5M range. Awards above $2M are typically for larger established accel…
- Deadline
- Annual — FY2025 application window closed January 2025. FY2026 NOFO expected Q4 2025/Q1 2026. Monitor eda.gov/funding and grants.gov CFDA 11.303.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Applicant must be a nonprofit organization, institution of higher education, or state/local/tribal government entity
- Individual for-profit companies and entrepreneurs are NOT eligible to apply directly — they benefit through a funded intermediary program
- Proposed program must serve innovation-driven startups working on technology commercialization
- Applicant must demonstrate at least a 50% non-federal cost-share (dollar-for-dollar match or greater in most cases; verify exact ratio in current NOFO)
- Organization must have a track record of operating entrepreneur support programs
- Must operate in an eligible EDA region (all 50 states, DC, and territories are eligible)
- Active SAM.gov registration with valid UEI required
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Funds intermediaries, not businesses directly
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Staff salaries and fringe for program delivery personnel
- Mentor and expert advisor honoraria
- Event and program delivery costs (bootcamps, demo days, workshops)
- Subcontracts with partner organizations delivering program services
- Travel for staff and participants to program-related events
- Indirect/overhead costs at the organization's federally negotiated rate
- Marketing and outreach to recruit entrepreneur participants
- Equipment and technology needed to operate the program
Ineligible expenses
- Direct equity investments or loans to portfolio companies
- Costs not directly tied to operating the funded entrepreneur support program
- Costs incurred before award execution
- Lobbying
- Construction or real estate acquisition
How to apply
-
1
Review current-year NOFO and confirm eligibility
Download the current Build to Scale NOFO from grants.gov (CFDA 11.303). Confirm your organization type (nonprofit, university, or government), cost-share capacity, and that your proposed program aligns with EDA's technology commercialization focus. EDA emphasizes programs that connect entrepreneurs to capital, markets, and talent.
~4 hrs
-
2
Develop program design and cost-share plan
Define your proposed venture support program: what services you will provide, how many entrepreneurs you will serve, what outcomes you will achieve, and how you will measure success. Identify your non-federal cost-share sources — typically state grants, university contributions, corporate sponsors, or foundation funding.
~30 hrs
-
3
Prepare the application narrative
Write the project narrative addressing EDA's merit review criteria: (1) Economic Impact — projected jobs, investment, and company outcomes; (2) Program Design — services, milestones, and participant pipeline; (3) Organizational Capacity — track record, team, facilities; (4) Evaluation Plan — how outcomes will be measured. Typical narrative length is 15–25 pages.
~50 hrs
-
4
Complete budget forms and cost-share documentation
Complete SF-424 and SF-424A forms. Prepare a detailed budget justification. Obtain written documentation of cost-share commitments — EDA requires letters from cost-share sources. Unsubstantiated cost-share is a common rejection reason.
~16 hrs
-
5
Submit via grants.gov
Assemble and submit all required documents through grants.gov before the NOFO deadline (typically January). Submit at least 48 hours early. Track submission status in grants.gov.
~4 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 813920, 611710, 541690
Individual founders don't apply here — ecosystem intermediaries do. If you run an accelerator or tech-transfer office, build relationships with your EDA regional office before submitting.
Deadline & timing
EDA Build to Scale runs one competition per fiscal year. NOFO typically releases in October–November with applications due in January. FY2025 awardees announced June 2025. FY2026 cycle timing follows the same pattern. Intermediary organizations should monitor grants.gov CFDA 11.303 and the EDA mailing list.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.