ACCEL-KS Grant Guidelines
Introduction
The ACCEL-KS at Groover Labs grant program helps Kansas innovators transform ideas from concept to commercialization. Awards provide early funding, mentorship, and access to resources that help founders test, validate, and launch scalable products.
Prefer video? Jump to the webinar recording.
Grant Awards
Award Size: Up to $25,000 total, typically distributed in milestone-based tranches.
Purpose: Funding supports prototyping, technical validation, and early commercialization.
Programming Support: Grantees gain access to Groover Labs programs like the CAMPFIRE course, Maker Labs hardware prototyping, mentorship, and statewide partner networks.
Rural Grants: Rural partners may award up to $5,000 for early-stage prototyping. Rural grantees may then apply for additional funds, up to $25,000 total.
Eligibility
The primary applicant must be a Kansas resident.
Eligible applicants include:
Early-stage startups and entrepreneurs with scalable product ideas or prototypes, software or hardware.
Innovators and researchers seeking commercialization pathways.
Not Eligible
Retail, storefront, consulting, or service-oriented businesses without technical component.
Projects that rely on off-the-shelf tools (e.g., Shopify) without proprietary software
rural participation
ACCEL-KS at Groover Labs is a statewide program designed to reach founders across Kansas, including those in rural communities.
Rural Partner Grants: To leverage existing local networks in rural counties, Groover Labs has partnered with several regional economic development organizations to offer awards of $5,000 to support early-stage prototyping. Applicants will apply through their local partner organization.
Path to Full Awards: Rural grantees who validate their idea can apply for additional funds through innovationkansas.org, up to $25,000 total.
Full Awards: Rural applicants ready to pursue larger projects may also apply directly at innovationkansas.org.
Rural Access: Our programming is available virtually, and hardware track grantees may receive on-site visits along with virtual coaching sessions to support prototype development.
Interested in being a rural partner? Contact us here.
Application Process
Where to apply: innovationkansas.org.
Opening Date: September 2, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Deadlines
Round 1: Closes September 30, 2025, at 5 p.m. (decisions announced by October 30).
Round 2: Closes November 14, 2025 (pending funds).
Round 3: Closes January 15, 2026 (pending funds).
Reapplying: Applicants not selected in earlier rounds may reapply with revisions.
Terms
We are still developing a comprehensive term sheet, but incorporated in those terms will be the following information:
This is a grant, not a loan. Whether you receive $5,000 or $25,000, you don’t have to repay the funds, regardless of the outcome.
Neither Groover Labs nor the Kansas Department of Commerce will require or request ownership in your company.
All intellectual property developed before the grant or with grant funds will remain yours.
You will be asked to provide process updates in the form of milestones before we release funding to measure progress and the overall impact of the program.
You will be asked to keep records for quarterly reports, and you may be asked for receipts on request.
Funds must be used by June 30, 2026, unless other arrangements are made.
Both Groover Labs and the Kansas Department of Commerce may ask your permission to promote your project in marketing materials through social channels, newsletters, blog posts, and media interviews.
Review Process
Screening Call: Groover Labs staff hold a 20-minute call with eligible applicants to confirm fit, scope, and founder availability.
Applicants who meet eligibility will be forwarded to the Review Committee.
The Review Committee will evaluate applications on problem significance, technical feasibility, commercialization projects, team readiness, and overall merit.
All applicants forwarded to the Review Committee will then present their project over Zoom to the Committee. Awards are based on Committee scores and discussion.
Committee Decision: Awards may be full or partial (e.g., $15,000 of a $25,000 request).
Conflicts of interest are disclosed; reviewers recuse themselves from the process if necessary.
Funding and Use of Funds
Funds are released in milestone-based tranches.
$25,000 requests may be considered with strong justification.
Changes to milestones or budgets must be requested in writing and approved by the Review Committee.
Funds may not be used for salary or stipends.
Grant funds may be combined with other income sources (personal, investor, other grants).
Programming Components
Maker Labs: Hardware grantees receive a bench membership with supervised access to tools and equipment.
Campfire: All awardees may attend Campfire programming; while it is encouraged, it is not required.
Hotseat area: Software grantees receive hotseat memberships.
Timeline and Use of funds
Projects must be finished by June 30, 2026.
Ready to apply? Click here!
FAQ
WILL SOMEONE REVIEW MY GRANT APPLICATION BEFORE I SUBMIT?
We cannot review your application. However, we can answer questions during office hours, which, for Round 1, are held on the first Monday of each week until September 30.
IF I LIVE IN A RURAL COUNTY BUT WORK IN WICHITA, AM I CONSIDERED RURAL?
Yes. Rural status is based on your home address, not your work address.
Can you share more information about the rural grant?
We want founders from across the state of Kansas to have access to the same opportunities, whether they’re in Wichita or in smaller communities. To make that possible, we invited rural economic development organizations to partner with us. These organizations know their communities better than we do, and they can help us connect with local entrepreneurs to provide resources and support.
As part of the rural component, we’ve set aside seven $5,000 grants dedicated specifically to rural applicants in the very early stages of product development. These grants are managed through our existing rural partners, with priority given to those organizations that have already committed to working with us. We also welcome additional rural county partners that would like to participate. Rural partners set their own application deadlines.
If you’re a rural economic development organizations in Kansas, and you would like to partner with us, contact us HERE.
The partners we’re working with are listed HERE, and they will manage the application and selection process for founders in those counties who apply for the $5,000 grant. Rural grant awardees will gain access to Groover Labs’ programming, network, and prototyping resources. They will set their own deadlines.
Awardees that receive the $5,000 rural grant may also apply for continued funding through Groover Labs up to $20,000 (max funding for all awardees is $25,000).
If a rural applicant feels their project requires more than $5,000, they may apply directly through Groover Labs for up to $25,000 in funding. If you are awarded a grant, we envision them working closely with local partners, where available, to develop their products.
Applicants in counties without participating economic development organizations are also welcome to apply directly through Groover Labs at innovationkansas.org.
Here’s a good example: Emporia Main Street operates a makerspace with manufacturing and rapid product prototyping capabilities in Lyon County. An entrepreneur in Lyon County who applies for a $5,000 grant through Emporia Main Street will work with them locally while also gaining access to Groover Labs’ statewide resources. Conversely, if a rural applicant applies directly through Groover Labs for a larger award, we expect that they will continue to work with their local partners–in this case, Emporia Main Street–to develop their product.
Note: The September 30 deadline for Round 1 does not apply to rural partners. Those funds are set aside specifically for that portion of the grant.
I’VE SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Virtual Screening Calls
Applicants will participate in a 20-minute virtual call with Groover Labs. Round 1 calls will take place on the following dates:
Tuesday, Oct. 7
Scheduling Screening Calls
You’ll receive an email from innovationkansas@grooverlabs.org to schedule your call time. If none of these dates work, please contact us directly. We understand applicants have jobs and families, but we anticipate you will make every effort to find a time within the listed dates.
Round 1 Review Committee
After screenings, selected applicants will be invited via email to present to the Review Committee between October 13-24. All presentations are virtual.
We will contact applicants by Friday, October 10, to schedule Review Committee presentations. Final award announcements will be made on or before Thursday, October 30.
WHO IS ON THE REVIEW COMMITTEE?
We’re keeping those names private, but we selected a team with a broad range of startup experience, including an experienced Angel Investor, a wide-ranging and influential technologist, a senior software developer at a multi-billion dollar technology company, an intellectual property and commercialization expert, a hardware expert, and an accomplished tech founder. If your application is selected to present, we will provide you with information about the reviewers.
IF I ALREADY HAVE A MANUFACTURER, DOES THAT AFFECT MY ELIGIBILITY?
Already having a manufacturer means you’re well on your way. We and our network can help with design iterations, product validation, or other paths to commercialization.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE “NON-TECH-INFUSED”? WHAT IF MY RETAIL IDEA USES CUSTOM SOFTWARE? WHAT IF MY STOREFRONT USES AN ECOMMERCE SOLUTION?
Non-tech-infused means there is no new technology being developed or proven out. For example, a basic retail or storefront wouldn’t qualify. But if your project involves proprietary technology, or you are building a technical prototype, you may be eligible.
WHAT are THE TRANCHES ALLOCATIONS?
What is a tranche? A tranche is one of a series of payments to be paid out over a specified period, subject to certain performance metrics being achieved. It is commonly used in venture capital circles to refer to fundraising rounds used to fund startup companies.
All startups are different, but here are some examples of tranche allocations we envision for the ACCEL-KS grant program.
$10,000 = $5,000 for the first distribution; $5,000 for the second distribution.
$15,000 = $7,500 for the first distribution; $7,500 for the second.
$20,000 = $7,500 for the first distribution; $7,500 for the second, $7,500 for the third.
$25,000 = $7,500 for the first distribution; $7,500 for the second; $7500 for the third.
These are only examples and are not set in stone.
WHY DON’T YOU award THE $25,000 UPFRONT?
The grant is milestone-based to reduce risk. Also, the grant to Groover Labs is being released in tranches, so we can’t release all of the funds at once to grantees.
IF MY PROJECT RUNS INTO PROBLEMS, CAN I CHANGE MY MILESTONES?
Yes. If you encounter problems or roadblocks, you can change your milestones and/or budget. Contact the Groover Labs team as soon as possible so we can ensure the change aligns with the mission.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I KNOW SOMEONE ON THE REVIEW COMMITTEE? IS THERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
Wichita is a small pond, and reviewers will disclose their relationships to founders during the discussion. Conflicts are determined if the reviewer or an organization the reviewer is directly connected to would financially benefit from the application or if the reviewer is a relative, employee, or board member of the applicant.
IF I’M AWARDED $25,000 BUT DON’T USE ALL THE FUNDS, WHAT HAPPENS?
We will consult with the Kansas Department of Commerce for guidance.
WHY IS THE RURAL AWARD ONLY $5,000, WHEN THE MAIN PROGRAM GOES UP TO $25,000?
In our ACCEL-KS grant application, Groover Labs elected to allocate funds that would be awarded by rural partners. These grants allow for rural founders to do some initial analysis or prototyping in order to decide if it makes sense to pursue an idea. These founders may then apply through the regular process for additional funding to pursue the idea further, up to a total of $25,000.
Ready to apply? Click here!
webinar recording
On August 27, the Groover Labs team hosted a webinar on the ACCEL-KS at Groover Labs grant application process, followed by a live Q&A. The full recording is embedded below.