ACCEL-KS Rural Innovation Grants (2 x $5,000)

Offered by Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC)

In Collaboration with Groover Labs, Wichita, KS

The Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC) is pleased to offer two $5,000 innovation grants to Montgomery County–area entrepreneurs as part of the ACCEL-KS (Accelerating Concepts to Commercialization in Kansas)program funded through the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Groover Labs in Wichita was awarded the statewide ACCEL-KS grant and is partnering with selected rural organizations across Kansas to ensure strong rural participation. IBRC is proud to serve as the rural partner for Montgomery County and surrounding area. Our local IBRC board with evaluate the applications and make the award decisions.

Click here to download the fillable PDF application.

What Is ACCEL-KS?

ACCEL-KS is designed to help founders move from idea to validation.

These grants are intended to help entrepreneurs explore and validate innovative solutions to real problems. The solution does not have to be a brand-new invention. However, it should represent a new or innovative approach — whether that’s a new product, service, process, technology application, or business model.

The purpose of this funding is to help you answer important questions such as:

• Is this a real and widely experienced problem?

• Is my solution meaningfully different?

• Is this feasible to develop further?

• Could this scale beyond a single customer or community?

• Even if you have a sticky internal problem that needs be solved, you can apply even if you don't see offering the solution to the marketplace.

What Can the $5,000 Be Used For?

Grant funds may be used to test, validate, or advance your concept, including:

• Prototype development

• Market validation research

• Pilot program implementation

• Customer discovery interviews

• Product testing and iteration

• Technical feasibility analysis

• Small-batch production runs

• Software/app development milestones

• Regulatory, patent, or specialized consulting related to validation

Funds are not intended for general operating expenses unrelated to testing or validating your concept.

Who Should Apply?

You should apply if:

• You are located in or doing business in Montgomery County, Kansas or the surrounding area.

• You have identified a problem worth solving

• You have a potential innovative solution

• You want to test whether your idea can move to the next stage

Minority- and women-owned businesses are encouraged to apply.

Grant Details

• Two grants available: $5,000 each

• Application Deadline: March 29 at midnight

• Recipients Notified: March 31

• Funds Distributed: Immediately upon selection and receipt of W-9

Recipients will be selected using a structured evaluation rubric focused on:

• Clarity of the problem

• Innovation of the solution

• Feasibility of next-stage development

• Scalability potential

How to Apply

Click here to download the fillable PDF application.

When completed, email the application to:

Jim Correll
 jimc@ibrcenter.org
620-252-5349

Call Jim if you have questions about eligibility, project fit, or how to position your proposal.

About the Partners

Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC)

IBRC supports entrepreneurs and small businesses in Montgomery County and the surrounding region through coaching, programming, and access to capital.

Groover Labs

Groover Labs is a Wichita-based coworking and prototyping community focused on supporting innovators, startups, and product developers across Kansas.