TECK Fund Round 3 - Closed

Kent State University and Cleveland State University are pleased to announce Round 3 of a unique collaborative effort to help move technology and innovation from our laboratories and research facilities to commercial markets. The TeCK Fund will be funded with $600,000 – half from the State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Fund, and $150,000 apiece from KSU and CSU – with an additional $300,000 of funding that was awarded this year from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission. The TeCK Fund provides faculty pursuing applied research projects with funding to assist with commercialization activities, including prototype creation, third-party validation, and market research, which are required to successfully spin off technologies. Grants range in size from $25,000 to $100,000, and must be used to validate university owned technology, build prototypes and analyze commercial market potential, all with an eye towards creating jobs and opportunities in Ohio.

The TeCK Fund is jointly administered by Cleveland State University and Kent State University.

Applications will be reviewed in a two-stage process:

• Step 1: Download the 2-page, fillable pre-proposal application. After completion, please submit by email to Denise Joseph djosep12@kent.edu 

Applicants approved by the Screening Committee will be invited to submit a formal 6-page application. Applicants who are rejected by the Screening Committee are invited to make revisions as recommended by the Screening Committee and reapply.

• Step 2: Formal applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. Thorough due diligence will be conducted by the Selection Committee. This Committee is expected to meet quarterly, and great care should be used for the application. The Selection Committee will expect applicants to have conducted interviews with potential customers and participation in the I-Corps program is strongly encouraged. The Technology Commercialization Office at KSU will be happy to assist in the preparation of the formal application.

Successful applicants will be expected to review progress on a regular basis with the Technology Commercialization Office. It is the intent of this program to help create successful startup companies, or license agreements, for Kent State intellectual property.

Please do not hesitate to contact Michael Kavulic at 330 672-5845 or mkavulic@kent.edu with any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you!