Update: For upcoming events to learn more about the Advanced Industries Grant see the end of this article.

You may have heard the rumors that Colorado State has a $14.5 Million fund that they intend to put into growing companies in advanced industries. The goal here is to boost innovation and commercialization in Colorado. 

The funding you might get from the Advanced Industries Program is non-dilutive. This means that it's a grant. You don't have to pay it back (as long as your company stays in Colorado) and you don't have to trade the capital for equity or pay interest. Grants are the cheapest money you can get. 

What kinds of companies are going to get these grants? There are three pots of cash as part of this program, but if you are an existing company, you need only concern yourself with the Early Stage Company grants.

• Advanced manufacturing
• Aerospace
• Bioscience
• Electronics
• Energy and natural resources
• Engineering
• Information technology

Basically, if your company has technical intellectual property, you probably fit into one of these categories. 

Here's the rules for qualifying:

• At least 50 percent of employees based in Colorado
• Grant size limited to $250,000
• Preference given to companies that provide services or products across multiple advanced industries. Such companies may qualify for funding in excess of $250,000]
• Matching funds shall be 1 (state) to 2 (private)

You read that right. Matching funds are required. If you can get investors to put in $500,000, then you might be able to leverage that private investment to get another $250,000 in non-dilutive funding from the state. 

This is a new granting program and it's rolling out very soon. You'll be able to apply for this grant starting the first week of September. The applications will be due October 1. Yes, it's a bit of a hustle, but don't worry, they will have a submission deadline 4 times per year. If you miss this one, you can always submit your application next time. 

If you are in a position to leverage investments right now, you should keep your eyes open for the announcement that the Advanced Industries Application is available. It will happen very soon. 

More information:

CBSA Press Release

The legislative bill that led to this program

Description of the bill in layman's terms

Press Release from HIckenlooper's office

Information Session Dates and Locations

September 3^rd

·  2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Galvanize

1062 Delaware Street

Denver, CO 80204

September 4^th

·  2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Colorado Center for Renewable Energy Economic Development

14062 Denver West Parkway

Building 52, Suite 300, Vail Conference Room

Golden, CO 80401

·  4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Colorado School of Mines

Geology Museum

1310 Maple Street

Golden, CO 80401

September 11^th

·  8:30 am - 9:30 am

University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus

Education II North Building, Room P28-2104

13120 East 19th Avenue

Aurora, CO 80045

·  10:30 am - 11:30 am

University of Colorado Boulder - BioFrontiers Institute

Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building, Linfield Room
3415 Colorado Avenue
Boulder, CO 80303

·  12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

University of Colorado Boulder - Main Campus

ATLAS Building (#223), Room 204

1125 18th Street

Boulder, CO 80309

September 13^th

·  9:00 am - 10:00 am

Colorado State University (Session 1 of 2)

Lory Student Center, Room 220-2

1101 Central Avenue Mall

Fort Collins, CO 80521

·  11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Rocky Mountain Center for Innovation and Technology

815 14th Street SW

Loveland, CO 80537

·  1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Colorado State University (Session 2 of 2)

Lory Student Center, Room 220-2

1101 Central Avenue Mall

Fort Collins, CO 80521

·  3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Location:  TBD

September 16^th

·  9:30 am - 10:30 am

Pueblo Community College

Campus Student Center, Barbara Fortino Room

900 West Orman Avenue

Pueblo, CO 81004

·  12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

For location information, please RSVP to [email protected]

·  2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Colorado Springs Technology Incubator

Rocky Mountain PBS

Tim Gill Center for Public Media

315 East Costilla Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80903

·  4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Innovation Pavilion

Event Center 1A

9200 East Mineral Avenue

Centennial, CO 80112

September 17^th

·  1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Rocky Mountain Innosphere

320 East Vine Drive, Suite #101

Fort Collins, CO 80524

September 19^th

·  4:00 pm - 5:00pm

TechStars

1050 Walnut Street

Boulder, CO 80302