USF Research Foundation

ÉîÒ¹¿´Æ¬ Start-Up Funding

Foundation BRAG

The Foundation Bull Ring Accelerator Grant program (BRAG) is a joint initiative of the ÉîÒ¹¿´Æ¬ Foundation  and the ÉîÒ¹¿´Æ¬ Research Foundation. BRAG is designed to support early-stage start-up companies that were formed on the basis of licensed ÉîÒ¹¿´Æ¬ technologies (ÉîÒ¹¿´Æ¬ start-ups). To be eligible, a company shall:

  • Be formed and registered by the time of application,
  • Be formed on the basis of licensed ÉîÒ¹¿´Æ¬ (USF) technologies (ÉîÒ¹¿´Æ¬ start-ups)
  • Have an active license or option to a USF technology upon which the company was established,
  • Be in good standing with USF (no delinquent payments on license, rent, etc.).

BRAG provides up to $25,000 of grant funding to help bridge the "valley" or "ditch" of death experienced by early-stage technology companies — the point between when academic research funding runs out and when a team is credible enough, with sufficient customer and market knowledge, to raise private capital or license/partner with existing companies. The goal is not to replace private capital, but to help reduce risk and develop ÉîÒ¹¿´Æ¬ start-ups to a point where they can attract other sources of funding. The number of grants awarded per funding cycle may vary based on available funding.

Interested applicants are encouraged to take full advantage of USF’s innovation and start-up support resources both before submitting a proposal and during the funding period, if awarded. These resources include the expertise of USF’s Technology Transfer Office, USF CONNECT, Florida High Tech Corridor, and the .

For more information on the BRAG program, contact the USF Research Foundation:

Allison Madden
Chief Operating Officer, USF Research Foundation, Inc.
amadden@usf.edu
813-974-5095