IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund
About the program · 1 linked sources
IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund
The IIE Innovation Fund provides multi-phase grant funding for scalable ventures, while the Small Business Fund supports revenue-generating small businesses and nonprofits. Both are administered by the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Also known as: IIE Innovation Fund, Innovation Fund, Small Business Fund
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-06-24); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
Key numbers
Funding range
$5,000
Grant
Equity
None
Application
Rolling
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-06-24
High confidence
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Reminders
IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund
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Student notes
IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund
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Application and Timing
Rolling deadlines with monthly review cycles. Applications reviewed by IIE Investment Fellows (student board). Current deadlines: 9/29/25, 11/16/25, 1/25/26, 3/15/26.
Participants
Open to all Villanova students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Preference for interdisciplinary teams. Max 2 Idea Phase awards (different ideas); max 1 Incubator and 1 Startup Phase per applicant.
Funding and Equity
Non-dilutive grant funding. No equity taken.
Recent Activity
Active with rolling 2025-2026 deadlines. IIE reported $45,500 in total funding provided in 2023-2024.
Known Startups or Winners
Specific Innovation Fund awardee names not publicly listed.
Research gaps & things to verify
Verification Gaps
- Total annual disbursement not disclosed
- Number of awards per cycle not specified
- Awardee names not publicly listed
- The standalone IIE Incubator Program (last documented 2022-2023) may have been merged into this fund's phases
Program details
Innovation Fund Phases
Idea Phase: $250 grant for customer discovery and validation. Requires business model canvas and 1-2 minute pitch video.
Incubator Phase: $1,000 initial funding + 3 months of mentorship + $1,000 follow-on upon successful completion. Requires validated business idea.
Startup Phase: Up to $5,000 + $5,000 AWS credits for go-to-market. Requires built product, paying customers, and growing traction.
Small Business Fund
Up to $2,500 for non-scalable small businesses, franchises, e-commerce shops, and nonprofits currently generating revenue or grants.
Additional research notesShow
Evidence
Official Innovation Fund page with detailed phase structure, eligibility, award amounts, and application process.
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund at Villanova University.
1 source
IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund
Villanova University
Villanova University
IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund
Official program page for the IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund, providing multi-phase grant funding for Villanova-affiliated ventures.
Read on Villanova University