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Proof Of Concept FundDirect fundingNo equityVerified

IIE Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund

Also known as: IIE Innovation Fund, Innovation Fund, Small Business Fund

Villanova University · Villanova, PA

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Quick fit check

  • Offers direct funding
  • No equity required
  • Currently active
  • Verified by research

Key numbers

Funding range

$250 – $5,000

Grant

Equity

None

Application

Rolling

Campus Wide

Last activity

2026-06-24

High confidence

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.

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

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.

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