Got an idea? Need a jumpstart? Apply for a microgrant & start prototyping today!

APPLICATIONS DEADLINE IS MAY 31ST, 2025.

JumpStart Microgrants are designed to empower undergraduate students across the Texas Tech University System with early-stage funding to advance their innovative ideas. Open to students in any discipline, these microgrants provide essential support for transforming concepts into functional prototypes. 

The JumpStart program helps bridge the critical gap between ideation and execution. Through seed funding, mentorship opportunities, and access to resources at the Texas Tech Innovation Hub, undergraduates are equipped to validate ideas, test feasibility, and create working prototypes. 

Who can apply?

To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate student in the Texas Tech System and have a clear, well-developed startup idea.

Why should you apply for a JumpStartup Microgrant?

1. Transform Your Idea into a Prototype
   Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an early concept, the JumpStart Award provides the resources and support needed to create a tangible prototype from your innovative idea.
2. Strengthen Your Competitive Edge for Future Funding
   By building a strong prototype and demonstrating early progress, you’ll enhance your competitiveness for additional funding opportunities, including the Texas Tech Accelerator Program. 

What amount of funding can you ask for?

JumpStart Microgrants are available in amounts of $500, $1,500, $2,500, or $5,000, depending on your project’s needs and goals. In your application, you’ll be asked to share how you plan to use the funding—whether that’s building a prototype, testing your idea, or developing your minimum viable product (MVP).

To strengthen your application, be sure to include:

• A clear budget that shows how the funding will be allocated.
• Specific project milestones you aim to reach.
• A timeline for when you’ll deliver each part of your project

Your project should be able to make meaningful progress within one year of receiving the microgrant.

Note: Applicants should review the Allowable Budget Items document to understand which expenses are permitted under this program. 

Applying for a JumpStart Microgrant is a simple process: