Program Summary听

VentureWell Course & Program Grants are awarded to higher education institutions to support curriculum that engages students in science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship.

Activities supported by C&P grants should lead to effective courses and programs that are sustained by the institution, lead to the formation of student teams by leveraging experiential learning practices, and expand opportunities for learning across S&T I&E.

C&P grant proposals may include plans to create or improve an individual course, course sequence, minor, major, certificate program, or other co- and extracurricular programs, including non-credit programs, that are directly tied to and support I&E-focused curriculum. S&T focus area may include, but are not limited to:

  • General (science- and technology-based) entrepreneurship
  • Sustainable technologies (new materials, clean tech, green energy, and chemistry innovation)
  • Climate change solutions (technology to mitigate and/or adapt to climate change), especially technologies that support communities most impacted by climate change
  • Biomedical and healthcare innovation
  • Technologies that address poverty alleviation and basic human needs

Deadlines

CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MST October 2, 2023

Sponsor Application Deadline: November 8, 2023

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

  • Project Narrative (3 pages maximum, 12-point font and 1-inch margins): Tell a story: what efforts and opportunities currently exist at your institution, where are the gaps, what are you proposing to create, and what are the intended student and institutional outcomes? In other words, why this idea, and why now?
  • PI Resume / CV (3 pages maximum)
  • Budget Overview (1 page maximum): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required.

To access the online application, visit:

Eligibility

There are no special eligibility requirements.

Limited Submission Guidelines

There is a limit of two proposals per institution. Proposals may only be resubmitted once.

Award Information and Duration

Award Amount: Up to $30,000.

Award Term: Up to 3 years.

Review Criteria

VentureWell grants are competitive. Course & Program grant applications should address all criteria below and will be evaluated on these criteria in order of importance:

  • Educational Approach and Experience: The proposal describes curriculum that includes:
    • Student team-based learning, preferably multi-disciplinary
    • Experiential learning and entrepreneurship
    • Science and technology projects that have a strong focus and positive, enduring impact on society, and/or the environment
    • Innovative thinking and problem-solving
    • Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the student experience
    • A faculty PI, teaching team, mentors, partners, advisors, and/or external consultants and resources that have the disciplinary/domain expertise necessary to oversee, advise, and support the project
  • Strengthening the Institutional I&E Ecosystem: The proposal describes:
    • Meaningful connections to the entrepreneurial ecosystem (faculty, colleges, departments, centers) that can support student entrepreneurship OR
    • How the course/program will contribute to entrepreneurial ecosystem development
  • Catalyzing Institutional Growth: The proposal describes:
    • Multiple leaders, administrators, and/or partners that support program objectives
    • A complete and realistic plan for how the course or program will be financially sustained beyond the grant period
    • How grant funding could be a catalyst to build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem

Selection Process

VentureWell is committed to inclusive innovation in S&T, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are a priority in our C&P grant program. We are aware of diversity and equity gaps in our past grant cycles, and are striving to award the majority of grants to the following institution categories or groups:

  • Community colleges
  • Tribal Colleges; HBCUs; Predominantly Black Colleges & Universities; and Hispanic-Serving Institutions
  • Teams that include one or more Co-PIs who voluntarily self-identify in their proposal narrative as members of one or more URGs in innovation and entrepreneurship, including Black, Latinx, Indigenous people, women of any racial background, and people from low-income backgrounds
  • Qualified universities or colleges that have never previously received a VentureWell C&P grant