Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), through its Office of Investment and Innovation, awarded $5.7 million in 2025 under the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC). This initiative reinforces the SBA’s commitment to bolstering American entrepreneurship and advancing technological innovation across the United States. The GAFC awards were distributed to entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) across the country, with each recipient receiving a $75,000 grant to support innovation-focused small businesses. The 2025 GAFC was structured around two thematic areas: Lab-to-Market and Capital Formation. The Lab-to-Market theme emphasized initiatives that close the gap between research and commercialization. Projects supported under this theme focus on critical domains such as national and economic security, domestic manufacturing, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies. The Capital Formation theme concentrated on expanding investment access and financial capacity for startups and growing businesses. It aimed to enhance mechanisms for funding, broaden the pool of investors in the innovation ecosystem, and improve entrepreneurs' financial literacy. Applicants were evaluated on their ability to propose unique and impactful solutions to systemic gaps or challenges within their local innovation ecosystems. Selection prioritized proposals aligning with the competition's thematic priorities and demonstrating strong potential to support underrepresented entrepreneurs and regional economic development. Awards were granted to a diverse array of organizations across nearly every U.S. state and territory, with recipients including universities, accelerators, research institutions, venture studios, and regional innovation alliances. The Lab-to-Market awards went to organizations such as Southern Research Institute in Alabama, Delaware Innovation Space, Inc., and the University of Southern Mississippi. Capital Formation awardees included the Growth Factory in California, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and the University City Science Center in Pennsylvania. While the program closed its 2025 application cycle and all awards have been distributed, the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition has historically been a recurring program. Although the SBA has not yet announced dates for a 2026 competition, applicants should anticipate a similar timeline and monitor SBA communications for future announcements. Award cycles typically align with the SBA’s fiscal calendar, with notifications and funding disbursements occurring mid-year. The SBA encourages interested parties to review the public directory of 2025 awardees to better understand the types of initiatives funded. Questions about the program may be directed to SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation. As the GAFC supports systemic ecosystem development, future opportunities are expected to remain focused on high-impact entrepreneurship, commercialization, and equitable access to capital.