One of 50 winners chosen from over 800 applicants across the country, First Flight Venture Center (FFVC) received a big boost for their LiftOff program by winning the SBA Accelerator Fund Competition in August. On November 4th, the Center will receive the $50,000 prize money earmarked to start the program designed to assist North Carolina’s scientific entrepreneurs with the early grant process.
LiftOff was chosen from the large pool of applicants because their program model is designed to help North Carolina’s scientific entrepreneurs get early non-dilutive funding for their technology startups which can be difficult and time-consuming.
In-house executives and grant experts provide leveraged, professional grant support for LiftOff startups so they can develop this important funding resource for their company and keep working towards commercialization prior to seeking traditional venture capital, helping build the next generation of great ideas in science-based technology.
FFVC President Andrew Schwab said in a statement, “This novel program is designed to help high science, high impact startups move closer toward their goal of being fully funded and getting to market. And that is what First Flight is all about.”
On November 4, 2015, Lynn L. Douthett, Director of SBA/North Carolina District, will make the formal presentation of the prize money at 1pm in the Executive Conference Room of First Flight Venture Center, 2 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park.
First Flight Venture Center (FFVC) is the original and largest RTP technology incubator, averaging 37 tenants on an annual basis. One of the nation’s largest incubators, First Flight has played host to more than 276 companies since its inception. Some of the most recognizable companies that started at FFVC include United Therapeutics, SciQuest, Bloodhound Software, Ganymede Software, Advanced Liquid Logic and ExamDesign, Inc.
On the web: http://ffvcnc.org/.
