The Accelerator Award application process consists of three rounds: a pre-proposal, a full application by invitation and a pitch presentation by invitation.
To be notified of key cycle dates email accelerator_awards@osu.edu.
Request for Applications release
Download the pre-proposal form or see the RFA. Ohio State Licensing Managers are a valuable resource in the Accelerator Award process.
Pre-proposal deadline
At this stage, applicants should be prepared to provide general information about the technology, competition, market opportunity, commercialization path, IP position, project milestones and team members. Pre-proposal forms should be limited to two pages in length, in addition to the cover page. Pre-proposals will be screened for compliance with program requirements and goals. Pre-proposals that meet the screening requirements will advance to an internal review committee.
Members of the Accelerator Awards selection committee are NOT under any confidentiality agreements. Accordingly, applicants must not include proprietary information that has not been disclosed or protected by the technology licensing team. Publicly disclosing confidential information to external parties without a confidentiality agreement risks destroying the patentability of the invention. Applicants are encouraged to contact their assigned technology licensing manager with any questions or for additional guidance.
If you have an invention for which you want to submit an Accelerator Award proposal and have not yet filed an invention disclosure, you must do so by the pre-proposal deadline. To support a competitive application, the invention disclosure should be submitted significantly in advance of the pre-proposal deadline to allow your technology licensing manager to evaluate the invention disclosure, conduct patentability review, and analyze the market and competitive technologies to determine the invention’s commercialization potential. File your disclosure in Innovate, our inventor portal.
Invitations to submit full applications
Eligible proposals chosen by the external selection committee will be notified by email and invited to submit a full proposal and make a pitch presentation to the selection committee. Full application instructions will be provided to finalists at the time of notification.
Proposals that do not advance to the full application phase will receive notification via email and may request a debriefing for further feedback on the pre-proposal to guide a resubmission for a future application cycle.
Full application deadline
Finalists who are invited to prepare a full application must submit the proposal by 5 p.m. on the full application deadline date. Full application instructions and the pitch presentation template will be provided to finalists at the time of notification.
At this stage, applicants should be prepared to provide an in depth version of the pre-proposal, including additional detail around the technology, project milestones informed by industry input, project plan, proposed budget form with third party vendors identified, an industry letter of support and certain required documentation. It is also encouraged, but not required, to include budget supporting documents and up to three letters of support from potential licensees or commercialization partners.
The program requires that finalists who are invited to submit a full application engage with an industry expert to help refine the commercialization objectives of the project. The industry expert will provide input to the PI to assist the applicant in submitting a strong, commercially-focused milestone plan. To learn more about engaging an industry expert, see the RFA.
Pitch presentations
Invited finalists will make a pitch presentation to the Accelerator Awards Selection Committee. Finalists will prepare a 10-minute pitch of how the proposed project will accelerate the commercialization of the technology, with an additional 15-minutes for questions and answers. The Accelerator Awards Selection Committee consists of representatives of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship Office and external partners with commercialization, investment, entrepreneurial and technical expertise.
Award notices
Funding decisions are made by the Ohio Third Frontier based upon recommendations of the Accelerator Awards Selection Committee. Award notifications will be communicated to finalists. Finalists not selected for an award will be provided with feedback from the Accelerator Awards Selection Committee via email along with any recommended resources or alternative strategies to support the commercialization of the project.
Project start date
Each project lasts a maximum of 12 months beginning on the project start date. The project scope must encompass activities that can be completed within a period of 12 months
Questions about the Accelerator Awards
Visit our FAQ or contact us by email at accelerator_awards@osu.edu.
