Buckeye Voucher Program
Buckeye Voucher Program
What is the Buckeye Voucher Program?
This program, launching in November 2024, is a grant program designed to help students at The Ohio State University provide proof of concept or business validation for their product or service ideas. The program will fund short-term, measurable milestones that can be achieved within 90 days. Vouchers are available in amounts up to $2,000.
How do the vouchers work?
Student applicants identify work that they need accomplished. Applicants can select a vendor to perform this work, or they can ask the Keenan Center for help in sourcing a qualified supplier. The applicant works with the supplier(s) to provide a quote for the work. A voucher for the negotiated amount is awarded to the applicant who then presents the voucher to the supplier. The supplier presents the voucher to the Keenan Center, which will pay the supplier directly. The students do not receive any cash.
Who can apply for a voucher?
All students at The Ohio State University are welcome to apply. Students can apply multiple times. However, students involved with ventures that have been awarded a prize from BOSS or the President’s Buckeye Accelerator are not eligible. Also, ventures that have $100,000 or more of cumulative revenue, debt, grant or third-party financing for the company are not eligible.
What types of expenses are and are not eligible?
Eligible expenses are related to achievement of a milestone that advances the venture such as prototyping, code creation, travel and regulatory advice. Ineligible expenses include but are not limited to: support for office space, build of inventory, purchase of laptops and other non-core equipment, and team salaries.
Will my application be considered Confidential Information?
The applicant is responsible for protecting the information related to your business. The Keenan Center does not take any responsibility for holding your information confidential. Please be careful about disclosing any information concerning proprietary concepts.
How are vouchers awarded?
Students complete the online voucher application here. Selected teams will present a 3-minute pitch on zoom to a panel of judges, followed by 2 minutes of Q&A.
What are the criteria upon which the applications will be evaluated?
- The application clearly describes the idea and the problem it solves.
- The milestone to be achieved helps develop the idea into a more viable business.
- The funding request is appropriate to the milestone.
- If funding has been awarded previously, the application describes how the funding advanced the business idea.
Applications will be ranked based on the potential impact to be achieved relative to the amount of the grant.
When will vouchers be awarded?
Applications are due the 15th of each month or, if the 15th is not a business day, the first business day following the 15th. Zoom sessions will be scheduled in the two weeks following the application deadline. Decisions on awarded vouchers will be announced on the 5th of each month or, if the 5th is not a business day, the next business day. There will be no vouchers applications accepted in December, June or July.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
For additional information, please contact Keenan@OSU.edu