The Entrepreneurship Center Pre-Seed Fund

Since January 2019, the Entrepreneurship Center has been proud to award Ball State University students with grants of up to $2,500 to advance their venture. Funding can be used for venture development and reach milestones including, but not limited to securing intellectual property, prototype development, product validation, or competing in external venture competitions. We believe financial limitations should impede student entrepreneurs and see this as a way to remove real or perceived barriers to success.

These grants are available to any registered Ball State University students.

Any amount of funding is helpful - even gifts of $10 can go towards sending students to Startup Weekends and competitions. Each student project is unique and requires variable funding amounts. Our students have done amazing prototype development with $500 or less.

• For $50, we can send one student to pitch, build, and compete at a Startup Weekend event, giving them valuable pitch experience and expanding their network.
• For $100, a student like Aly Ledford, Class of 2022, could source 2D and 3D mock ups to help promote and explain her concept, Manatee Key.
• A $250 donation would cover the cost of registration for one student to attend the global Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization conference, where they can apply to compete in a pitch competition amongst some of the most promising student entrepreneurs across the world.
•  A gift of $500 could provide necessary travel funds necessary for students to gain customer validation directly with their target market similar to what Carlas Bogue with Bogue Feed Distribution, Class of 2018, did by traveling to Ocala, FL to talk to elite racehorse owners.
• A gift of $1,000 would provide a student with the tools to fully legitimize their concept. This could include a professional logo, high quality business cards, a website, the fees associated with filing for an LLC, and allow them to secure a provision patent.