Programs
CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund
The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund is a partnership between CoMotion and the Washington Research Foundation to provide up to $1 million per year with $50K grants awarded to up to 20 teams. Our mission is to fund and support projects that have a high chance to have impact but are unlikely to get there without gap funding. The Innovation Gap Fund program is intended to help technologies transition between the conclusion of academic research grants and the level of development at which they can attract seed stage investment. The grants fund market research, customer discovery, and creation of business plans.
CoMotion DubPitch
This biannual funding opportunity brings together early-stage UW startups and venture capitalists for an exchange of ideas and potential investment opportunities. It is open to UW spinoffs, CoMotion Labs startups, WE-REACH startups, and Mobility Innovation Center teams who are currently fundraising.
Postdoctoral Entrepreneurship Program
The Postdoctoral Entrepreneurship Program is a highly competitive program that offers funding and support for one year to UW postdoctoral researchers to further explore the commercialization potential of their innovations without the additional demands of academic funding programs. Application to this program is on a rolling basis. Strong preference is given to postdocs and graduating PhD students commercializing work from their labs.
CoMotion SBIR/STTR Application Support Program
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are US government initiatives designed to support startups and other small businesses in developing and commercializing innovative technologies in the national interest. The CoMotion SBIR/STTR Application Support Program helps UW research teams and spinoffs pursuing Phase I grants and navigating the application process, providing tools and expert guidance on how to develop a competitive proposal.
Summer Associate Venture Capital Program
Through the Summer Associate Venture Capital Program, CoMotion is working to create more equitable environments in the VC and startup communities. Addressing the persistently low numbers of Black and women founders and their poor representation in venture capital firms, the Summer Associate program creates opportunities for participation for those who have been historically underrepresented. Successful candidates are matched with VC firms or startups for 10-week summer internships.
WE-REACH
CoMotion partners with WE-REACH to provide resources and project funding up to $200,000 in direct costs to accelerate impactful product development based on innovations in the life sciences. WE-REACH awards are available for the commercial development of promising life sciences technologies having a sound scientific basis and high potential for impact on health.