Application
The deadline for the program application for the Fall 2025 cycle is 5 p.m., Monday, September 8, 2025.
View the Fall 2025 CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund Information packet for more information and application instructions.
Program description
The Innovation Gap Fund program supports proof-of-concept and business development activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. This program is supported by funds from CoMotion, Washington Research Foundation, Population Health Initiative, and generous donors.
Our impact since 2005
$18.1M
Awarded
387
Awards
$6.2B
Dilutive funding raised
110
UW spinoffs
2,109
Jobs created
40%
Received SBIR/ STTR awards
Why apply?
$75K in funding
Bring your ideas to market
You’ll have the opportunity to launch viable products, gain customer feedback, and attract seed-stage investment.
Industry mentorship
Your team will be matched with experienced industry mentors to help grow your innovation’s market potential.
Who can apply?
University researchers developing solutions to pressing needs in Life sciences, Engineering, Software/IT, and Social impact. Participants must meet the following three requirements:
UW faculty / students
- Faculty
- Postdoctoral researchers*
- Graduate students*
- Undergraduate students*
*Students and postdocs must identify a faculty fiscal sponsor with UW PI status.
Developing UW Innovations
Projects must focus on commercializing innovations that are assigned to the University of Washington and are disclosed to UW CoMotion. Innovations owned personally or by private companies aren’t eligible. Basic research is not supported.
Commercialization Readiness
At least one member of the applying team must have completed:
- UW I-Corps program (highly recommended) or
- Receive the endorsement of their CoMotion innovation development manager
Thinking of applying?
We encourage you to discuss this with your CoMotion Innovation Manager or contact the Innovation Development team.
How it works?
Program Application
Complete your application to participate in the CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund Program highlighting your team and project.
Deliverable Development
Work through a series of deliverables with industry mentors to explore the commercialization potential of your innovation and prepare for the final pitch.
Final Pitches
Give an investment-style pitch to an outside audience of investors, entrepreneurs and members of the local innovation ecosystem.
Meet past winners
“Every step of the program was relevant and useful. The customer discovery and the research together really accelerated efforts towards commercialization.”
- Amy Jean Swanson, Research Engineer Assistant of Applied Physics Laboratory
“This funding was invaluable for my postdoc co-founders to conduct market research with prospective customers that was an essential ingredient of our initial business plan.”
- Matt Reynolds, Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
“The program provided both guidance, an effective mentor, and financial support. What's not to like?”
- Chris Sims, Professor of Bioengineering
FAQs
A final review committee of CoMotion and WRF staff, senior executives, and local investors will rank projects by market opportunity and likelihood that Innovation Gap Fund funding will influence the probability of the project making a social or commercial impact. Further details of the evaluation criteria can be found here.
The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund has due dates for applications each Fall and Spring, typically in the first week of September and last week of February, respectively. Solicitations will be sent out the month before the due date for applications.
Successful teams are awarded up to $75,000 with over half of teams receiving a full or partial award in most cycles.
Successfully competing for a CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund award is a significant investment in time and effort where teams should expect to spend several hours a week over the program period due to the active learning nature of the program. We recommend discussing applying with your CoMotion innovation manager to ensure your project is well positioned to be competitive.
Make a gift to the Innovation Gap Fund
Help CoMotion expand the reach and impact of the Innovation Gap Fund, which provides up to $75,000 in competitive seed funding to teams exploring the translational potential of UW innovations.