Regional Funding

The companies included in this table are all Central Texas startups that have received commercialization awards from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) since 2006. For questions about the TETF, please contact the Central Texas RCIC.

Will it sell? Subchapter D Commercialization Awards are incentives for private or non-profit entities to collaborate with public or private universities on emerging technology projects with a demonstrable economic benefit to the state.

Priority for funding is given to proposals that, in some combination:

• Involve emerging scientific or technology fields that have a reasonable probability of enhancing this state's national and global economic competitiveness;
• May result in a medical, scientific, or clean energy breakthrough;
• Are matched with other available funds, including funds from the private or nonprofit entity or institution of higher education collaborating on the project;
• Have a demonstrable economic development benefit to this state; or
• Guarantee commercialization or manufacturing in Texas if successful.
• Collaboration with a Texas institution of higher education.

Additionally, the ETF prefers:

• To match prior cash equity investments (non founder, not in-kind);
• Deals that can NOT be covered by other state public policy mechanisms/funds;
• To follow same terms as lead investor;
• That ETF grants make a difference in the company's success
• That the preponderance of jobs developed by a successful venture pay >$18/hr; and
• Other economic benefits identified by entity and tracked by RCIC % of payback can go to RCIC(s) that sponsored the deal.

In order to be considered for funding under the Commercialization Grants program (Subchapter D), all submissions should be a collaborative effort with a public or private institute of higher education in the state. This is in accordance with the intent specified in Sec.490.151 of the enabling legislation – "Sec. 490.151. USE OF MONEY FOR INCENTIVES. (a) Amounts allocated from the fund for use as provided by this subchapter shall be reserved for incentives for private or nonprofit entities to collaborate with public or private institutions of higher education in this state on emerging technology projects with a demonstrable economic benefit to this state."

Examples of collaboration include but are not limited to: licensing university technologies; contracting for sponsored research; teaming with a business school for market research or business plan development; developing university or community college internship/ training programs; and contracting for prototype testing.

Regional review panels made up of technology, commercialization, and economic development experts will score all valid proposals and nominate the top submissions to the Governor's Office for further consideration by the statewide ETF Committee.

Download the Commercialization (Subchapter D) Award Application

Will it work? Subchapter E Research Matching Award are for consortia composed of Texas universities and for-profit businesses, matching non-State-of-Texas grants. These applications are to be submitted to the Office of the Governor:

Office of the Governor
Emerging Technology Fund
Attn: Jonathan Taylor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711

For more information on the Subchapter E Research Matching Award, visit the state's website.

New Ideas. Subchapter F Research Superiority Awards are to be used to acquire new or enhanced existing research superiority (talent) at public institutions of higher education in this state. These applications are to be submitted to the Office of the Governor:

Office of the Governor
Emerging Technology Fund
Attn: Jonathan Taylor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711

For more information on the Subchapter F Research Superiority Awards, visit the state's website.

• Aerospace
• Biotechnology
• Defense
• Energy, Clean Energy & Manufactured Energy Systems
• Information & Computer Software Technology
• Life Sciences
• Manufactured Energy Systems
• Medicine
• Micro-electro Mechanical Systems
• Nanotechnology
• Petroleum Refining & Chemical Processes
• Semiconductors
• Other Pursuits (as determined by the Trustees)

Applications:
Commercialization (Subchapter D) Award Application

Submission Process: Send the completed application form and all required attachments (in electronic format) to: applications@austinchamber.com If your application and associated attachments are over 5MB in size, send the MS Word application and the attachments in separate emails. Please see Commercialization Application Checklist.

Submission Fee: A $250 filing fee is required for each proposal submitted to an RCIC. Payment by check (made payable to GACC/Central Texas RCIC) is due at the time of proposal submission. The evaluation of a proposal will not proceed until payment is received. Payment must be postmarked on or before the quarterly submission deadlines. Pease send checks to:

Jan Riepen
GACC/Central Texas RCIC
535 East 5th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Nomination Periods & Deadlines: The CenTex RCIC accepts proposals on the quarterly deadline and grants are awarded by the state as they are ready to be announced.

Guidance: For further background: 1) Visit the Office of the Governor's website, 2) Read the ETF Legislation itself. The state has also issued a sample capitalization table (.pdf); a cap table is a required element of the new application.

Required funding factors – must meet ALL criteria:

• Significant collaboration with a Texas institution of higher education
• Demonstrable economic impact for Texas
• Commercialization of emerging technology resulting in a scientific, medical or other "breakthrough"
• Reasonable business plan & proposed project
• High likelihood of obtaining additional funding

ETF Funding Application Criteria (PDF)

• Step 1 – Local Application Phase
  • Submit applications to CenTex RCIC
  • Quick Pitch Presentation to Local Selection Team
  • Full Presentation to Local Selection Team
• Step 2 – Final Local Recommendation by CenTex RCIC Regional Board
• Step 3 – Local Due Diligence
• Step 4 – Review by TETF Advisory Committee
  • Advisory Committee Subcommittee Presentation Day for all RCIC deals (present to 3-4 committee members)
  • Full Advisory Committee Presentation Day for all RCIC deals
• Step 5 – Governor's Compliance Office begins 10 Step Due Diligence Process
• Step 6 – Leadership Approval: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker (unanimous approval required) – 90 Day Maximum
• Step 7 – Contract
  • Funds release immediately upon contract execution
• Step 8 – Public Announcement

• ETF Commercialization (Subchapter D) Award Application [Updated 3/20/12]
• ETF Applicant Workshop Presentation
• Commercialization Application Checklist [Updated 3/30/12]
• Commercialization Grant Term Sheet
• Conflict of Interest Resolution Policy
• Complete guide for application to Central Texas RCIC [Updated 4/5/12]
• ETF Award and Security Agreement [Updated 4/25/12]
• ETF Investment Unit [Updated 11/11/09]
• ETF PreSeed Award & Security Agreement [Updated 11/11/09]
• ETF PreSeed Investment Unit [Updated 11/11/09]
• Summary of Deal Terms [Updated 2/5/08]
• ETF Due Diligence Process [Updated 3/30/12]

Companies who receive ETF funding in 2010 are automatically pre-qualified for the NI Texas Emerging Technology Grant, and those who received funding in previous years are also encouraged to apply. NI is accepting applications from companies who qualify for an ETF grant but have not yet received funding.

Press release: National Instruments Creates Grant Program to Support the Texas Emerging Technology Fund: Software and Training Grant Helps Texas Companies Design, Prototype and Deploy New Products Faster

Website: www.ni.com/etfgrant/

Susan Davenport, Senior Vice President, Global Technology Strategies
512.322.5657
sdavenport@austinchamber.com

Send completed applications to: applications@austinchamber.com