Funding

OIE administers six funding programs. Pitt SPARK awards up to $125,000 for one year. The Hunter Family Foundation Innovation in Neuroscience Program (the Hunter Program) awards $100,000 to one project each year. The Commercialization Gap Fund (the Gap Fund, or CGF) awards up to $75,000 for one year and is open to all fields and disciplines. Pitt.INC (Pitt Idea Navigation to Commercialization) awards up to $50,000 for one year to faculty, postdocs, students and staff with primary appointments in Pitt’s six schools of the health sciences. The Engineering Commercialization Launchpad, a partnership with the Swanson School of Engineering, makes two $50,000 awards to engineering faculty new to commercialization. The Wells Student HealthTech Challenge (the Wells Challenge) offers $40,000 in total prizes, including $20,000 for first place. Pitt students can also compete through the Big Idea Center in the Big Idea Competition, for up to $25,000, and the Big Idea Challenge, formerly the Kuzneski Innovation Cup. These are separate programs with separate amounts and separate application processes.

Eligibility varies by program. Generally, Pitt students, postdocs, faculty, and staff working on Pitt intellectual property can apply for the Commercialization Gap Fund, Pitt SPARK, and the Hunter Program. Pitt.INC is restricted to Pitt students, postdocs, faculty, and staff in Pitt’s schools of the health sciences. Specific eligibility criteria are detailed for each program.

Pitt students working on Pitt intellectual property are eligible for Wells Student HealthTech Challenge. Additional student funding opportunities are offered by the Big Idea Center.

Each program has its own application window. Pitt SPARK and the Hunter Program typically have deadlines in early spring, while the Commercialization Gap Fund and the Wells Student HealthTech Challenge typically have deadlines in early fall. Exact dates change from year to year, so please check each program’s page for the current deadline, or reach out through our Contact form. Application instructions and the submission form are on each program’s own page.

Applications are evaluated based on the innovation’s potential for commercialization, the feasibility of the project, and the impact on society. Each program may have additional specific criteria.

The review process duration varies by program. Applicants will be notified of the timeline when they apply.

Applications, instructions, and deadlines can be found on each program’s page. Simply navigate to the program page of interest. Once a project receives funding, it is typically required to submit progress reports and final reports detailing the outcomes and impact of the project. Specific reporting requirements are provided by each program.

OIE provides a range of support services such as mentorship, coaching, and access to industry experts and seasoned innovators, all aimed at maximizing the potential for successful commercialization.

For questions about a specific funding program, contact the staff member who manages it:

• For Pitt.INC and Pitt SPARK, contact Alandra Kahl, Assistant Director, Innovation Funding and Program Management, at akahl@innovation.pitt.edu.
• For the Commercialization Gap Fund and the Hunter Family Foundation Innovation in Neuroscience Program, contact Sam Musselman, Innovation Funding Manager, at smusselman@innovation.pitt.edu.
• For the Engineering Commercialization Launchpad, contact Dori Miller, Assistant Director, Innovation Funding and Program Manager, at dmiller@innovation.pitt.edu.
• For the Wells Student HealthTech Challenge, contact Priya Amin, Entrepreneur in Residence, at pamin@innovation.pitt.edu.
• For the Big Idea Competition and the Big Idea Challenge, contact the Big Idea Center.

For general questions about OIE funding, contact the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship through our Contact page.