Process

The $25k grant will be provided to Teams as non-dilutive funds. This grant will be paid out on a reimbursement basis as GW receives related receipts and justification through the invoicing process described in Appendix C (linked here). These funds include reimbursement for travel and registration costs for participation in the seven-week NSF I-Corps Teams program cohort.

Allowable Expenses

• Travel and registration expenses for National I-Corps program.
  • Travel includes airfare, lodging, and local transport (to/from airport) related to the National I-Corps Program.
  • Registration is a $1500 per person fee to cover workshop registration fees.

• Travel expenses to conduct customer discovery interviews – potential customers, potential partners, and key industry players. Travel costs are the expenses for transportation, lodging, and related items required to meet with industry experts and prospective customers.
• Conferences (allowed with pre-approval): Costs of meetings, trade shows, and industry conferences are allowable. This includes the cost of transportation, registration fees,and lodging. Note that attendance at industry conferences and trade shows is encouraged, but expenses related to attendance at academic conferences are not allowable.
• Prototype and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Development (allowed with pre-approval for a maximum of $5k). Funds may be used for acquisition of modest amounts of equipment or materials needed to fabricate prototypes and MVPs in support of additional customer discovery. Typically, these funds would be used after customer discovery interviews are complete.

Teams may not use AccelerateDC funds for legal or administrative costs. Teams may not use funds for meals related to travel. Alcohol is strictly prohibited for reimbursement and may not appear on any receipt submitted for reimbursement. Receipts submitted for reimbursement must only be for the team members receiving the AccelerateDC funding.