Eligibility
Companies must have an affiliation with the Bard Center or the University of Colorado Denver. Companies are considered eligible to apply if:
- An operating officer (CEO, CFO, COO or CTO) who owns at least 20% of the prospective company is a student or alumnus/alumna of the Bard Center or the University of Colorado Denver
- The company is a past or current Bard Center Incubator tenant
- The company is a past or current Bard Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition Top 6 finalist
How to apply for funding
The Fund managers utilize Business Catapult as the medium for vetting prospective companies. Please click here and watch the following two videos for entrepreneurs: “Creating a Benchmark Survey” and “Creating an Investment Summary.” These videos are designed to help applicants gain an understanding of the process for submitting a business plan via the Business Catapult. In addition to the videos, click here to review a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Thinking like an Investor." These slides provide a guide for applicants to understand the level of detail required by fund managers in order to evaluate a company's application.
After watching the tutorials, the next step in the submission process is to create a new account with Business Catapult. Once an account is established, applicants are to complete the Benchmark Survey and Investment Summary for automatic submittal to the Rutt Bridges Venture Capital Fund Group.
The submitted information will be reviewed by the management team at which point each company will be contacted for follow-up discussions and feedback. Companies that meet the award criteria and pass the initial review process will be examined in greater detail to determine if funding will be granted. All information submitted by prospective companies will be maintained as strictly confidential by the fund management team.
Apply Here!