ACCEL-KS Applications Open on Monday, August 24
We’re opening applications for the second year of Accelerating Concept to Commercialization in Kansas, or ACCEL-KS, our proof-of-concept grant program in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce. If you’re a Kansas founder, and you’re building novel technologies, whether hardware or software, we want to hear from you.
Applications open Monday, August 24, 2026, at 9 a.m. CT, and close at 5 p.m. on September 30, 2026. Apply here. We will host a webinar about the application process on Thursday, August 27, at 10 a.m. CT. Register here.
Who Should Apply
Funding runs up to $25,000, just like last year and is meant to cover the cost of proving your concept - prototyping, testing, expert help, validation. We won’t cover salaries or overhead, but if you use it to build your product, it’s likely fundable.
You must be a Kansas resident and U.S. citizen to be eligible, and you’ll need to provide a W-9 so we can distribute funding. If your business is retail, a storefront, or consulting without a technology component, ACCEL-KS may not be the right program for you. But if your idea involves development of proprietary technology or a technology prototype, you should apply.
What’s New This Year
This year, we simplified the program. The application process is easier to navigate. We reduced the number of reports we’re asking for. And rural and non-rural founders apply through the same process and on the same timeline.
Like last year, we want 30% of funded projects to come from rural Kansas, so we’ll be traveling across the state during the application period to meet founders in rural communities. We’re lining up those visits now. If you want to help us reach founders in rural communities, email innovationkansas@grooverlabs.org.
Program Beyond Funding
Alongside funding, you’ll receive wraparound support from the regional startup ecosystem. You’ll have the option to enroll in startup courses like CAMPFIRE, NXTUS’ Customer Traction Cohort, the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Kansas’ Manufacturing Readiness Level bootcamp, Wichita State University College of Engineering’s Project Innovation Hub “design for” workshop, and one-on-one consultations with experts in AI, go-to-market strategy, product-market fit, intellectual property management, manufacturing, and more.
How Funding Works
Funding comes in two parts. You’ll receive the first tranche not long after you’re selected for the program. Partway through, you’ll submit a milestone report showing your progress, which unlocks the second tranche. Smaller awards may come in a single tranche.
These are grants, not loans. You’re not required to repay the funding, regardless of the outcome. Neither the Kansas Department of Commerce nor Groover Labs will take equity in your startup. Any intellectual property you develop before or during the grant belongs to you.
What Happened Last Year
Last year we had nearly 70 applicants and funded 25 founders who built products in AgTech, ConTech, defense tech, EdTech, aerospace, AI and more. Hardware projects outnumbered software by almost two to one, and more than 44 percent of projects came from rural Kansas, beating the program’s 30% target. The year concluded with a Startup Showcase where six founders premiered short videos about their work. You can watch them here.
How to Apply
Visit grooverlabs.org/accel-ks.
We’ll review all applications to ensure eligibility. Applicants who require follow-up may have short virtual calls with the Groover Labs team for clarification. Selected founders will present to our review committee. We’ll announce the new class of ACCEL-KS founders at the end of October, with an Open House and Orientation slated for early November.
We’re also holding virtual office hours on August 31, September 8, September 14, and September 21, from 4-5 p.m. CT.
