Spark Grants

What are Spark Grants?

The Harvard Innovation Labs are excited to announce the first ever availability of Spark Grants! For Harvard students with a demonstrated commitment and passion for a venture idea, Spark Grants will enable them to reach the next stage of their development. Students will test key assumptions and work with the Harvard Innovation Labs to achieve key milestones such as customer discovery, low-fidelity prototyping, demand validation, and business planning.

How much funding is available?

These non-dilutive grants are distributed by the Harvard Innovation Labs in increments up to $5,000. Funds will be distributed based on demonstrated need and impact of funds.

Who is eligible?

Spark grants are available to the 2020 Build It Venture Program cohort and select Harvard student ventures focused on COVID-19 response and Racial Justice. Full eligibility criteria below.

For Spring 2020 Build It Venture Program ventures:

• Ventures must include at least one matriculated, full-time, and currently degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate Harvard student, Harvard postdoctoral fellow, or clinical fellow. While we encourage collaboration with entrepreneurs, scientists, and executives from industry, we require that a Harvard student be a founder and a committed leader on the venture team.
• Founders must have participated in the Spring 2020 Build It Venture Program.
• Ventures can be for profit or not for profit.

For ventures addressing COVID and those addressing Racial Justice:

• Ventures must include at least one matriculated, full-time, and currently degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate Harvard student, Harvard postdoctoral fellow, or clinical fellow. While we encourage collaboration with entrepreneurs, scientists, and executives from industry, we require that a Harvard student be a founder and a committed leader of the venture.
• Founders must have participated in at least one semester as part of the i-lab Venture Program.
• Ventures can be for profit or not for profit.