BRINGING KANSAS IDEAS TO MARKET

ACCEL-KS

turn your idea into impact

ACCEL-KS helps Kansas innovators test, refine and launch market-ready solutions. Get up to $25,000 in proof-of-concept funding, supplemented with entrepreneurial education and coaching, no matter where you’re located in the state.

Please note: Applications are open for companies based in rural counties only. 
Rural counties are any in Kansas EXCEPT the following: Butler, Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte.
Click here to apply

What is ACCEL-KS?

ACCEL-KS – short for Accelerating Concept to Commercialization in Kansas – is a statewide initiative from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The program provides early-stage innovators with proof-of-concept funding, hands-on support and commercialization tools to move bold ideas from sketch to startup.

KU Innovation Park, along with Groover Labs in Wichita, was selected to implement this program in July 2025.

What is KU Innovation Park?

ACCEL-KS at KU Innovation Park delivers structured, cohort-based proof-of-concept (PoC) support for high-potential entrepreneurs across Kansas. Backed by a strong university partnership and a proven commercialization platform, KU Innovation Park helps innovators turn big ideas into investable businesses. The nonprofit innovation hub serves as the commercialization partner for the University of Kansas, and is home to a growing network of startups, researchers, and established companies in tech and life sciences.

WHY APPLY?

Education & Training

Access commercialization tools, on-demand content and expert coaching through our digital platform, Continuum.

Proof-of-Concept Grants

Apply for up to $25,000 to test, build or validate your technology and prepare for market launch.

Statewide Access

No matter where you are in Kansas, you can access the program online and on your schedule.

FAQ: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY? I HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis, and review began on September 30. Review of applications will be ongoing, and it’s not too late to apply. Selected companies will be invited to pitch virtually to our review committee over the next eight or so weeks. Funding decisions will be announced in December 2025.

about the program

DOES MY BUSINESS QUALIFY?

ACCEL-KS is a statewide initiative from the Kansas Department of Commerce designed to help innovators move high-potential ideas from concept to market. Focused on early-stage development, the program supports proof-of-concept projects with funding, technical assistance, and commercialization training. The goal is to reduce risk, unlock opportunity, and drive Kansas’s innovation economy forward.

Your company (or potential company) may qualify to apply for ACCEL-KS proof-of-concept funding if you can answer these questions with a resounding, “Yes!”

Still have questions? Ask us here.

Is your company based in Kansas?

The company’s headquarters needs to be in Kansas. Projects should benefit the state’s economy and innovation ecosystem—and you should intend to grow your company here.

Is your company ready for proof-of-concept work?

You should be ready to build, test, or validate something tangible: a prototype, a market hypothesis, a core function. ACCEL-KS is built to move you closer to market.

Are you committed to commercialization?

Founders should be serious about building a venture and exploring next steps after PoC: SBIR/STTR, accelerators, angel funding, licensing, or other market pathways.

Is your company idea-stage or early-stage?

This program is for entrepreneurs, researchers, or teams who are still testing the viability of their innovation. You don’t need a finished product, but you do need a high-potential idea and a plan to validate it.

Is your company based on a technology-driven innovation?

Your project must involve a science, engineering, or tech-enabled concept with commercialization potential. We’re looking for scalable ideas that could become investable for-profit businesses.

frequently asked questions

Still have a question? Ask us here.
What does proof of concept mean?

For ACCEL-KS, proof of concept means testing your idea to show that it could actually work – technically, commercially, or both. You’re building something real enough to learn from, validate assumptions, and take the next step toward market. Think building a prototype, running a pilot test with real users, or gathering data to show demand for your idea or product.

Do I have to be incorporated to apply?

No. You can apply as an individual, research team, or early-stage venture. However, awardees will need to form a legal entity based in Kansas to receive grant funding, and those entities must be for-profit.

What types of ideas qualify?

We support innovations in any sector as long as they involve a tech-enabled solution with market potential. Examples include software, biosciences, advanced materials, health tech, engineering tools, and more.

What can I use the funding for?

Grant funds can be used for prototyping, testing, market research, technical consulting, commercialization support, and related proof-of-concept activities. Funds cannot be used for salaries, rent, travel, or general operating costs.

Can university researchers apply?

Yes! Researchers looking to commercialize university-based innovations are encouraged to apply, especially if they’re exploring a spinout or license.

Do I need a match? What about equity?

No match needed and KU Innovation Park doesn’t take equity in any of the companies it works with.

Can I apply to ACCEL-KS through both KU Innovation Park and Groover Labs?

No. Both the Park and Groover Labs were selected to implement ACCEL-KS, but please only apply to one. (We promise we’ll be keeping tabs on that.) Check out both programs and apply to the one that feels best for you!

Do I have to move to Lawrence or locate at KU Innovation Park?

While we love Lawrence and are proud of our incredible facilities at the Park, we won’t force them on you! The program is virtual-first and statewide. We want you to stay and grow in Kansas, wherever that may be.

What about companies in rural areas?

The ACCEL-KS program serves all, and at least 30% of KU Innovation Park’s selected projects will be located in a rural Kansas county. That’s defined as a county with a population of 40,000 or less. Only 10 Kansas counties are not considered rural: Butler, Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte.

PARTNERS ACROSS KANSAS

Continuum Educational Technologies

CET is our virtual education and commercialization platform.

Kansas SBDC

The Kansas SBDC provides statewide advising and outreach.

NIMA at Pitt State

The National Institute for Materials Advancement has expertise in technical support for advanced materials and manufacturing.

NWKEICI

The Innovation Center provides business support in 26 counties across northwest Kansas.

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HOW TO APPLY

Applications open September 2 at 10:00 a.m. Review of applications will start September 30.

Before you start, here’s what you’ll need:

Your Elevator Pitch

A 2–5 sentence summary of what you’re building and why it matters.

Company & Innovation Details

  • The customer problem you’re solving

  • Your product or service

  • Your target market

  • How you plan to market or sell

  • What makes you different

  • Your business model and revenue approach

Team Info

  • Who’s leading the company

  • Any key advisors or partners

  • Past milestones or traction

Funding Plan

  • What you’ll do with PoC funding

  • How much you’re requesting (max $25,000)

  • A completed budget template

  • Any outside funding, if applicable

Pitch Deck

Have your pitch deck ready to upload. Keep it to 10-15 slides.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Companies selected for ACCEL-KS funding will submit updates to help track progress, measure impact and guide future support. Success stories are the best way to ensure funding like this can continue.

Quarterly Progress Reports

These reports will be due every three months, with dates to be determined based on the distribution of funding. These brief updates should include:

  • Key milestones achieved
  • Use of funds to date
  • Any pivots or technical changes
  • Metrics like tests completed or prototypes built
  • Any challenges or support needs

Final Impact Report

This report will be due within 30 days of project completion or by June 30, 2026. This includes:

  • What you built, validated, or learned
  • How funds were used
  • Commercial or technical outcomes
  • Plans for next steps or follow-on funding
  • Photos, videos or demos of your project

Storytelling

Participants may be asked to participate in a short interview (written or recorded). We’ll give you a chance to review and approve anything before it’s shared. These stories help build visibility for your work and make the case for continued support of Kansas entrepreneurs.

Interested?

Click Here to apply
Please note: Applications are open for companies based in rural counties only. 
Rural counties are any in Kansas EXCEPT the following: Butler, Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte.
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Sterling Smith

Business Analyst

Sterling Smith is a sophomore at the University of Kansas, majoring in Electrical Engineering. At KU, Sterling is a Student Ambassador, a SELF Engineering Leadership Fellow, and is involved in the University Honors Program, Engineers Without Borders, and the Engineering Student Council. Outside of school, Sterling loves reading, playing volleyball & pickleball, and drinking coffee outside. He is excited to solve problems and ask lots of questions!

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Tanushri Sakaray

Business Analyst

Tanushri Sakaray is a senior at the University of Kansas, majoring in Computer Science. Tanushri is involved in the Self Engineering Leadership Fellowship, SELF Outreach Committee board, Catalyst Program, Women in Computing Club, and KU Honors Program.  Outside of school, Tanushri loves art, running, and watching shows with her friends. She can't wait to get hands-on experience and contribute to the innovative projects at KU Innovation Park!

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Max Krebsbach

Business Analyst

Max Krebsbach is a junior finance major at the University of Kansas. Max is a Jennett Finance Scholar and is involved in the Business Honors Program, the Investment Club, and Delta Tau Delta. Outside of the classroom, Max enjoys wakesurfing, running, and listening to house music. He is looking forward to working with the KU Innovation Park team this fall! 

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Sarah Plinsky

Administrator, Douglas County

Sarah Plinsky was hired as the County Administrator in September 2019 after serving in the interim position for nine months. She is currently a member of the board for KU Innovation Park. Before becoming the administrator, she had served as the Assistant County Administrator since December 2010. Previously, Sarah was the Assistant to the County Manager in Johnson County, Kansas. In Johnson County, she also served as the Interim Assistant County Manager for the Community Services Team and Interim Director of Public Health. Sarah is a graduate of Leadership ICMA (International City and County Management Association) and the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia. She holds a B.A. in political science and a Master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas.

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Craig Owens

City Manager, City of Lawrence

Craig Owens began serving as City Manager of Lawrence in July 2019 after serving as City Manager for the City of Clayton, Missouri, for 11 years. Over the past 25 years, he has served similar positions for the cities of Rowlett, Texas, O’Fallon, Illinois, and Hazelwood, Missouri. Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Craig is a former president of the Missouri City/County Management Association and the St. Louis Area City/County Management Association.

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Bonnie Lowe

President & CEO, The Chamber, Lawrence

Bonnie Lowe has been the president and chief executive officer of The Chamber of Lawrence since January 2019. In that role, she is responsible for leadership, strategic planning, and management functions. She had earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Fort Hays State University. Before her current position, Bonnie was the chief operations officer for the Chamber. For four years before working with the Chamber, Bonnie was a senior civil investigator for the US Attorney’s Office. In Lawrence, from 1998 to 2008, Bonnie worked as the Community Bank President. She also served on the Lawrence City Commission.

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Steven W. Stites, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C.P

Executive Vice President, Clinical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer, KU Medical Center

Dr. Steve Stites joined the hospital’s leadership team as senior vice president of clinical affairs in February 2012 and became executive vice president and chief medical officer for the health system in July 2018. He serves a dual role as vice chancellor for clinical affairs at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Stites received his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He completed his residency and chief residency in internal medicine at the University of Rochester and a fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

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Mark Shiflett, Ph.D., P.E.

Co-Founder & CSO of Icorium, Distinguished Foundation Professor

Dr. Mark Shiflett is a Distinguished Foundation Professor in the School of Engineering at the University of Kansas (KU), where his research focuses on developing environmentally friendly, energy-efficient processes and products for the chemical industry. He retired from the DuPont Company after 28 years in 2016 as a Technical Fellow in the Central Research and Development Organization at DuPont’s Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware. Mark is an inventor on 46 U.S. patents and has published over 130 articles on his research at DuPont. He is also the co-founder and chief science officer of Icorium Engineering Company, a KU spin-out company revolutionizing refrigerant reclamation with efficient, complete separation of even the most complex mixes.

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Derek Kwan

Board Secretary – Executive Director, Lied Center of Kansas

Derek Kwan serves as the Lawrence Chamber Board Chair and secretary of KU Innovation Park’s Board of Directors. He has served as the Executive Director of the Lied Center of Kansas since January 2014. Derek previously worked for Interlochen Center for the Arts as the Executive Director of Interlochen Presents. At the Lincoln Center in New York City, Derek served as the Vice President of Concerts and Touring for Jazz and the Associate Director of Programming & Concert Operations for Jazz. A voting member of the Recording Academy, he has production credits on over 60 albums. Derek also serves as a board member for the LMH Health Foundation.

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Michele Hammann, CPA/PFS, CVA

Treasurer - Chief Strategy Officer, SSC CPAs + Advisors

Michele received her Master of Accounting and Information Systems from the University of Kansas in 2001. She is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Kansas Society of CPAs and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. She is the past Chair of the Board of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and A past President of Junior Achievement of Douglas County. In 2019, Michele received the KSCPA/AICPA ‘Women to Watch’ Experienced Leader Award.

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Karen Willey, Ph.D.

Commissioner, Douglas County

Karen Willey earned her Ph.D. in Geography from KU before starting and operating several successful businesses in Douglas County. Her latest company, FarmTender, LLC, is producing an online application geared toward expanding regenerative farming practices in Kansas. Currently, Dr. Willey leverages her 25 years of nonprofit board experience through her work as a professional consultant and grant writer with Futureful, a local consulting group serving health, housing, and human services nonprofits, mainly in urban Kansas City. In 2022, she was appointed to fulfill an unexpired term on the Douglas County Commission. Additionally, Dr. Willey serves as the President of BRAC, a local housing nonprofit, as a volunteer firefighter with Willow Springs Fire District, as a member of the NAACP Legal Redress Committee, and in many other community roles.

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Douglas Girod, M.D.

Board Chair - Chancellor, University of Kansas

Douglas Girod, M.D., has been the Chancellor of KU since 2017, where he established a bold vision for the University of Kansas to be a destination for top scholars from across the world, an engine of economic growth for Kansas, and one of the nation’s leading research universities. Chancellor Girod received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of California at Davis and his M.D. from the University of California at San Francisco. He is involved with several other organizations, including as a board member of the AAU, Civic Council of Kansas City, chambers of commerce in Lawrence and Greater Kansas City, and MRI Global. Chancellor Girod was recognized with a Regional Leadership Award from the Mid-America Regional Council in 2016 for his work with KC Rising.

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Mike Dever

Vice Mayor, City of Lawrence

Mike Dever was elected to the Lawrence City Commission in 2023 and serves as Vice Mayor. Mike is the president and CEO of GuideWire Consulting, LLC. He supervises the entire staff and all departmental services and oversees a wide variety of environmental and property assessment services.

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Kate Chinn

Incoming Chair, The Chamber of Lawrence

Kate Chinn is the chair-elect for The Chamber’s Board of Directors. Kate owns Express Employment Professionals in Lawrence, a leading staffing provider helping job seekers find work with a wide variety of local businesses.

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Kerri Johnson

Internal Operations Manager

Kerri Johnson manages the Park’s day-to-day operations, including all administrative and front office matters, managing activities, handling scheduling, and working with service providers to maintain and improve building efficiency and Park staff productivity.

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Michael Smithyman

Director of Operations

Mike Smithyman manages plant operations and construction, handles leasing and related client interfaces, and works with tenants and prospective tenants to meet various business growth, management, and operational needs. He brings years of experience in the commercial real estate industry to the Park. Additionally, Mike tracks and manages the Park’s economic metrics.

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Chris Rehkamp

Director of Business Services

Chris Rehkamp is an experienced entrepreneurial ecosystem builder and has supported the launch and growth of new businesses for nearly a decade. An entrepreneur himself, Rehkamp most recently served as associate director of the Technology Venture Studio at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center. Chris has a Master of Professional Studies in Technology Entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland. Startland News named him a Community Builder to Watch in 2022.

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Lindsey Slater

Vice President of Strategic Communications

Lindsey Slater oversees strategic communications for the Park, raising brand awareness to drive business development and expansion while providing support to resident companies. An experienced communications professional with a knack for storytelling, Lindsey highlights the strengths of the Park and its companies through the written word, video and beyond. She most recently was the director of communications and storytelling for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Professionals. She has a journalism degree from Northwestern University's Medill School.

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Adam Courtney

Chief Executive Officer & Board President

As CEO, Adam Courtney provides strategic and operational leadership of the Park, including overseeing business operations, strategic initiatives and resource management, and fostering the Park’s culture, mission and vision. Adam previously worked for the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He served as the Park’s chief financial officer for ten years before being named CEO and president of the Board in March 2024.