TechLaunch Program

TechLaunch Program

MTC is currently accepting applications for all of our IDEA Fund Co-Investment Programs. Applications* can be accessed using the links below:

FY24 IDEA Fund Application 

*Note: Starting from the April 2024 award cycle, the application process will be conducted through Survey Monkey. This change comes after transitioning from the Google Forms platform during the January 2024 award cycle. If applicants encounter any difficulties with this new platform, please email [email protected]

MTC’s TechLaunch Program was created to support Missouri’s early-stage entrepreneurs in developing technologies and creating jobs across Missouri. The TechLaunch Program supports technology startups through matching equity or convertible debt investments up to $100,000 for the purpose of technology and business development.

Over the past decade, MTC has invested over $47 million in almost 145 early-stage Missouri-based high-growth technology-focused companies, which have raised over $1.3 billion in additional private capital. To gauge the overall economic development and impact its portfolio has on the state, MTC surveyed over 70 companies in its portfolio. The economic development impact results of the survey have been summarized in a downloadable PDF flier that can be accessed with the link below.

IDEA Fund Survey Summary

Investment Process:

  1. The application process opens, and applicants are invited to fill out the application (link below).
  2. MTC staff reviews all applications received on a quarterly basis.
  3. Applicants are notified whether they are invited to present to the MTC investment Committee approximately one (1) month after applications close. Those who are not selected to move forward are welcome to set up a time to discuss their application with the MTC staff.
  4. The MTC Investment Committee meets and following presentations by the selected applicants, the Investment Committee will make funding recommendations to MTC’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
  5. The MTC Board of Directors will meet to review and approve the recommendations.
  6. When a company awarded an investment allocation has raised the required matching funds, MTC will initiate its due diligence.

In order to qualify for a TechLaunch Program investment a company must:

  1. Be based in Missouri;
  2. Have a proprietary or protectable intellectual property;
  3. Be in the pre-seed financing stage;
  4. Have, at the time of closing, an actual third-party dollar-for-dollar matching investment for MTC funds;
  5. Fit into at least one of MTC’s five focus areas – animal health, plant science, biomedical science, applied engineering (software), and defense and homeland security; and
  6. Complete the application process.

Application Materials
IDEA Fund Application FY24 – Google Form
IDEA Fund Application FY24 – PDF
     Note:  PDF – only for review.  Must apply via Google Form.

FY24 IDEA Fund Application – Survey Monkey
FY24 IDEA Fund Application – Survey Monkey (PDF)
     Note:  PDF – only for review.  Must apply via Survey Monkey.

MTC IDEA Fund FAQs

 

Additional Materials
As a state-sponsored venture capital program, MTC requires every company to enter into a Participation Agreement prior to closing its investment.

Note: Google Forms does not allow applications to be saved and completed later.  Therefore, we strongly suggest companies use the PDF copy of the IDEA Fund Application to complete the application questions in advance and then copy and paste them into Google Forms when the company is ready to submit its applications.

Contact for Questions
Please email Julia Campbell.