Nevada Catalyst Fund
Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED)
Up to $250,000
Researched for this program: 6 rejection traps · 9 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Nevada university-linked startup grants
Nevada's competitive grant program for technology-based startups conducting applied research and development in partnership with a Nevada university. Awards up to $250,000 per company with a required matching investment from a private co-investor. Designed to bridge university-commercialized IP into market-ready products, with a strong bias toward companies working with University of Nevada (Reno or Las Vegas) or Nevada State College researchers.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $50,000 – $250,000
- Realistic amount
- Most Nevada Catalyst awards range $75,000–$200,000. Awards at the $250,000 maximum are reserved for projects with the strongest university partnership, verified co-investor, and clear commercialization pathway.
- Deadline
- No longer offered as described: GOED's current pages never mention the Catalyst Fund and its FY2025 report shows $0 approved; it is a dormant deal-closing fund, not an open grant.
- Status
- discontinued
- States
- NV
- Payment model
- milestone
Who qualifies
- Must be a for-profit company incorporated and headquartered in Nevada
- Must have an active R&D collaboration with a Nevada System of Higher Education institution (University of Nevada Reno, UNLV, Nevada State College, or another NSHE member)
- Must secure and confirm a private co-investor match at minimum 1:1 ratio (e.g. $250K grant requires $250K private investment committed)
- Technology must be in an applied research or commercialization phase — not purely basic research
- Maximum 500 employees (SBA small-business standard)
- Must not be delinquent on Nevada taxes or other state obligations
- Prior Nevada Catalyst recipients may re-apply for a subsequent phase if they have met prior milestones
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- University research fees and faculty/researcher time billed through the NSHE institution
- Company personnel costs (salaries for Nevada employees working on the project)
- Equipment and instrumentation for R&D activities
- Prototype development and testing
- Intellectual property protection (patent filing and prosecution)
- Contractor technical services directly supporting the R&D project
- Materials and supplies consumed in research activities
Ineligible expenses
- Sales, marketing, or advertising expenses
- Real estate acquisition or construction
- Refinancing existing debt
- G&A overhead above allowable rates
- Work performed at non-Nevada facilities without justification
- Lobbying or political contributions
How to apply
-
1
Establish Nevada university research partnership
Identify and formalize a research partnership with a faculty member at a NSHE institution. A letter of support or MOU from the university research office is required. This step can take 4–8 weeks if starting from scratch.
~7 hrs
-
2
Confirm private co-investor and matching capital
Identify and secure a commitment from a private investor, SBDC lending partner, or angel/VC who will match the requested grant amount. A term sheet or commitment letter is required at application.
~7 hrs
-
3
Contact GOED and complete pre-application screening
Engage GOED's innovation team before submitting. GOED conducts a pre-screening to confirm eligibility and partnership quality. This informal step is strongly recommended to avoid wasted application effort.
~7 hrs
-
4
Submit full application
Complete the online application: company profile, technology description, university partnership documentation, co-investor commitment evidence, project plan with milestones, budget justification, and commercialization pathway.
~7 hrs
-
5
Review, panel scoring, and award
GOED staff and an expert panel review applications. Finalists may be invited for an in-person or virtual presentation. Award decisions announced within 8–12 weeks of application close.
~7 hrs
The university partnership is the biggest eligibility hurdle — start there first. UNLV and UNR both have tech-transfer offices that actively seek industry partners. Getting a faculty letter of support is often easier than founders expect if you approach the right department.
Deadline & timing
GOED announces the annual application window on diversifynevada.com. Window is typically 6–10 weeks. Program requires pre-application engagement with GOED staff to confirm partnership and co-investor eligibility before formal submission.
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