The TLO Ascender Grant program bridges the funding gap between academic research and commercialization by supporting the development and de-risking of innovative technologies. We provide critical funding to prepare your innovations for licensing to industry partners or to attract investment for startup ventures. With 17 awards totaling $1.6M in fiscal year 2025, this program helps University of Utah researchers transform promising technologies into market-ready solutions.
Funding Structure
Grant Amount: Varies based on project scope and milestones
Funding Model: Milestone-based disbursement
What We Fund
Technology Development
Prototype development, validation testing, and scale-up activities
Market Preparation
Market research, competitive analysis, customer discovery, and business model development
De-risking Activities
Technical validation, regulatory pathway assessment, and intellectual property strengthening
Application Process
1. Submit Your Application
Application Requirements:
Simple 3-page application including:
- Technology background and innovation description
- Development milestones and timeline
- Detailed budget with justification
2. Review & Selection
Applications undergo rigorous evaluation by:
- Technology Licensing Office for eligibility screening
- External advisory committee of 5+ reviewers, including:
- Subject matter experts
- Entrepreneurs and investors
- Industry professionals
Evaluation Criteria:
- Significance of the problem addressed
- Strength and innovation of the solution
- Competitive advantage over existing solutions
- Market potential and commercial viability
- Achievability of proposed milestones
- Budget reasonableness and justification
3. Award Timeline
- Notification: Following the review committee recommendations
- Funding: Released by milestone achievement
- Progress Updates: Required before each funding tranche
- Project Duration: Based on approved milestones
Eligibility Requirements
- Technology has been formally disclosed to the Technology Licensing Office
- Technology is not currently licensed or optioned
- Principal Investigator is a University of Utah employee
- For co-owned technologies, U of U must be the commercialization lead
Post-Funding Support
The Technology Licensing Office continues to support funded technologies through:
- Marketing to potential licensees
- Startup pathway guidance
- Connection to entrepreneurs and investors
- Additional Phase II funding opportunities (I-Corps participation required)
Ready to Apply?
If you believe your technology is eligible and shows strong commercial potential, please speak with our Innovation Management team to discuss your application and receive guidance on the process.
For Phase II Ascender Grant applications (second grant for same technology), participation in the I-Corps™ ZAP program is required.
