Build to Scale Program (B2S)
Economic Development Administration (US Dept. of Commerce)
Build to Scale (formerly the Regional Innovation Strategies i6 Challenge) funds regional economic-development organizations, universities, and nonprofits to run programs that grow high-growth, technology-based entrepreneurship in their region.
Objectives
Authorized under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act, B2S runs national grant competitions across tiers — Venture Challenge (Ignite / Build / Scale, for entrepreneurship-support programs) and historically a Capital Challenge (early-stage capital access) — to build regional capacity rather than fund single companies.
Who can apply?
- Applicants are typically economic development organizations, higher-education institutions, or nonprofits — not individual startups applying directly.
- A founder benefits indirectly, by participating in an accelerator, venture program, or capital-access initiative run by a B2S grantee in their region.
- Funding opportunities are announced annually and vary year to year — check the current Notice of Funding Opportunity on eda.gov.
What do you get?
- Past cycles have awarded roughly $45-50M annually across dozens of grantee organizations nationally.
- Grantee programs typically pass benefits to founders as accelerator cohorts, mentorship, or direct capital-access support rather than a direct company grant.
How to apply
Individual founders don't apply directly — instead, find whether a B2S-funded accelerator or venture program operates in your region via EDA's program page, and apply to that regional program.