Proof of Commercial Relevance
Proof of Commercial Relevance supports Iowa technology businesses with market validation, intellectual property development and translational work to assess commercial opportunities before launch.
Funder: Iowa Economic Development Authority
Due Dates: Ongoing (Application review) | Bi-monthly (Funding decisions)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 in low-interest loans with a 1:2 private-to-public match
Summary: Supports Iowa businesses with demonstrated proof-of-concept for innovative technology in defining and validating commercial opportunities before launch.
Key Information: Applicants must have at least two actively engaged co-founders/principals covering core technology and business development/financial operations.
Description
The Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR) program, administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), helps businesses define and articulate commercial opportunities for innovative technology with a demonstrated proof-of-concept. It targets Iowa companies in advanced manufacturing, bioscience and information technology that are seeking market validation of their products or services and business model before commercial launch.
The program supports validation of market potential through activities such as beta testing, intellectual property development and evaluation, competitive analysis, and translational development of scientific discoveries. Biomedical companies developing medical devices, therapeutic drugs or diagnostics that require regulatory approval may be eligible for Investigative POCR support to identify technology gaps, explore commercialization feasibility and build a foundation for attracting management.
