Innovate ND

The application period is open from September 9 through October 2.

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Innovate ND is a voucher-based reimbursement program designed to help North Dakota entrepreneurs advance their businesses by supporting customer and market research. Each participant may receive up to $50,000 in reimbursable expenses, administered through the Entrepreneur Centers. The program is divided into two phases, each offering up to $25,000 in reimbursements. Participants have six months per phase, with a maximum of 12 months to complete the full program.

Program Goals:

• Grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in North Dakota and enhance economic development and economic diversity in the state.
• Educate and assist participants on the lean business model canvas, value proposition, and customer identification.
• Assist participants to validate their product and market by tracking metrics such as investment, sales, or customer interviews.
• Support the development of new, innovative businesses with clear potential for Primary Sector Certification.

Innovate ND is administered through four Entrepreneur Centers:

Entrepreneurs must meet the following criteria for acceptance into Phase 1:

• North Dakota-based business with at least one founder residing in the state.
• The business is headquartered in North Dakota and is registered and in good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office.
• The business is scalable with potential to become a certified primary sector business. Retail, hospitality, and service-based ventures are not eligible.
• Must demonstrate in their application they have reached the following levels:
  • Founding Team: Founder(s) with a team of different skillsets and aspirations to scale.
  • Problem: Team has identified a specific problem and the problem is large enough to have significant market potential or have significant market share.
  • Value Proposition: Team has clarified what they believe is the unique value proposition for their target audience.
  • Customer Validation: Team has evidence to support they have potential customers that are willing to pay for their solution.
  • Product: Team has a basic prototype or proof-of-concept that solves the problem and/or has a product development roadmap.
  • Go-to-Market: Team has a basic understanding of their industry and can identify the target customer, the total addressable market, and their initial go-to-market strategy with supporting key metrics.
  • Business Model: Team has identified an initial revenue model and can point to similar products in the market as evidence their revenue assumptions are reasonable.
  • Business Roadmap: Team has identified a 12-month roadmap of their business with milestones and key assumptions.

Application process:

Commerce will accept applications in quarterly application windows:

A completed application includes the questionnaire and the following supporting documentation:

• A pitch deck
• A business plan (or executive summary to a business plan)
• A business model canvas (optional)

Applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility. Eligible applications are scored, based on the following criteria:

• Business Plan and innovation
• Founding team qualifications and readiness
• Market opportunity & customer validation
• North Dakota impact and alignment with program goals
• Milestones and work plan

The top scoring applicants are invited to pitch to the Panel. The Panel determines which applicants are approved for Phase 1 (access is not guaranteed).  Approved participants will be assigned a lead coach and begin Phase 1.

Innovate ND Program Manual