Auburn University Kickstart Fund Opens Grant Application Window for Qualified Candidates

Auburn students, faculty and founders of local area-based new business start-ups can apply for direct, non-dilutive grants through November 30^th

The Auburn University Kickstart Fund, a designated fund within the Auburn University Foundation that will provide non-dilutive grants to Auburn-affiliated new businesses exhibiting best-in-class potential, has announced the opening of the Fall 2025 window for applications for the initial round of grants.

The AU Kickstart Fund is designed to fulfill the financial needs of Auburn-affiliated new businesses prior to an initial seed or Series A funding event, and will be administered under the governance and oversight of the Harbert College of Business and the New Venture Accelerator.

The Window is Open

Beginning today, candidates can visit the AU Kickstart webpage to see the criteria, review the process and – if they feel they are qualified – download an application. AU Kickstart Fund grant applicants have until November 30^th to complete and submit their applications and supporting documents.

Listed on the AU Kickstart webpage is a set of key criteria for Kickstart Fund applicants, including:

A well-defined strategy and business model
Initial customer and target market research conducted
Key business growth milestones and goals for the next 6 to 24 months
A sound financial model with revenue potential aligned with capital needs, and
A leadership team committed to building and growing the new business venture

“We encourage any candidate who feels they meet these criteria to submit an application – the sooner the better,” said Dan O’Keefe, Kickstart Fund Manager and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Auburn’s New Venture Accelerator. “The AU Kickstart Investment Committee will be meeting in December to review the applicants and select grantees for this inaugural tranche of grant awards.”

Auburn Kickstart Fund Investment Committee

The AU Kickstart Investment Committee is comprised of some of the most dedicated and successful Auburn entrepreneurs and new business development experts, including:

Mark Forchette,a graduate of the Harbert College of Business in Marketing, is a serial medical device entrepreneur and CEO with a proven track record of transforming industries and propelling breakthrough innovations to global leadership. He currently serves as President and CEO of JAZZ Surgical, an advisor to Let’s Go Racing, and is the creator of Auburn’s Tiger Cage pitch competition, Top Tigers, and the Entrepreneurial Summit. He is also an Executive Committee Member of the AU Foundation.

Tee Green, a graduate of the Harbert College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, co-founded Greenway Medical Technologies, now Greenway Health, and currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of technology investment firm 121G. He is also an AU Foundation Board Member.

Matt Kemph, an Auburn graduate and a seasoned entrepreneur who builds bridges between the world’s hardest national security problems and the innovators solving them, brings 20 years of experience operating at the intersection of government, venture and technology to evaluate and mentor startups at the bleeding edge of dual-use technology.

Matt Nordby, an Auburn graduate and successful entrepreneur who founded Flume Ventures alongside Silicon Valley icons. Before starting Flume, Matt worked on building the software company Greenplum, which was later sold to Dell (formerly EMC Corp) for more than $400 million.

Abby Guerin Russell is focused on helping purpose-driven new ventures and initiatives succeed. With experience at the Innovation Depot and Venture for America, Russell brings crucial fundraising and organizational development expertise to the Kickstart Fund team.

Duane Brandon, Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Affairs, Taylor Professor in the Harbert College of Business and Auburn University Faculty Athletics Representative, adds deep experience and expertise in research-based new venture funding.

Jennifer Nay is an adjunct professor in Management and Entrepreneurship at Harbert, a New Venture Accelerator Entrepreneur-in-Residence, founder of Auburn’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Collaborative and an accomplished entrepreneur in her own right, having founded and grown multiple start-ups to successful financial exits.

Dan O’Keefe a New Venture Accelerator Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Manager of the Kickstart Fund, will serve as Chairman of the Investment Committee as a non-voting member and leads the fund raising and formation of the governance functions of the AU Kickstart Fund.

Jennifer Mueller-Phillips, Dean of the Harbert College of Business and Wells Fargo Professor at Harbert, pointed to this latest milestone in rolling out the AU Kickstart Investment Fund and encouraged Auburn students, faculty, alumni, and local Auburn community entrepreneurs to consider applying for this first of its kind entrepreneurship grant.

“I am proud of how far the AU Kickstart Fund has come since being announced just a little more than a year ago,” noted Mueller-Phillips. “Funding has been secured from a wide range of corporate partners, alumni and other supporters; an impressive Investment Committee has been created; and the application window is opening for grant candidates, with inaugural awards slated to be announced in early January.”

“Congratulations to Daniel, Jennifer and everyone at the NVA and across the entire Auburn Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for making this critical initiative a reality!”

Getting Started

To review the criteria and apply, simply visit the AU Kickstart webpage.

To find out how you can contribute to the AU Kickstart Fund, please contact Daniel O’Keefe at aukickstartfund@auburn.edu