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Catalyst Grant Proposal

The Catalyst Program believes that experiencing entrepreneurship can empower students to pursue their dreams. It provides connections, support, and seed grants for students to try out their entrepreneurial ideas. Your idea maybe the next cool gadget! A service to help those in need! Or maybe the next big fashion line! Whatever the idea, we want to support you!

Throughout the Catalysts experience, YOU should:
(1) Develop an entrepreneurial identity as a person who takes action
(2) Build Entrepreneurial Skills & Self Confidence that would help build on your idea
(3) Connect to the Sandbox Ecosystem by attending Catalyst events and events offer by the Sandbox

Criteria for Catalyst Project:
  • Student driven – Students must be enthusiastic and passionate about the idea
  • Opportunity – Teams should identify a market or need in the community, campus or local society.
  • Innovation – A new idea, product, approach or creative way of looking at an old problem.
  • Feasibility - Potential to continue as a real business or program
  • Student Teams – Consist of 1-5 students. One person can be the startup. You must have at least one partner to apply for stages 2 &3 of the Catalyst Program.
  • Budget Detail – A clear and precise budget

Applications will be due by February 15th, 2013

*Stages last two semesters- either fall/spring or spring/summer.
Students can move on to the next stage after one semester if they can demonstrate their project is ready to move forward.*

Please indicate what STAGE you're applying for:

Planning Stage (Tentative Funds)

Team has a very promising IDEA. Team needs a semester to conduct research or to plan and coordinate with partnering organization.

Stage 2 (up to $750)

Team has completed 1st stage. Team qualifies if existing project has a clear plan for development or expansion. Team is required to have 2 or more members with different skills and roles that will help build the IDEA.

Stage 1 (up to $500)

Team has a new IDEA to address an opportunity or need.
For Stage 1 a team can consist of 1 member or more.

Stage 3 (up to $1000)

Team has completed 1st and 2nd stage. Team qualifies if existing project has demonstrated growth and has a clear plan for development or expansion. Upon completion of 3rd stage, team will transition into the Sandbox Entrepreneur Program to help move forward with the venture.

*red fields are required.

Project Name:
(Advice: Choose a name for your project that will help you market the project to customers!)
  Please indicate the institution(s) or organization(s) you are affiliated with:
The "primary" organization is the one through which you will be getting your grant funds. You may check more than one "secondary" affiliation.

 
Merrimack College Primary Secondary
Middlesex Community College Primary Secondary
Northern Essex Community College Primary Secondary
University of Massachusetts- Lowell  Primary Secondary
Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence Primary Secondary
Elevated Thought Foundation Primary Secondary
Family Service Inc. Primary Secondary
Greater Lawrence Technical High School Primary Secondary
GroundWork Lawrence Primary Secondary
Church of God of Prophecy / Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF) Primary Secondary
Lawrence CommunityWorks Primary Secondary
Lawrence High School Primary Secondary
Lowell Community Health Center Teen Block Primary Secondary
Lowell High School Primary Secondary
United Way Youth Venture Primary Secondary
YouthBuild Lowell - CTI Primary Secondary
   
  [ reset institution options ]

T-shirt size(s)

Provide quantity needed (1 per team member)

Small: Medium: Large:
X-Large : XX-Large:    

Team Member(s)

May we share your email address with other Catalysts? Yes No

  Name Email Address Phone Number Major (if attending college/University)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Advisor(s):

Please list any individual who will be mentoring you with your idea. (Optional)

  Name Email Address Affiliation
1.
2.

Planning Stage Questions:

1.

Please describe your idea?
Help us visualize the product or service you will produce.
2.

Why do you or your team want to pursue this idea? What is your motivation to do it?
3.

What is the need being addressed or market for your idea?
4.

Does your idea bring some type of innovation to our community? What makes it unique?
5.

How could your project be sustained to last beyond the initial Catalyst funds?
6.

Are you partnering with an organization or business to complete the project?
If yes, provide name of organization and contact person. Have the contact person in the organization send an email to Janin Duran at janin@merrimackvalleysandbox.org acknowledging the partnership. Without that email from your partner your proposal may be rejected.
Note: If your project requires working with a vulnerable population such as youth, elderly, individuals with disabilities a CORI check may be needed. Please ask partnering organization.
Please Note:
  • The Catalyst Program does not fund stipends for team members
  • Money spent beyond the awarded funds must be covered by other sources.

BUDGET

Complete project budget form to show how you will use the funds.

  Expense Item Amount Details
1. $
2. $
3. $
4. $
5. $
6. $
7. $
8. $
9. $
10. $
  Total: $  

Projection of Income (from customers or donors).

  Item Amount Details
1. $
2. $
3. $
4. $
5. $
  Total: $  

Net Profit for this Stage:

( Profit should be 0 or more )

Total: $  

PHOTO RELEASE CONSENT :

I grant full permission to the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Initiative to use my name (if necessary) with a photograph in any publication or
advertising materials (printed or electronic).

Yes No
For questions please contact:
Janin Duran, Program Manager for Student Entrepreneurship
Janin@merrimackvalleysandbox.org  or 978-934-6619