# Up to $75,000 for R&D a college does for you, plus a Midwest pitch contest that closes Nov 2 > Rhode Island will pay up to $75,000 for research your business can't do alone. The catch: a local college, hospital or lab has to do the work, and you need its signed letter before you apply. By Jordan Menlo · Published October 20, 2026 Section: Business Funding › Grants · Series: Grant Finder (https://mcafax.com/notebook/category/grants) Canonical: https://mcafax.com/notebook/grant-finder-2026-10-21-75k-ri-voucher-pitch-black Source: MCAFax, The Broker's Notebook (https://mcafax.com/notebook). MCAFax is not a lender or a law firm. --- Rhode Island will pay up to $75,000 for research your business can't do alone. The catch: a local college, hospital or lab has to do the work, and you need its signed letter before you apply. Every pick today has one step like that. We put it under each grant as the catch. Here's a hypothetical. Saltmarrow Kelp Co. (a made-up business) wants a shelf-stable seaweed snack. A Rhode Island university lab agrees to run the shelf-life tests and signs a letter. The voucher pays for the lab work. Also below: a Midwest pitch contest for underrepresented, immigrant and refugee founders, up to $5,000 in rural Virginia, and a free idea contest for ages 13 to 24. Grants and pitch prizes are competitive. We checked every official page today; trust the page if a detail differs. ## 1. Pitch Black (Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas) - Amount: The 2027 prize package has not been announced yet. In 2026 the competition awarded $24,500 in cash and $66,616 in technical assistance across its finalists. - Who qualifies: For-profit startups or newly established businesses based in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota or Kansas. You, or at least 51% of the owners, must live in one of those states and identify as under-resourced and underrepresented, an immigrant or a refugee. - The catch: You have to take part in every coaching round and the live finale on Saturday, June 12, 2027. Applicants hear back on next steps by Friday, December 18. - Deadline: Monday, November 2, 2026. Late entries are not accepted. - Official link: https://wepitchblack.com/ ## 2. Innovation Voucher (Rhode Island) - Amount: Up to $75,000 per business for research and development. - Who qualifies: Small businesses with 500 or fewer employees, registered in Rhode Island, with at least 51% of employees in the state. Manufacturers with a manufacturing NAICS code can use it for in-house R&D. - The catch: A letter of commitment from the Knowledge Provider is required when you apply. Priority goes to advanced materials, ocean economy, defense, energy and environment, food systems and life sciences. - Deadline: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 5 p.m. Eastern. - Official link: https://commerceri.com/innovation-voucher/ ## 3. Highland EDA Grant Incentive Program (Highland County, Virginia) - Amount: From $2,000 to $5,000 per business for start-up or expansion costs. - Who qualifies: Businesses starting or expanding with a location in Highland County. Nonprofits, government agencies and bed and breakfasts are not eligible, and past winners must wait two years. - The catch: Money comes as a reimbursement or a direct payment to a vendor, only for work done after approval. Normal operating costs like rent, payroll and inventory don't count. If you move out of the county or close within two years, you repay half. - Deadline: Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. The county asks you to reach out before Thursday, October 29 to talk through your project. - Official link: https://www.highlandcova.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif6766/f/uploads/highland_eda_fall_incentive_grant_application_1.pdf ## 4. NFTE World Series of Innovation, Impact League (ages 13 to 24, worldwide) - Amount: In each challenge category, first place wins $1,500, second $600 and third $300. A People's Choice award pays $500. - Who qualifies: Anyone 13 to 24, solo or in a team of up to four. It is free, and you don't need to be a U.S. citizen. Challenges include food trucks and responsible AI. - The catch: Only the top ten in each category advance, and finalists must send a short pitch video by Tuesday, March 2, 2027. - Deadline: Sunday, December 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. - Official link: https://innovation.nfte.com/impact-challenges/ **Before you apply** A real grant never charges a fee to release money. None of these four pages lists an application fee. If someone asks for a gift card or your bank login to unlock a grant, hang up. If you know a founder in the Midwest, send them #1 today. It closes in 12 days. We can help you find grants and apply: https://mcafax.com/apply Verified on each official page: October 21, 2026 (2026-10-21). ## Questions readers ask **Who can apply for the Pitch Black competition?** For-profit startups and new businesses in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota or Kansas whose founder, or 51% of owners, live there and identify as underrepresented, immigrants or refugees. **How much can Pitch Black winners get in 2027?** The 2027 package has not been announced. In 2026 the competition awarded $24,500 in cash and $66,616 in technical assistance. **Can I use a Rhode Island Innovation Voucher to pay my own staff for R&D?** Only with a Manufacturing Voucher, which covers in-house R&D for manufacturers. Otherwise the R&D is done by a Rhode Island Knowledge Provider such as a college, university or hospital. **What do I need to apply for a Rhode Island Innovation Voucher?** A Rhode Island-registered business with 500 or fewer employees and at least 51% of staff in the state, plus a letter of commitment from your Knowledge Provider at the time of application. **What can the Highland County, Virginia grant pay for?** Start-up or expansion costs like equipment, lease deposits, renovations and expansion marketing. It does not cover rent, payroll or other normal operating costs. **Does the NFTE World Series of Innovation cost anything to enter?** No. It is free, open to people ages 13 to 24 in the Impact League, and you don't need to be a U.S. citizen.