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Resources

Powering your startup journey

Northwestern's entrepreneurial faculty and resident startups can take advantage of resources that include mentorship, legal assistance, discounts, funding, work spaces and more.

Accelerators, Incubators and Competitions

Explore The Q's curated lists of external accelerators, incubators, and competitions designed to help early-stage companies scale.  For questions about a specific opportunity, please visit the program’s website for more information.

List views can be filtered by area of focus, program location, etc. If there is an opportunity you think should be added, please reach out.

Reimbursements and Services

Core Facilities

Northwestern startups are charged external rates by Northwestern Core Facilities but may have access to Q reimbursements.

Startup Toolkit

The InQbation Lab reimburses Northwestern startups through Startup Reimbursements for certain company expenses including legal fees, accounting fees, website or brand development, etc.

SBIR/STTR Grant Proposal Support

Pro Bono Office Hours are offered through the FAST Center of IL.

Requests for grant proposal reviews and assistance with writing can be submitted through the SBIR & STTR Proposal Support Request. Please note that there is limited availability for support.

Lab Vendors

Access Q resident discounted rates with select lab vendors including Fisher Scientific Biochoice Program and Prendio BioProcure.

Cloud Computing Discounts

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon Web Services Activate is offering our startups $10,000 in AWS credits for 2 years as well as 1 year of AWS Business Support (up to $1500).

AWS Activate is open to bootstrapped, self-funded or funded (up to and including Pre-Seed, Angel, Seed, Debt Finance, and Series A). Startups must have been founded within last 10 years, and have a functioning website or public profile.

In addition, NU Startups must:

  • have/create an active AWS account;
  • not have previously received AWS credits at equal or greater value from the same or different Activate Provider; and
  • not have exceeded $100,000 in redeemed AWS Activate credits.
Microsoft Azure

More details to come about Microsoft Azure discounts.

Funding

N.XT Fund

Visit the N.XT Fund, a $10M gap fund for early stage Northwestern startups.

Illinois Innovation Vouchers

Innovation vouchers cover up to 75% of the cost of the research engagement (not to exceed $75,000). Learn more here.

Lab Library

Books

Borrow informative books on entrepreneurial topics. Our library includes this list.

Videos

Watch previous Northwestern seminars on topics spanning commercialization and non-dilutive funding as well as a curated library of helpful videos selected by the InQbation Lab team.

Helpful Links