Propel Penn State Seed Fund
For Startups
Propel Penn State Seed Fund
For Startups
Our Investment Philosophy
We invest in passionate, dedicated founders who are building the future. While we aim to invest in high-potential startups that can generate returns to sustain our mission, our primary goal is to provide an optimal experiential learning opportunity for our students. This means you’ll partner with a bright, motivated team of students who will conduct due diligence and provide fresh perspectives, all under the guidance of experienced faculty, staff, and alumni mentors.
Investment Criteria:
We prefer, but do not require, companies to be affiliated with Penn State or to be based in Pennsylvania at this time.We are industry-agnostic and seek to invest in seed-stage companies that meet the following criteria:
- Established as a legal entity in the US
- Dedicated founder team
- A minimum viable product (MVP) has been developed
- Early understanding of your target market and customers
- Annual revenue between $0 and $1M
- Current funding need is between $50K and $2M
The Process:
- Application: Submit your company information through our online application (Coming soon).
- Screening: Our team reviews applications to identify companies that align with our criteria.
- Student Due Diligence: If selected, your company will pitch to our student teams, who will conduct due diligence under faculty, staff, and alumni mentor supervision.
- Recommendation & Review: Student teams present their investment recommendations, which undergo multiple levels of internal review and oversight.
- Decision & Funding: Final investment decisions are made, and we proceed with the funding process.
Typical Investment:
- Check Size: $50,000 to $150,000
- Instrument: We typically invest via a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) or a convertible note.
Apply for Funding
If your company meets our criteria and you are ready to work with the next generation of business leaders, we invite you to apply.
Next application cycle is Fall 2025.
Interested in engaging with the Seed Fund?
Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.