Applications for 1st round of EDGE Grant Competition ’25 open until Feb. 28

The Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) is now accepting applications for the first round of its 2025 EDGE Grant Competition.

Small business owners in Delaware with fewer than seven years in operation and 10 or fewer employees are invited to apply for funding opportunities to help grow and expand their businesses.

The EDGE program offers two types of grants: up to $100,000 for STEM-based businesses and up to $50,000 for other entrepreneurial ventures.

EDGE Grant eligibility

To be eligible, businesses must be at least 51% based in Delaware.

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Recipients are required to match a portion of the grant, with DSB providing a 3-to-1 match on the business’s investment.

Applications are open from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, and interested businesses can access the application and additional resources, including proposal templates and scoring guidelines, here.

There are two rounds each year – one in February and one in August. The division provides up to 10 total grants per application round.

Five STEM (Science/technology/engineering/math)-based companies can each receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses. Five Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses can each get up to $50,000. The funds are provided as a $3 (state) to $1 (business) match.

This competitive grant program has already awarded $7.25 million to 110 small businesses since its 2019 launch.

DSB is particularly seeking applications from Kent and Sussex counties, with an emphasis on STEM businesses.

For assistance with applications, DSB offers free guidance through its Regional Business Managers.

Finalists selected from the competition will pitch their proposals to a panel of expert judges, with winners announced in a public ceremony approximately four months after the application deadline.