McKinney Innovation Fund — Growth Grant

McKinney Innovation Fund — Growth Grant

Runs non-dilutive cash for early-stage tech startups upfront over research and through the McKinney Innovation Fund Growth Grant.

The McKinney Innovation Fund Growth Grant is administered by the McKinney Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), a Texas 4A/4B sales-tax-funded statutory nonprofit that manages economic development incentives for the City of McKinney. The Growth Grant is the entry-level tier of the three-tier Innovation Fund, designed for early-stage tech startups that commit to establishing their primary headquarters in McKinney, Texas. Awards reach up to $200,000, with 50 percent disbursed upfront at the time of award and the remaining 50 percent released over three years tied to performance milestones. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no published deadline.

Eligible companies must be for-profit tech startups in one of nine defined sectors: SaaS and B2B Sales, Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Cloud Computing, AI and Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, FinTech, Renewable Energy (technology-based), Life Sciences (internet-based research), and Gaming/Electronic/Digital Arts. Both US-based and international founders are explicitly eligible; the fund specifically targets companies expanding to the United States who wish to establish a US headquarters in McKinney. There is no stated minimum headcount or revenue threshold for the Growth Grant tier, distinguishing it from the Expansion and Recruitment tiers.

To begin the application process, founders request the Founder Funding Kit by emailing tbillett@mckinneyedc.com. The Kit contains qualification details, grant type descriptions, the application and funding timeline, and ecosystem resources. The MEDC office is located at 7300 SH 121 SB Suite 200, McKinney, TX 75070. The fund does not take equity and operates outside of any competitive cohort structure, with decisions made on a case-by-case rolling basis.