Texas+ Proof of Concept Award (Tier 2)
Supports University of Texas researchers with larger follow-on gap grants to advance promising early technologies toward adoption.
The Texas+ Proof of Concept Award (Tier 2) is administered by Discovery to Impact at the University of Texas at Austin and is designed to bridge the gap between academic discovery and commercialization. The program provides gap funding to de-risk early-stage technologies, helping principal investigators validate technical feasibility and enhance market readiness. Researchers from any UT Austin college, school, or unit are eligible to apply, and the program runs Fall and Spring application cycles. Contact for submissions is pocawards@austin.utexas.edu.
Tier 2 functions as a follow-on complement to the entry-level Texas Proof of Concept Award. When a researcher wins both a Tier 1 ($25,000) and a Tier 2 award for the same innovation, the combined total is capped at $125,000. The two tiers may be applied for in any order — Tier 2 does not require completing Tier 1 first. Applicants may receive a maximum of two Proof of Concept awards per year across both tiers. Eligibility is restricted to UT Austin-affiliated researchers; external organizations and individuals without a UT Austin appointment are not eligible. The broader Texas Proof of Concept program has deployed over $1 million across UT Austin innovations since inception.
Applicants should frame proposals around clear milestones that demonstrate de-risking of the core technology and a credible path to commercialization or licensing. Because the combined cap is $125,000 and award order is flexible, researchers who have already received Tier 1 funding should calculate the remaining gap before requesting Tier 2. Fall and Spring review cycles give teams two annual opportunities to apply. Strong applications will articulate specific technical validation goals, tie to a defined market opportunity, and show how the requested gap funding accelerates transfer to industry or startup formation.
Follow-on gap funding for UT Austin researchers who have received a Texas Proof of Concept award, bringing combined support up to $125,000 per innovation across any field.
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