Seed Capital Investment Program (SCIP)

The Seed Capital Investment Program (SCIP) is AEDC's direct-investment route for Arkansas technology-based companies. It can provide up to $500,000 through debt, equity, or royalty-based financing, and the record treats the instrument as convertible because AEDC determines the final structure. The program sits inside the commission's science-and-technology division rather than a conventional grant office. SCIP is for-profit only, open to US-registered and US-operating companies, and runs on a rolling basis. It is not a grant; it is state-backed capital for companies that need structured financing rather than a one-off award. That makes it a stronger fit for early-stage businesses that can support repayment, dilution, or revenue-linked terms and can present a business case that justifies public investment. The program belongs to AEDC's broader Arkansas incentive stack, which also includes TTAG and the Technology Development Program. For founders, the practical signal is straightforward: Arkansas will consider putting capital into a technology company, but the company should be ready for a financing conversation and a discretionary decision process, not a standard grant competition.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.