Fall 2026 Orange Innovation Fund Accepting Proposals
Fall 2026 applications are open for Syracuse University Libraries’ Orange Innovation Fund from September 10 to 30, 2026. Undergraduate and graduate students across all disciplines who are developing innovative research, products, services, technologies and ventures are invited to apply.
The competitive grant program provides awards of up to $5,000 to help students move promising ideas beyond the concept stage and toward prototype development, testing, proof of concept and commercialization. The fund was established through a gift from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a Syracuse University Board of Trustees member and operating partner of Silicon Valley Quad, an angel investing syndicate.
Since its launch, the Orange Innovation Fund has supported student ventures spanning artificial intelligence, health care, financial technology, consumer products, education, hardware and software development, and other fields. Recent recipients have used grants to complete minimum viable products, conduct pilot testing, refine product designs, pursue regulatory readiness, validate markets and prepare for commercialization. Many ventures supported by the fund have gone on to raise external funding, launch as businesses, and several have already been acquired by larger companies.
“The Orange Innovation Fund gives students an opportunity to take the next critical step with an idea they have already begun developing,” said David Seaman, Dean of Syracuse University Libraries and University Librarian. “The goal is to help students turn promising ideas into tangible results.”
Proposals are evaluated on the innovation and potential impact of the research or venture; feasibility and quality of the proposed work; engagement with the University's innovation ecosystem; the strength of the commercialization and product-development roadmap; the proposed budget; potential to leverage additional funding; and the qualifications of the project team and its mentors or subject-matter experts. Successful proposals demonstrate that the requested funding will produce meaningful commercialization milestone.
Applications are reviewed by a cross-campus committee comprised of members of the University innovation ecosystem and alumni entrepreneurs who are founders or executives in innovative companies. Application details a template are available on the Commercialization and Funding page of the Libraries’ website.