Access to Capital

It takes money to build a sustainable company from an innovative idea. Historically, many ideas and technology companies fail to go the distance along the innovation continuum and emerge as viable companies posting profits and returns to their investors. Access to startup and growth capital is often identified as a key factor.

In its role as an accelerator of innovation, Sirti has helped companies change that paradigm. Through introductions made to regional investment groups, loans from the Sirti Technology Growth Fund (TGF), awards through the Sirti Foundation Energy Innovation Fund, or research grants from the SBIR/STTR, Sirti helps ensure technology startups have the financial backing to succeed.

Sirti Energy Innovation Fund
The $1.5 million Sirti Foundation Energy Innovation Fund was created to help cleantech companies in their endeavors to create high quality jobs by bringing innovative solutions to commercial markets in the general categories of energy savings, renewable generation, or environmentally beneficial technologies. Made possible by an award from the Washington State Department of Commerce State Energy Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Energy Innovation Fund is comprised of $750,000 in grant funds and $750,000 in loan funds for qualified Clean Energy Innovation projects throughout Washington State.

Sirti Technology Growth Fund

• $3 million dollar revolving loan fund
• Ten loans of $50,000 - $500,000 awarded to nine companies
• Loans outstanding of $2,600,000 with a fund balance of $3,148,000
• Available to 10 counties within Eastern Washington and 5 counties in North Idaho
• Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and loan funds from the Business Development Corporation (BDC) of Eastern Washington