Living Beyond the Label Foundation (LBLF)

Assistive Technology

Small Business Development Grant

For

Visually Impaired Owned Companies

  1. Introduction
  • Full Title: Assistive Technology Small Business Development Grant for Visually Impaired Owned Companies
  • Purpose of the Grant:
    • The grant will assist Visually Impaired Owned Companies that have already developed an innovative assistive technology (AT) product for the visually impaired.
      • This Visually Impaired Owned Company must be an established business, i.e., a history of product sales.
      • This innovative AT product must be in current production and already have proven sales to the public.
    • The grant will support the manufacturing, scaling and improvements to this innovative AT product, ensuring its successful entry into the larger marketplace.
  • Overview of Funding Organization:
    • Living Beyond the Label Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting visually impaired individuals.
    • Our mission focus:
      • Making innovative AT affordable for the visually impaired.
      • Supporting companies that develop innovative AT for the visually impaired.
      • Helping organizations implement employment programs designed to improve job prospects and employability for those with visual impairments.
  1. Grant Details
  • Funding Amount:
    • The grant amount will be based on the needs of the company to ensure the scalability of their innovative assistive technology product.
    • This grant is only awarded to those who meet all the requirements.
  • Limitation and Duration of Funding:
    • Funding is limited to LBLF’s available funding sources at the time of the grant and approval from LBLF’s board of directors.
    • Funding will not exceed $500,000 for each innovative assistive technology product.
  • Use of Funds:
    • Developing manufacturing processes for the innovative AT.
    • Purchasing parts for mass production of the innovative AT.
    • Development and building of tooling for mass production of the innovative AT.
    • Marketing to raise awareness of the innovative AT product.
    • Travel related to product testing and development of the innovative AT.
    • Purchase of liability insurance related to the innovative AT product.
    • Legal fees associated with protecting intellectual property (IP) related to the innovative AT product.
    • Paying employees, vendors, and contractors.
  1. Eligibility Criteria
  • Who Can Apply:
    • The business must develop innovative AT products for the visually impaired.
    • The business owner must be visually impaired and provide proof of legal blindness.
    • The business must be ready for mass production of the innovative AT product.
      • Only businesses with an existing innovative AT product that is ready to scale are eligible; ideas alone are not sufficient justification for an application.
    • The business must have public sales of the innovative AT product that demonstrates a market need and future demand for the AT product.
    • The innovative AT product must be manufacturable by visually impaired individuals.
    • The innovative AT product must be manufactured in the United States of America.
    • The business must have fewer than five employees and have been in operation for at least 2 years.
    • The business must be a for-profit business.
  1. Application Process
  • Application Timeline:
    • The application period is from June 7, 2024, to June 15, 2024.
  • Application Components:
    • Provide an investor pitch deck video. Upload the video to your YouTube business channel as unlisted and send the link to grant@lblf.org.
    • Fill out the application at www.lblf.org/grant.
    • Provide a letter from your doctor as proof of your legal blindness and attach it to an email to jerry@lblf.org.
  1. Selection Criteria
  • Evaluation Process:
    • If your company meets the requirements, you complete an investor pitch deck video, an application, and provide proof of legal blindness, ONLY THEN will LBLF inform you that your company is being considered for the grant.
  • Criteria for Selection:
    • The primary criterion is whether the grant funding provided by LBLF will enable your innovative AT product to reach the market and scale to make a difference for the visually impaired.
    • The LBLF’s board of directors will make the final approval of the grant award.
  1. Grant Administration
  • Reporting Requirements:
    • You will need to provide quarterly updates demonstrating progress in scaling your business as proposed in this grant.
  • Funding Disbursement:
    • Disbursement will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
  1. Contact Information
  • Primary Contact Person:
    • Jerry Crosby, President of LBLF – Jerry@lblf.org
  1. Legal and Compliance Information
  • Privacy Policy:

All medical and personal information is sent directly to Jerry Crosby. All applications are managed by him, and all medical and personal data are processed by Jerry Crosby and not shared with anyone else. The only information shared with the board is the application, the video, and a simple yes or no (from Jerry Crosby) regarding the applicant’s legal blindness. No other details about your medical condition are shared.