Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Awards $800,000 in Innovation Network Matching Grants to 13 organizations

Providence, R.I. – June 1, 2026 – Governor Dan McKee, Chair of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Board, announced that the Board awarded $800,000 in funding to 13 organizations through its Innovation Network Matching Grant program. The program provides grants to organizations which support small businesses and high-growth startups through technical assistance, space on flexible terms, and/or access to capital. 

“Today’s awards represent my administration’s continued commitment to building our Rhode Island’s business ecosystem and supporting small businesses and innovation,” said Governor McKee. “For Rhode Island, that means increased opportunities, more jobs, and a stronger and more resilient economy.”

“These Network Matching Grants further strengthen the support structure for Rhode Island’s entrepreneurs and small businesses,” said Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor. “By investing in organizations that provide valuable technical assistance to startups and early stage companies, we are helping to buttress and energize the state’s innovation network.”

The following organizations were selected to receive FY26 Innovation Network Matching Grant awards:

  • CreSer Evoluciona | $50,000: To provide technical assistance for a 12-month initiative serving 20 Rhode Island small businesses through full implementation of AI-enabled financial automation systems combined with structured financial coaching.
  • Hope & Main | $50,000: To provide technical assistance through the "Wholesale Growth Accelerator" for food companies to scale into co-packing, wholesale, and distribution.
  • New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC) | $75,000: To provide technical assistance through the NEMIC Ideation Studio Health Track, which will be run in partnership with the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation (URIRF) for one year.
  • Newport County Development Council (Newport Chamber) | $50,000: To provide technical assistance through current business support programming for entrepreneurs, business attraction, foreign direct investment, and economic development.
  • Nova Design | $50,000: To provide technical assistance for early-stage founders in the health and wellness and/or medical device space.
  • Turtle Island Community Capital | $75,000: To provide technical assistance and access to capital to Rhode Island entrepreneurs and small businesses through the first Indigenous led CDFI in Rhode Island and the region.
  • Rhode Island Black Business Association | $50,000: To provide technical assistance in targeted industries as well as access to flexible workspace opportunities, workforce development alignment, and capital access support to help participating businesses increase competitiveness and innovation capacity.
  • RI Bio | $75,000: To provide technical assistance running the "RI Bio Capital Catalyst Program," an incubator for 5-15 companies at pre-seed to Series A stages.
  • Rogue Island Ventures | $75,000: To provide 10-20 companies in Rhode Island dedicated technical assistance and hands-on support, including fundraising assistance, business strategy, financial reviews, customer introductions, talent acquisition, mentorship, and board participation, to help startups scale and attract additional outside investment.
  • Sincere Multiservice | $50,000: To establish Sincere Microenterprise Financial Innovation Initiative, a 12-month technical assistance program providing individualized financial diagnostics, bookkeeping system implementation, cash flow forecasting, pricing analysis, revenue modeling, capital readiness preparation, and structured workshops to help businesses strengthen financial infrastructure and stabilize operations.
  • Skills for Rhode Island's Future | $75,000: To provide technical assistance through its RI Small Business Hub for succession planning and an employee ownership pilot for 10 small businesses facing ownership transitions in Woonsocket.
  • Small Business Collective | $75,000: To provide technical assistance to at least 75 small businesses; support increased partnerships for new nonprofit.
  • Social Enterprise Greenhouse | $50,000: To provide individualized technical assistance to 25 small business alumni of SEG through ScaleLab RI, an advanced growth initiative for those businesses that have demonstrated early revenue traction and are ready to scale.

The Innovation Network Matching Grant program began in 2016. To date, Commerce has awarded 62 grants, totaling more than $6.3 million. Learn more about Innovation Network Matching Grants at CommerceRI.com/innovation-network-matching.

Learn more about Commerce Innovation Initiatives and Startup Support at CommerceRI.com/innovation-network.

Contact: Giselle Mahoney
(401) 545-0626
giselle.mahoney.ctr@commerce.ri.gov