StartingBlock and its seven partners announced recently that they will receive $150,000 through the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, which is awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

According to a release, StartingBlock was a stage two winner and will receive funds to build strategic partnerships that will support the launch, growth and scaling of STEM/R&D-focused small businesses.

“The award of the stage two prize to StartingBlock and our seven regional ecosystem partners again validates that the Madison region is building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem,” StartingBlock Executive Director Scott Mosley said in a statement. “We’re excited to move to the implementation phase of the award.”

The other partners are WiSys, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce, MadRep, Madison College, the UW Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic and the Center for Technology Commercialization.

StartingBlock won $50,000 from the stage one category earlier this year.