Frequently Asked Questions – Grants
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Funds
What information do I need on my W-9?
Your company’s W-9 is necessary to create a vendor profile with the state. It is important that all information is correct, or you could potentially delay payments. Here are some things to look for prior to submitting your W-9:
- The IRS Form W-9 submitted must be the most recent version of the W-9 (March 2024). The Auditor’s Office will reject any other version.
- The IRS Form W-9 must be signed and dated within the past 365 days. The Auditor’s Office will not accept unsigned forms.
- The address on the W-9 is the address payment will be sent to, so enter a valid mailing address.
- The Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) provided on the IRS Form W-9 (EIN/SSN), is required to match the legal name that is registered to that TIN in IRS records (line 1 of W-9). This is a frequent reason for rejection by the Auditor’s Office.
- If you are an LLC, please be sure to identify the tax classification (partnership, C-Corp, S-Corp).
How do i set up a direct deposit for my payment?
If you wish to be set up for payment by direct deposit, an original voided check, or an original letter directly from your bank, on bank letterhead will be required. A bank letter must include the bank’s routing number, the account number, and whether the account is a savings or checking account. The Auditor’s Office will not accept a scanned copy of a voided check.
Please mail your voided check or bank letter to:
214 West 15th St
Cheyenne, Wy 82002
Business Profile
What is the SOS link?
The SOS link required on your business profile is a link to your Secretary of State registration. This link shows us that you are a Wyoming Company and are in good standing with the state – and that you are eligible for our programs.
Grant applications
Why do we need to submit an employee matrix and growth plan?
This submission requirement accomplishes two things:
- The program requires 50% or more of the companies direct employees be residents of Wyoming. By submitting the names of employees and their residential addresses, you are showing that you are eligible for the program.
- The growth plan shows the panel what you have in mind for the potential of your company – slow growth vs fast growth, potential support needed, Wyoming based or not, etc.
What is needed in the pitch deck?
The initial pitch deck submission can be either a company based deck or an investment based deck. You will be providing a funds request, needs statement, and a project budget as part of the application. That being said, if you feel you could better utilize time to present other matters important to your business, you could choose to forgo the “ask” portion of the pitch deck in leu of presenting these other items.
If you are still uncertain what to include, please visit this Masterclass for some guidance.
What is needed in the pitch video?
The pitch video should cover your pitch deck. Think of it like being recorded during a pitch event, or presenting your pitch via a video call. You can use a variety of platforms to create the video, such as Canva, Loom, or Zoom. Videos shared via YouTube, Vimeo, or Canva are the easiest for us to access.
Still have questions? Check out this example! We have also shared previous competition winners on the main KickStart page, including their final pitch video.
Why do we need to submit a budget?
The budget is a projected use of requested grant funds. We don’t need the nitty gritty, but we do need enough to understand where you think your gaps are and what you would like to tackle with the funds you have requested from KickStart. This shows us potential eligibility for the program, as well as a bit about what your growth path is for your business.
What is a high growth company?
A rough definition of a “High Growth Company” is one that has 3x growth over a period of 5 years. For the KickStart Grant program, we don’t expect the company to ACTUALLY have achieved this growth at the time of application. We are more concerned of the POTENTIAL of the company to achieve this growth, as well as the growth plan of the founder.