Funding

MVP Challenge funding depends on your status within the University of Minnesota, as well as if your project is getting support from Protolabs.   Your budget is capped at what you submitted in your application, but the funding will not be released until you need it and it is approved by your MVP Challenge faculty advisor. Why: 

•  It is common to overestimate predicted spending by a deadline – in this case April 30, 2023.  Last year the aggregate MVP Challenge spent about 30% less than projects initially projected.

•  Your faculty advisor may have thoughts on more cost-effective ways to develop your prototype/pilot.

Protolabs Projects

• First utilize the Protolabs resources, following the process that Protolabs has provided. As a reminder, you will start by creating an account (utilizing your team's primary contact email address) at https://identity.protolabs.com/signin

• Once your account is set up, you will be assigned an account manager to help navigate your journey with Protolabs and can answer any questions directly related to your order. Your account manager would also work with you to schedule a design review with their engineering staff.

• If you need additional materials or have other expenses beyond Protolabs, work with your faculty advisor to access one of the following funding mechanisms.

ClinCard Debit Cards (primarily undergrad and master’s/professional degree students)

• If you don’t already have a ClinCard and you have determined with your faculty advisor that you need one, please contact Carla Pavone at pavo0003@umn.edu.

• If you already have a ClinCard:

  • Fill out this form: https://z.umn.edu/MVP-Challenge-23

  • The form will trigger a notification to your faculty advisor for approval.

  • After your faculty advisor approves, a department administrator will load your card with the requested amount.

  • Here is general info on using the card: ClinCard Instructions

  • Because the ClinCard is set up by the University, it is not like a normal debit card that would be based on your personal information.  Instead the Date of Birth and Address are set by a department administrator.  The info is:

    • Date of Birth: 

10/1/2001 

• • • Billing address:

321 19th Avenue S

Minneapolis, MN 55455

Chrome River Expense Management System (primarily PhD students and faculty)

• You will receive the chartstring to charge from your faculty advisor.

• Follow these instructions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14l63FQ69PkQWm0NfAKiGDE2_NYHcVyOu/view?usp=sharing

• In the “additional information” text box, please indicate that your spending is part of the MVP Challenge participant expenses for the I-Corps Great Lakes Hub.

Direct Charges by a Research Lab (students working on a lab-based project and faculty)

• You will receive the chartstring from your faculty advisor.