![SBA Announces $5.4 Million in Prizes to Support Inclusive Entrepreneurship in the Innovation Ecosystem](https://www.lindenwood.edu/files/modules/xclassic-xsml_20190926-iten-selected-as-recipient-of-sba-growth--2.png.pagespeed.ic.vuiErDOz9N.png)
The 2021 competition featured 84 winners for the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) and eight winners for the SBIR Catalyst competition, a new component aimed at spurring investment in underrepresented communities within the innovation economy at scale, receiving a combined total of $5.4 million in awards. Innovation-focused entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) with programs to speed the launch, growth, and scale of deep-tech small businesses across the country.