Does anyone know where and how the public can provide their comments? I cannot find a link on the page. Bootstrapped startups with no outside investments wouldn't be eligible based on this criteria.
you are right and that was probably intentional. if not, there would be no way to determine if a startup is legitimate or not. attracting investment or funding seems to be the determining factor in this process.
If you have growth and revenue, it should be easy to get investors to invest. By outsourcing their decision, the government doesn't have to understand how to benchmark growth or revenue in every kind of business.