How the Grant Finder works
Enter where you are based, your stage and your sector. The Grant Finder searches the open grants, competitions, accelerators and programs we track, including federal and state programs, and keeps only the ones still accepting applications.
Each candidate is scored against your location, stage and sector. Programs outside your area, and cohorts that have already started, are left out. The list is ranked by that score, highest first, whatever the type. You get the best fits, each with its type, provider, a link to the program’s own page, amount where one is published, and deadline, or “Deadline unknown — check the site” when none is published. A short line explains why each one fits, and it only mentions places you entered. Add your website and the tool fills in location, stage and sector for you to check.
Some programs are open only to specific groups, such as students or founders from a particular country. Because the tool doesn’t know that about you, it leaves those out rather than guess. If you qualify for one, it is worth searching for it directly.
You can run three searches a day without an account. Create a free account and the results are saved with their scores, and each week you get what’s closing in the next two weeks for your company.
What grant reviewers look for
Grant money is reviewed differently from an investor pitch. An investor asks whether this can become a very large company. A reviewer asks whether your project fits the program’s goals, whether you can deliver what you propose, and whether the money will be used as described.
Strong applications usually make these points clear:
- Fit with the program: use the program’s own language for its goals and show how your work serves them.
- A specific project: what you will build or test with this money, in [months], with clear milestones.
- Technical or practical credibility: why your approach can work and what you have already done.
- A realistic budget: line items that match the work, such as [engineering hours], [materials] or [testing].
- Who benefits: the customers, communities or users the work helps, described concretely.
- A team that can execute: relevant experience for the work you are proposing.
Grant and program examples by stage
What you can credibly apply for changes with your stage. These are typical patterns, not rules.
Pre-seed
Early companies often fit pitch competitions, local entrepreneur programs, incubators and early research grants. Focus your application on the problem, your first experiments and what the money lets you prove next, such as a working prototype or [first pilot customers]. A short deck and a clear one-paragraph summary are often enough to start.
Seed
With a product and some users, you can make a stronger case for applied research grants, sector programs and accelerators. Show what you have shipped and the specific next project: a new capability, a pilot with [partner type], or a study that would take [months]. Many programs ask for a budget, so prepare a simple one tied to milestones.
Series A
Later-stage companies are often a better fit for larger applied research and commercialization programs, and for industry or government partnerships. Reviewers will expect a mature team, real customers and a project that extends the product into new ground. Keep grant-funded work clearly separated in your plan and accounts.
Before you apply
Read the full terms. Not everything on the list is a grant. Competitions, accelerators and some programs have their own conditions, and some take equity. Check the type label on each result and the program’s own page.
Check eligibility early. Location, company age, ownership and sector rules can rule you out before anyone reads your application.
Plan around the deadline. Many programs require registrations or partner letters that take time. Count back from the date.
Reuse your work. Your deck, one-paragraph summary and budget can serve several applications with light edits.
Questions founders ask
- What are non-dilutive grants for startups?
- Money that doesn’t cost you equity, such as government research grants, sector programs and some prize competitions. You usually commit to a project and report on how the money was used.
- Is the Grant Finder free?
- Yes. You can run three searches a day without an account. A free account saves your results and sends a weekly list of what’s closing soon.
- Does the Grant Finder only cover the United States?
- It includes US federal and state programs plus accelerators and competitions in other places. Enter your location and the list is filtered to what is relevant there.
- Why don’t I see programs for a specific group?
- Programs limited to a particular group are left out because the tool doesn’t know that about you. If you qualify for one, search for it directly.
- What documents do grant applications usually need?
- Commonly a project summary, a budget, team background and sometimes a pitch deck. The Deck Builder can draft a deck from a short brief if you don’t have one.
- How early should I start a grant application?
- As soon as you find a program that fits. Registrations, partner letters and budgets can take longer than the writing itself. Note the deadline on each result and work back from it. With a free account, the weekly list flags what is closing in the next two weeks.
- Can a grant replace raising from investors?
- Sometimes, for a stretch. Grants usually fund a specific project, not general growth. Some founders use them to reach a milestone before or alongside a round.