Grants for Startups
Last updated October 3, 2026
There are currently 547 open grants for startups in Grantable's free grants database, drawn from federal, state and foundation sources and updated daily. 268 list an award amount, with a median of $50K.
- Open grants
- 547
- from 356 funders
- Median award
- $50K
- middle half $10K–$253K
- Total listed funding
- $104.2M
- across 268 grants that list an amount
- Rolling deadlines
- 61
- 24 with a published date
On this page: Federal State Foundation · Updated daily
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| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| Activate Fellowship Activate Global Inc · Foundation ~October · Varies A two-year immersive fellowship program for early-stage science entrepreneurs offering funding, technical resources, mentorship, laboratory access, and community support. | |
| Wilkes Entrepreneur Grant Program Wilkes Economic Development · Foundation Oct 31, 2026 · Up to $5K | |
| UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund University of the Arctic Foundation · Foundation ~October · $2K – $5K A seed grant program supporting individuals with Arctic innovations, created with private support from Michael Carey. Part of the UArctic Thematic Network on Managing Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the North. | |
| NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation U.S. National Science Foundation · Federal Nov 4, 2026 · $40,000,000 total NSF invests in scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and transformative innovations that strengthen economic growth, enhance security, and improve the lives of Americans and people around the world. | |
| Innovation Award (Student Competition) Charlotte Regional Realtor Assoc Housing Opportunity Foundation · Foundation ~November · $1K – $10K Student competition challenging college students to develop forward-thinking solutions to affordable housing challenges across the region. | |
| Nexus Technology Cup Research Park Corporation · Foundation ~December · $150K A statewide technology competition designed to surface and support real technical talent in Louisiana. | |
| Susan G. Baker and Elizabeth Boyle Innovation Fund National Alliance to End Homelessness · Foundation ~December · Up to $25K For any inquiries or assistance regarding the application process, contact bbfund@naeh.org | |
| Capital Readiness Program University City Science Center · Foundation ~December · Varies Preparing startups for their first sophisticated fundraise. | |
| Seed Grant Charter Fund Inc D/B/a Charter School Growth Fund · Foundation ~December · $250K – $750K Support educational leaders and entrepreneurs who want to grow high-performing public charter schools by serving 250-1,000 additional students in the next two years. Review application process at: chartergrowthfund.org/apply-for-funding/ | |
| Master Class Grant Spruce Root Inc · Foundation ~January · Up to $5K A transformative three-day workshop for experienced mid-stage entrepreneurs to develop growth plans, explore internal limiting beliefs, learn latest research, and develop tools for planning through a shifting economy. | |
| SME Additive Manufacturing Awards Society of Manufacturing Engineers · Foundation ~February · Varies These awards honor innovators, creators, and trailblazers shaping the future of additive manufacturing. | |
| Yvette's Local Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund Dane Buy Local Foundation Inc · Foundation ~March · Varies The Dane Buy Local Foundation provides scholarships to support new high school graduates pursuing business, marketing, and entrepreneurship education, particularly those who might not otherwise be supported. | |
| Imagine H2O Accelerator Imagine H2O Inc · Foundation ~March · Varies Imagine H2O's Accelerator is the leading entrepreneurial development program for water sector founders. A zero-equity accelerator that selects, accelerates, and deploys water technology solutions globally. | |
| CAVE Scholarship Program Colo Assn for Viticulture & Enology · Foundation ~March · Varies CAVE annually awards numerous scholarships to current members seeking to further their education in enology, viticulture, or curriculum with an emphasis in the wine and grape industry. | |
| Lewis Cenker Scholarship Home Builders Association of Georgia · Foundation ~March · Varies The Lewis Cenker Scholarship Fund is a non-profit organization created in 1977 by the Home Builders Association of Georgia in honor of Lewis B. Cenker, an outstanding Georgian and national industry leader who served as President of NAHB in… | |
| NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional) National Institutes of Health · Federal Apr 5, 2027 · Varies The National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the following NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs): NEI, NHLBI, NHGRI, NIA, NIAAA, NIAID, NIAMS, NIBIB, NICHD, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIDDK, NIDA, NIEHS, NIGMS, NIMH, NINDS, NINR, NIMHD, NLM, NCCIH… | |
| TMRF Environmental Award Northstar Community Foundation · Foundation ~April · $25K – $100K | |
| Business Attraction Prime Sites Commerce And Econ Opp · State Jun 30, 2027 · $25M – $2.5B | |
| SBIR/STTR Match Program Commerce And Econ Opp · State Jun 30, 2027 · $100 – $25M | |
| ITServe Fastest Growing Company Award Itserve Alliance Inc · Foundation ~November · Varies ITServe Alliance recognizes and honors companies that demonstrate exceptional growth and success. The award celebrates outstanding performance and remarkable growth across three revenue-based categories. | |
| SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program (Parent SB1 Clinical Trial Optional) National Institutes of Health · Federal Apr 5, 2029 · Varies The National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the following NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs): OD, NEI, NHLBI, NHGRI, NIAAA, NIAID, NIAMS, NIBIB, NICHD, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIDDK, NIEHS, NIGMS, NIMH, NINDS, NCATS, NCI, NIA, intends to… | |
| NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional) National Institutes of Health · Federal Apr 5, 2029 · Varies The National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the following NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs): NEI, NHLBI, NHGRI, NIA, NIAAA, NIBIB, NICHD, NIDA, NIDCD, NIDDK, NIEHS, NIMH, NINR, NIMHD, NLM, NCCIH, NCI and ORWH, along with the Centers… | |
| National Science Foundation National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-CorpsTM Teams) Program U.S. National Science Foundation · Federal Oct 2, 2076 · From $50K The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) continues to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that guides the output of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products, processes, and services that… | |
| Imagine H2O Asia Accelerator Imagine H2O Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Asia-Pacific expansion of Imagine H2O's flagship accelerator program, supporting water technology startups across Southeast Asia. Launched in 2019, now in expanded second year and beyond. |
Showing 1–24 of 546
Grants for startups by the numbers
How deadlines work
- Rolling or ongoing
- 61 11%
- Upcoming date published
- 24 4%
- Stated cycle, no date yet
- 145 27%
- No deadline published
- 317 58%
When dated deadlines fall
Share of the 24 grants with a published date, by quarter.
Funders with the most open grants for startups
- OCAST Funding (Science & Tech) 9 open
- Michigan State University Research Foundation 8 open
- National Institutes of Health 8 open
- The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) 7 open
- Aim-Hi Accelerator Fund Inc 6 open
- Clemson University Research Foundation 6 open
356 funders have at least one open grant in this category.
Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 547 open grants for startups (active, with a deadline today or later or none published) as of October 3, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 16 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.
About grants for startups
Startup grants offer non-dilutive funding — capital without giving up equity or taking on debt. Government programs like SBIR/STTR provide significant R&D funding, while foundations and innovation competitions target early-stage companies in specific sectors. For founders who want to grow without dilution, grants are a powerful funding tool.
Grants for Startups by state
Browse grants for startups available to organizations in 14 states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do grants for startups award?
Of the 547 open grants for startups Grantable lists as of October 3, 2026, 268 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $50K, and the middle half fall between $10K and $253K. The largest is $7M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.
Which funders offer the most grants for startups?
By number of open listings, the most active funders are OCAST Funding (Science & Tech) (9), Michigan State University Research Foundation (8), National Institutes of Health (8), The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) (7), and Aim-Hi Accelerator Fund Inc (6). In all, 356 funders have at least one open grant in this category.
When are grants for startups due?
Of 547 open grants, 61 accept applications on a rolling basis, 24 have a published upcoming deadline, 145 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 317 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 50% fall in October–December.
What is the SBIR program?
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is the largest source of early-stage technology funding in the US. Eleven federal agencies award over $4 billion annually to small businesses for R&D. Phase I grants typically provide $50K-$275K for feasibility studies, with Phase II awards up to $1M+ for full development.
Can tech startups get grants?
Yes. Beyond SBIR/STTR, tech startups can access NSF I-Corps grants, DOE ARPA-E funding, DARPA programs, state innovation funds, and private foundation grants. Many accelerators and pitch competitions also provide grant-style non-dilutive funding.
How long does it take to get a startup grant?
Timelines vary significantly. State grants may fund within 1-3 months. SBIR Phase I typically takes 6-9 months from submission to award. Foundation grants average 3-6 months. Plan to have 6-12 months of runway while waiting for grant funding to come through.
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