Grants for Startups

Last updated October 5, 2026

Grantable tracks 540 active grants for startups in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 13 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 268 list an award amount, with a median of $50K.

Grants tracked: 540; from 356 funders
Median award: $50K; middle half $10K–$250K
Total listed funding: $103.2M; across 268 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 61; 26 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program NOFO (IL) Grant Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) · Foundation Not published · $500K – $2.5M The Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program in Illinois aims to establish a network of incubators to support clean energy contractors and nonprofits in economically challenged areas.	Not published	$500K – $2.5M
C² Challenge (Communities Challenge) Colorado Smart Cities Alliance · Foundation Not published · Varies Technology solutions challenge seeking innovative tech solutions for Colorado communities. Launched by Colorado Smart Cities Alliance to address pressing challenges faced by municipalities and local government.	Not published	Varies
Drive Life Sciences Program Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Applicants must meet ALL of the following: MassBio's commitment: Drive is committed to supporting and advancing innovators from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in the life sciences ecosystem.	Not published	Varies
Economic Development Retention and Revitalization Grant Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: First-round applications were due January 10th, 2025. Applications will be reviewed for potential awards.	Not published	Varies
National Best Tasting Contest P4L dba Lemonade Day · Foundation Not published · $300 Wyler's Light and Lemonade Day national team sponsor an inaugural national best tasting contest for creative lemonade recipes.	Not published	$300
Economic Development Fund Jamestownstutsman Development Corporation · Foundation Not published · Varies As part of financial packages, the JSDC makes:	Not published	Varies
Startup Competition Entrepreneur Startup Business Development Corporation · Foundation Not published · $1.6M Arch Grants' annual Startup Competition awards significant funding to early-stage companies in the St. Louis region. The most recent competition (2025) awarded $1.6 million to 19 startups and welcomed three new Fellows.	Not published	$1.6M
Climate Impact Fund I VertueLab · Foundation Not published · Varies VertueLab's Climate Impact Fund invests in companies that have the potential to reduce emissions, capture carbon, or convert carbon into useful products.	Not published	Varies
B:Side Credit Builder Program Bside Capital · Foundation Not published · $10K A lending program designed for entrepreneurs who need access to capital while working on improving their credit standing. Business owners must complete one of the following comprehensive education programs:	Not published	$10K
Hartford International Micro-Grant Program Hedco Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K To help minority-owned small businesses grow through funding for equipment, construction, or business expansion. No debt relief provided.	Not published	Up to $10K
Headstream Accelerator Cohort VI Grant Headstream by Second Muse · Foundation Not published · $30K The Headstream Accelerator supports entrepreneurs from all backgrounds in scaling digital solutions that improve the mental well-being of teens at risk, with a focus on the education and healthcare sectors.	Not published	$30K
Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III Michigan State University Research Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Early-stage venture funding established in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), offering funding, coaching, and grant assistance to Michigan-based tech startups.	Rolling	Varies
Capacitor Incubator Program Shenandoah Community Capital Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A hybrid incubation model for entrepreneurs with scalable business ideas to create a first proof of concept, identify target market, and build systems and financing for successful business launch.	Not published	Varies
Seeding Entrepreneurship Across the Mid-South (SEAM) Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation · Foundation Not published · $265K Comprehensive, scalable model utilizing entrepreneurship as the foundation for reducing poverty. The program stimulates innovation and entrepreneurship through growth-oriented entrepreneur education, trainings, and support services.	Not published	$265K
ACCEL-KS Kansas SBIR/STTR Matching Program Commerce Grants Calendar · State Not published · $25M Funding for early stage researchers to compete for and leverage federal SBIR/STTR awards. Match requirements vary by project.	Not published	$25M
Planning & Visioning Organizational Grants Minnesota Black Collective Foundation · Foundation Not published · $10K The Black Collective Foundation MN invests $10,000 in each of emerging and innovative Black-led organizations to support their innovative approaches to Black-led change by building strong systems from the start.	Not published	$10K
Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) · Foundation Not published · $1K – $10K The intent of the Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant program is to support new farmers in Minnesota to access equipment and develop infrastructure that will be crucial to the future of their farm business.	Not published	$1K – $10K
BizLite Online Learning VertueLab · Foundation Not published · Varies BizLite Online Learning is a free, self-paced online course designed for early-stage and new entrepreneurs to provide foundational knowledge on building and growing a business.	Not published	Varies
Elevate Purdue Foundry Fund Elevate Ventures Inc · Foundation Not published · $20K – $60K	Not published	$20K – $60K
Growth Grants Entrepreneur Startup Business Development Corporation · Foundation Not published · $100K – $200K Arch Grants offers Growth Grants to support the expansion and acceleration of startup companies.	Not published	$100K – $200K
Entrepreneurship and Business Support Grant Patterson Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: Interested and eligible organizations can submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the Patterson Family Foundation Grants Portal starting April 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM (Noon) CST.	Not published	Varies
Summer Entrepreneurship Fellowship for Future Healthcare Leaders Aim-Hi Accelerator Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K A 2025 summer fellowship program offered in partnership with Georgetown Entrepreneurship for those passionate about pursuing a career in healthcare entrepreneurship, particularly in oncology.	Not published	$5K
Entrepreneur District Dakota Business Lending · Foundation Not published · Varies A transformative co-working and mentorship space located on the second floor of Dakota Business Lending's headquarters in Fargo, North Dakota.	Not published	Varies
Housing Venture Lab Terner Housing Innovation Labs Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies

Showing 385–408 of 539

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for startups award?

Of the 540 grants for startups Grantable lists as of October 5, 2026, 268 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $50K, and the middle half fall between $10K and $250K. 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 active listings, the leading funders are Michigan State University Research Foundation (8), National Institutes of Health (8), The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) (7), Aim-Hi Accelerator Fund Inc (6), and Clemson University Research Foundation (6). In all, 356 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for startups due?

Of 540 grants listed, 61 accept applications on a rolling basis, 26 have a published upcoming deadline, 146 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 307 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 46% 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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