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.
Small Business Support Hubs (SBSH) Program - Great Lakes Bay Small Business Hub Program Status: Awarded February 28, 2024; ongoing implementation Funding Source: Governor Gretchen Whitmer's…
Smart Futures Lab Program Overview: A no-cost, six-month incubator and accelerator program created in partnership between CU Denver, Colorado Smart Cities Alliance, and Innosphere Ventures to support…
SmartLaunch CPG Program Program Type: Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) accelerator program Geographic Scope: Maine-based CPG companies Focus Areas: Consumer packaged goods entrepreneurs and startups…
SmartStart Program Type: Business incubator Duration: 24 weeks (option to extend) Cost: $1,250/quarter Geographic Scope: Dallas and Fort Worth area Program Goals - Develop investor-ready pitch deck -…
SmartSTART Business Plan Competition Funder: Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Geographic Scope: City of Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia Purpose: Award grants…
SME Additive Manufacturing Awards Overview: These awards honor innovators, creators, and trailblazers shaping the future of additive manufacturing. Focus Areas: - Additive manufacturing innovation…
SME Global Space Cooperation Program Overview: A membership-based program that cultivates international partnerships for American commercial space startups and small and medium-sized enterprises…
Social Business Match Program (SBMP) Overview: A Program-Related Investment (PRI) initiative designed to help social businesses access seed capital for growth. Geographic Scope: - Minnesota, North…
Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Social Shifters Amount: Up to US $15,000 Last Updated: May 30, 2025 Summary The Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge…
Sofinnova Biovelocita Call for Ideas for innovative bio-tech startups Funder: Giovanni Armenise Harvard Foundation in partnership with Sofinnova Partners Geographic Scope: International Focus Areas:…
South Carolina Medical Device Alliance (MDA) Funder: U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) - Regional Innovation Strategies Competition 2018 Partners: Medical University of South Carolina,…
South Pitch Program Overview: A pitch competition program for filmmakers from the South with two tracks: Narrative and Documentary. Winners receive cash awards and additional opportunities.…
Spark Wilkes-Barre Grant Program Status: No longer accepting new applications as of 2026-04-03 Overview: The Spark Wilkes-Barre Grant Program was designed to generate economic development activity in…
Spark Wilkes-Barre Grant Program Status: No longer accepting new applications at this time. Overview: The Spark Wilkes-Barre Grant Program was launched to generate economic development activity in…
Spring Mini-Grants Program Organization: Ventures (Seattle, WA) Website: venturesnonprofit.org Program Overview The Spring Mini-Grant program has been deployed annually since 2020 to provide support…
SPRINT Challenge Amount: $200,000 - $750,000 per award Status: Completed (awards announced April 2021) Geographic Scope: United States (25 states and Puerto Rico) Focus Areas: - Pandemic response…
Stanislaus Wet Lab & Training Facilities Fund Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: BEAM Circular Accelerator Amount: US $10,000 - US $500,000 Last Updated: July 16, 2025 Summary The Stanislaus Wet Lab &…
Start Up Grand Forks Status: Pilot program (three-year) Geographic Scope: Grand Forks, North Dakota Focus Areas: Seed funding for entrepreneurs and small business startups Overview: Start Up Grand…
START-UP NY Funder: New York State Geographic Scope: New York State, on or near eligible university or college campuses Focus Areas: Advanced manufacturing, biotech and life sciences, computers and…
Start-up Research Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation Amount: Up to US $90,000 Last Updated: November 04, 2025 Summary The Start-Up Research Grant aims to…