Startup grants and accelerators for the Idea stage

a16z Speedrun is an accelerator-style investment program that provides up to $1M in funding to startups, with a focus on the games industry. Founders get access to an operator team offering support across talent, recruiting, go-to-market, marketing, HR, legal, and visa assistance, plus a community of 600+ founders for introductions and feedback. Since 2023, the program has deployed more than $180M across over 200 startups.

The most prominent startup accelerator in the world. Runs quarterly batches offering funding, mentorship, and access to a vast alumni network across virtually every industry.

NLnet Foundation offers grants of €5,000 to €50,000 for a first grant to support technical development of open-source software, hardware, or content under open licenses and standards. Applicants can apply to several theme funds (e.g., Restack, CodeSupply, or an open call) with a short proposal describing the project, budget breakdown, and team background.

Innovate UK will fund UK SMEs to experimentally validate prototype AI systems built on novel reusable mechanisms for efficient, structured and controllable learning systems. The competition is aimed mainly at research-intensive AI startups, deep tech SMEs, university spinouts and pre-commercial companies with proprietary AI technology. Funding is a grant covering a share of eligible project costs of between £50,000 and £150,000.

Sydney-based deep tech incubator with 25 years of track record - alumni have collectively raised over $280 million. Offers Deep Tech Programs at no cost or reduced rates through partner-funded support, plus the annual Tech23 startup showcase.

Abu Dhabi global tech ecosystem offering grants, investment access and relocation support for startups, with dedicated AI and ClimateTech program tracks.

One of the most founder-friendly state grants available - non-dilutive, rolling applications, up to $150,000 in matching funds to support early-stage product development for Nebraska-based companies.

Z Fellows is a one-week programme that brings technical builders together with founders of billion-dollar companies. Participants are mentored by these founders, and the programme continues to help them for the life of their company. Participants can join without money, or receive a $10,000 investment at a $1B valuation cap that converts into stock at the next priced round.

Global, virtual-first fellowship backing early-stage founders, run by a group of unicorn entrepreneurs. Two tracks: Ideation for founders without revenue traction, Traction for founders already generating revenue, users, pilots or patents. Roughly 35-40 startups accepted a year.

Dollar-matched non-dilutive funding voucher ($10,000-$50,000) to access CSIRO's research expertise for pre-revenue or pre-profit Australian startups and small businesses - nothing repaid, no equity taken, rolling applications.

Deep-tech focused venture firm running accelerator programs for startups in Southeast and South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America through its Orbit Startups initiative.

State grants up to $75,000 (covering up to 75% of costs) for Illinois small businesses running R&D projects in partnership with an Illinois university or research institution.

Global early-stage venture capital firm and founder residency program. Accepts applicants even without a co-founder or fully formed idea, across 27 cities worldwide.

AWS Activate provides startups with promotional cloud credits, ranging from up to $5,000 for self-funded founders to up to $200,000 for pre-Series B startups backed by an Activate Provider (accelerator, angel investor, or VC firm). Invite-only additional credits beyond $200,000 are available for AI startups ready to scale post Activate Portfolio.

Leading Web3 accelerator running 12-week Base Camp programs covering core Web3, DePIN and RWA tracks, with support on tokenomics, community and product.

The Walrus Foundation's RFP program funds projects that advance and support the Walrus ecosystem, including new tooling, integrations, and novel use cases. Funding and support are offered for proposals that respond to targeted needs set out in individual RFPs released from time to time. Selection weighs technical strength, product alignment, ecosystem engagement, and commitment and resourcing.

Edge is a bespoke three-month company-building program for select pre-idea, pre-seed and seed founders, with fully flexible financing. It gives access to Greylock's resources, AI Researchers in Residence, hiring and customer services, plus $500K+ in credits with AWS, Google, Microsoft and more. Greylock does not require Edge companies to take its capital, and funding ranges from a priced seed round to an uncapped SAFE note, or no capital at all.

South Park Commons runs a 6-month Residency program for technical founders and technologists to explore ideas, test them with peers, and find collaborators at no cost and no equity taken. For members who reach conviction on a venture-scale idea, SPC also provides funding from $1M to $10M to help launch the company.

Co-invests up to $150,000 alongside industry partners in research projects with University of Central Florida or University of South Florida faculty, for companies in the 23-county Corridor region.

BNB Chain Grants empowers developers involved in open-source initiatives to benefit the BNB Chain developer community. It provides funding and access to the BNB ecosystem's developers, with support including marketing exposure, tech support, ecosystem partnership building, and financial support. The program invites developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and enthusiasts to submit proposals for novel and impactful solutions.

Entrepreneur First is a talent investor that helps individuals find cofounders and build startups from scratch, supporting them from early idea through first revenue and fundraising. It provides equity-free grants, direct investment, office space in London, Bangalore and San Francisco, and connections to top Silicon Valley investors and advisors.

The Google for Startups Cloud Program provides tiered Google Cloud credits and support based on startup stage: $2,000 for pre-funded founders building an MVP, up to $200,000 (or $350,000 for AI-first startups) for Seed to Series A companies, and customized cloud solutions and support for Series B+ startups scaling their business. It also gives access to Google's AI stack including Gemini models, TPUs/GPUs, BigQuery, security tools, and Google Workspace.

Government incentive programme helping entrepreneurs and new Israeli startups reach proof of concept and business feasibility. Funds prototype building, IP protection and business development, including materials, components, subcontractors and consultants. Founders are not required to quit their job, incorporate a company, or give up rights to the project.

Non-dilutive grants for South Carolina tech startups: a Startup Grant (up to $25,000) for early-stage companies reaching commercialization, and an Acceleration Grant (up to $50,000) for more established early-stage companies. Part of the broader SC Launch program, which can combine grants, loans and investment up to $775,000.

The worlds largest startup campus in Paris. The Fighters Program offers free desk space and support to founders who did not start from a privileged background, alongside 30+ specialized in-house programs.

Open Technology Fund offers multiple funding tracks for internet freedom technology, including the Rapid Response Fund for emergency digital security support, the Internet Freedom Fund for research and innovative anti-censorship tools, the FOSS Sustainability Fund for maintaining open source projects, and the Surge and Sustain Fund for large-scale anti-censorship tools. The program supports technical research, development, and operational costs for projects combating censorship and surveillance in repressive contexts.

Non-dilutive grants for Maine startups along the full innovation continuum - typically $10,000-$30,000 for first-time applicants, with cumulative funding reaching up to $100,000 per company as the business progresses. No application deadlines - apply any time.

HubSpot for Startups offers eligible startups discounted access to HubSpot's CRM and marketing/sales/service software platform, with up to 90% off in year one, 50% in year two, and 25% in year three for venture-backed startups, or 30% off year one and 15% off year two for those affiliated with approved partner organizations. It also provides access to AI tools (Breeze AI Agents), startup resources like pitch deck examples, financial templates, and a founder community.

Smart&Start Italia is an Invitalia incentive supporting the launch and growth of high-tech innovative startups across all Italian regions. It provides a zero-interest loan covering a large share of eligible expenses, with additional non-repayable grants available for startups based in Central-Southern Italy.

The federal non-dilutive funding program behind most of the state SBIR/STTR matching grants in this catalog - Phase I awards $50,000-$275,000 for proof of concept, Phase II awards $750,000-$1,800,000 for technology development. Open to for-profit US companies with fewer than 500 employees, in all 50 states and territories.

PearX is an accelerator for pre-seed founders that takes teams from idea to real traction in 12 weeks. Pear invests between $500K and $2M, tailored to each company's needs, and provides $4.5M in credits and deals, founder-to-founder mentorship, fundraising support, recruiting help, GTM support, and free office space at Pear Studio for up to 6 months.

The Render Foundation Grant Program provides funding, technical support, and community resources to projects that strengthen the Render Network. It funds projects, large and small, in four areas: development, resources, community events, and educational resources. Interested applicants submit a quick pitch, and approved projects are invited to a longer formal proposal.

Camp is a cohort-based investment and product development programme for early-stage startups building in frontier technologies. Each session runs 12 weeks in residence at Betaworks and gives access to help with product development, platform strategy, data science, branding and fundraising, plus the Betaworks team and network. Teams finish with a Demo Day pitch to investors.

Monthly grants for women entrepreneurs, named after Amber Wigdahl. One application is considered for every grant WomensNet gives that year.

NVIDIA's free programme for AI and accelerated-computing startups. It gives training credits, preferred pricing on enterprise GPUs and software, free cloud credits from NVIDIA and its partners, and introductions to investors through Inception Capital Connect. No cohorts and no fixed intake.

Free 5-month residential fellowship in Washington, DC for early-stage social entrepreneurs - no fee, no equity stake. Includes a $10,000 stipend, free housing and workspace, pro-bono legal/business support, and AWS cloud credits.

Free, equity-free 7-week accelerator program from gener8tor - no investment, no fees, no equity taken. Runs cohorts in 50+ US cities across a range of industry verticals, selecting up to 5 companies per cohort.

Global network of zero-equity, zero-fee accelerator programs across multiple regions. Startups compete for non-dilutive cash prizes instead of giving up equity for funding.

Vinnova provides government funding to organisations for research and innovation projects in Sweden through various 'calls for proposals', covering areas such as climate-smart solutions and robotics for elderly care. It also offers support specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), though it typically does not fund all project costs and requires applicants to secure additional funding sources.

Latin America's largest startup acceleration program — a free, equity-free six-week program (Acceleration + Connection phases) with mentorship and training, running two cohorts a year and selecting up to 220 startups per cycle.

Small non-dilutive awards ($7,000-$15,000) for Michigan startups working with a SmartZone business accelerator, funding specialist services not otherwise available to help the company reach commercialization.

Non-profit, distributed AI research and funding program backing exceptional founders and researchers building cutting-edge AI products from idea through early traction.

Golden Seeds is an angel investment network that invests in exceptional women-led startups. It is committed to supporting and funding U.S.-based women-led startups across all industry sectors. Founders can learn about the investment criteria and process, and apply for funding.

Government-backed non-dilutive grant (up to Rs 20 lakh, ~$24,000) for proof-of-concept, prototyping and product trials, applied for through DPIIT-approved incubators, plus optional convertible-debt funding for market entry.

Small non-dilutive microgrant ($5,000) for New Hampshire startups with a strong SBIR/STTR concept, covering direct proposal-development support - requires completing FOSTER pre-proposal training first.

The SFC Angel Fund raises money for early-stage businesses by investing in SEIS and EIS eligible ventures. The page says SFC invests in 15-20 companies per fund and works with universities, spin-outs, accelerators, incubators and angel investors. It also has a 'Start Raising' section for startups seeking capital.

State-run non-dilutive grants (Proof of Concept, Early-Stage Capital & Retention, Collaborative Infrastructure, Export) for Colorado startups in seven advanced industries: manufacturing, aerospace, bioscience, electronics, energy, infrastructure engineering, and technology.

Government co-investment for first-time Singapore-based founders: Enterprise Singapore matches your own paid-up capital 1:1, up to S$50,000, plus mentorship from an Accredited Mentor Partner.

Central hub for Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 non-dilutive startup support, including a free University Startup Accelerator Program - founders keep 100% equity. Foreign startups need to incorporate locally or partner with a Saudi institution.

Founders, Inc. describes itself as the first check for founders solving hard problems in emerging domains such as AI, AR/VR, hardware and robotics. Selected founders are invited to its campus at Fort Mason in San Francisco, where they get their first check and access to a community of top founders.

State grants for Minnesota startups: Innovation Grants reimbursing R&D and business expenses, plus SBIR/STTR Matching Grants (up to $35,000 for Phase 1, $50,000 for Phase 2 federal awardees).

Open innovation marketplace connecting social entrepreneurs with non-dilutive grant funding, mentorship and a nine-month support program to scale impact solutions globally.

Competitive pitch program offering grants up to $10,000 to early-stage Connecticut companies getting their product to market, plus related CTNext grants (Growth Company Grants up to $25,000, Technology Talent Bridge up to $25,000).

Europe leading pre-seed fund investing year-round with no batch deadlines. Backs exceptional founders across the continent from first call through partner pitch.

For Hawaii-based companies that win a federal Phase I SBIR award - HTDC matches up to 50% of the award amount, non-dilutive. A smaller $3,000 Phase 0 grant is also available to help first-time applicants prepare a competitive SBIR proposal.

India-focused accelerator and founders academy helping early-stage teams go from idea to market, connecting founders with mentors and seed investors across the region.

Chicago's premier healthcare incubator, running equity-free, cohort-based accelerator programs (e.g. the Health Equity Innovation Accelerator) with hospitals, health systems and industry partners - mentorship, curriculum and a network of 200+ healthtech startups.

Argentine government program offering an interest-free honor loan (0% interest, no collateral, no fees) of up to $250,000 for early-stage ventures, or up to $700,000 for the Impacto track focused on social and environmental impact projects, accessed through an authorized incubator.

Alabama's longest-running business plan and pitch competition (since 2006) - up to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding for winning startups across technology, life sciences and consumer goods tracks, plus a 12-week mentorship program. Has invested over $6.6 million in 124 Alabama startups to date.

Non-dilutive grant of up to $5,000 for South Dakota startups to prepare a competitive federal SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal.

Non-dilutive Concept Awards ($200,000) and Prototype Awards ($500,000) for early-stage California clean energy startups, administered by New Energy Nexus for the California Energy Commission.

Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd is Malaysia's focal point agency for early-stage technology startups, offering the Cradle Investment Programme (CIP) which includes CIP Spark and CIP Sprint grant schemes. Beyond monetary aid, Cradle provides commercialisation support and value-added services to help technology entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

State-run grants and SBIR/STTR matching funds (SEED Fund) for Washington technology startups, plus periodic Small Business Innovation Fund awards for R&D-driven small businesses.

Pre-seed / proof-of-concept non-dilutive funding for Oklahoma startups - $50,000-$100,000 per company with a 1:1 matching co-investment requirement from founders or other investors.

Africa's largest philanthropic entrepreneurship program - $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, business training, mentorship, and access to Africa's largest entrepreneur network. Open to citizens and legal residents of any African country; application is completely free.

Discretionary state grant of up to $250,000 to sponsor business and technology accelerator programs mentoring Arkansas start-up companies, plus a related SBIR Matching Grant (up to $50,000 Phase I / $100,000 Phase II).

State matching fund for Tennessee companies that have received federal SBIR/STTR awards, plus a separate TTAC Proof of Concept Program with a rolling application for early-stage innovators.

Non-dilutive grant of up to $5,000 for Oregon-based companies to secure professional proposal-development services for a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I, Phase II, or Fast-Track application.

Builder Grants are small grants for builders with early ideas or initial prototypes who are working on projects on nights and weekends. The programme aims to get resources quickly to the people making the most meaningful contributions to Base. Grantees are found mainly through the team's own discovery process, and community members can submit nominations.

Leading MENA seed accelerator with location-specific programs across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain and Palestine, backed by regional seed funds.

Arc is Sequoia's bi-annual open call for pre-seed and seed stage founders. Selected founders join the Arc Intensive, a four-day company-building programme with workshops on customer, product, go-to-market, business and product-market fit, plus 1:1 time with the Sequoia team. Cohorts are small, with around 10 companies.

New York state energy agency deploying $1.2 billion over 15 years in R&D grants, commercialization support, and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence program for clean energy startups.

Non-dilutive matching funds for Kansas-based small businesses: Phase 0 covers proposal development (up to $3,000), Phase 1 matches a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I award (up to $25,000). Requires 51% of operations to stay in Kansas.

State-run programs for Arizona startups: a free six-week Venture Start accelerator plus the Arizona Innovation Challenge, an annual non-dilutive competition awarding up to $250,000 to early-stage companies.

Non-dilutive funding for Maryland technology-based startups in two phases - Technology Assessment (up to $130,000 over 9 months) and Technology Validation - up to $430,000 total. Applications reviewed quarterly.

Government non-reimbursable grants up to $30,000 for Colombian entrepreneurs and startups, plus technical assistance and training - no equity, no cost to apply.

Uruguay's national innovation agency co-funds innovative ventures under 36 months old with non-refundable support (Uruguay contributes at least 40% of project cost, up to $300,000 over 3 years), plus a $40,000 non-refundable Softlandings track for startups relocating to Uruguay.

Non-dilutive matching grants for West Virginia companies with a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I or II award, plus up to $10,000 in technical assistance funding for accelerator participants, with top graduates eligible to pitch for up to $100,000 in additional pre-seed funding.

We select promising early-stage startups and build their MVP for free, in exchange for helping them get investor-ready. No equity taken as part of the grant itself. We evaluate applicants on product-market fit, technical feasibility, and founder commitment. Selected projects get a working, fundable product built by our team.

Pinecone for Startups gives eligible startups free access to Pinecone's Standard Tier and Pro Support. Startups in the program also receive usage credits and discounts. The page says the program is for startups building AI applications, and it is limited to companies with fewer than 100 employees at Series A or earlier.

EIC Pathfinder is a Horizon Europe funding programme that supports research teams taking forward breakthrough deep tech projects at the earliest stages (TRL 1-4). It offers grants of up to EUR 4 million, booster grants, coaching, mentoring and networking. It is open to research teams, including consortia or, for Pathfinder Challenges only, single applicants.

Non-dilutive grant for knowledge- or technology-based startups spinning out of a German university or research institution - up to EUR 30,000 in material costs, EUR 5,000 coaching budget, plus a monthly founder stipend (EUR 1,000-3,000) for up to 12 months. Applied for through the university, not directly.

Fully sponsored 12-month entrepreneurial training program in Accra, Ghana for aspiring African tech entrepreneurs, with seed investment for top graduating teams.

SPRIND is Germany's Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, which runs open 'Challenges' inviting teams with radical ideas to apply for funding on specific breakthrough technology themes. Current open challenges include AI-Native Chip Design, Next Frontier Robotics, and Recoding Medicine, each with its own application deadline. The agency finances groundbreaking technologies intended to generate economic benefit for Germany and Europe.

Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge is a global deep tech startup competition offering a €200K equity prize from DeepBright Ventures, access to 350+ VCs and CVCs at Investor Day, and year-round connections with investors, corporates, and industry leaders. Selected 'Deep Tech Pioneers' get global recognition, exhibition opportunities at the Hello Tomorrow Summit in Amsterdam, and finalists pitch on the Pioneers Stage in front of top investors and media.

BIRAC's Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) Scheme provides early-stage grant-in-aid funding of up to INR 50 lakh to help innovators and young biotech startups convert ideas into a Proof of Concept over an 18-month period. The scheme is delivered through a network of 8 BIG Partners who provide mentoring, monitoring, networking and business development support to grantees.

Founders Factory is a venture studio and startup accelerator that co-founds and funds companies at idea, pre-seed and seed stage, offering capital plus operational support from a 60+ person team and access to corporate partners across Fintech, Health, Industrials and Deep Tech sectors. It runs multiple sector-specific accelerator programs globally (e.g. Fintech, Mining Tech, Climate, Health) in partnership with corporates like Aviva, Rio Tinto, WA Government, MSWA and HSBC.

The Claude for Startups program gives approved founders a free year of Claude Team for up to five Premium seats (for orgs new to Team), $1,000 in Claude API credits, and discounts and credits worth up to $45,000 through the Claude Startup Stack. Members also get virtual office hours with Anthropic's Applied AI team and access to Claude startup events. The program is open to startups founded in the last 5 years or funded in the last 2 years, including bootstrapped, pre-seed, and venture-backed companies.

The EdTech Accelerator call, part of the Digital Europe Programme, helps European EdTech startups and SMEs turn concepts for educational solutions into market-ready products. It offers business guidance and access to markets within an EdTech-specific accelerator environment. The call also includes short-cycle piloting of solutions in real educational or training settings.

One of the world's most established public accelerators — equity-free grants from $15,000 (Build) up to $100,000 (Growth) for founders of any nationality, plus a 2-year Chilean startup visa. You keep 100% of your company.

Non-dilutive MICRO ($10,000) and SEED ($50,000) grants for North Carolina-based startups, twice a year. Requires at least one full-time founder residing in North Carolina.

Two-stage programme for young founders from Latin America and Africa: a seven-week online incubator taking an idea to MVP through workshops and community, followed by a four-month accelerator in Switzerland with mentorship and introductions to investors. The page states the accelerator ends with a network and potential investment, but names no fixed funding amount.

Early-stage non-dilutive grant funding for tech and growth-oriented Mississippi startups - no repayment required. Applicants build out a business plan and pitch live to the Seed Fund Investment Board for a funding decision.

Non-dilutive reimbursement of up to $4,500 for Wisconsin-based technology companies preparing a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I application, plus a separate matching grant for companies that already won a Phase I or II award.

Echoing Green Fellowship is a full-time program that selects social entrepreneurs working on solutions to major social problems and provides them with seed funding, leadership development, wellness support, and expert resources. Fellows receive a stipend of $100,000 over 18 months, with for-profit organizations receiving funding as recoverable grants. The program also connects Fellows to a community of peers and experienced business leaders through convenings and pro-bono expert support.

Columbus, Ohio venture studio and accelerator combining seed capital, a physical innovation hub, and help securing non-dilutive SBIR/STTR and state grants for Ohio-based (or relocating) startups.

Non-dilutive grant of $25,000-$50,000 for business development expenses to early-stage New Mexico companies commercializing new technology, plus a separate SBIR/STTR Matching Grant ($50,000-$100,000) for federal award recipients.

Non-dilutive grants (3:1 state-to-business match) for Delaware small businesses with 10 or fewer employees - up to $100,000 for science and technology companies, or up to $50,000 for other sectors. Rolling applications, decisions within 45 days.

State-run accelerator helping Texas research-driven startups secure non-dilutive federal SBIR/STTR funding, plus access to the state's FAST Partnership matching program.

Voucher-based reimbursement program for North Dakota entrepreneurs - up to $50,000 across two $25,000 phases, funding customer and market research with hands-on coaching from regional entrepreneur centers. Recurring biennial program; check the current application window before applying.

Non-dilutive grants for early-stage New Jersey startups - no application fees collected. Includes Clean Tech R&D Seed Grants (up to $75,000) for very early-stage clean tech companies and SBIR/STTR follow-on support ($50,000) for companies that completed Phase I and submitted a Phase II application.

Non-dilutive grants ($5,000-$50,000) for growth-oriented Wyoming startups, awarded through a competitive quarterly pitch process. Requires the company to stay primarily in Wyoming for at least three years and keep 50% of employees Wyoming residents.

Free, equity-free seven-month pre-acceleration programme for early-stage innovators across 22+ European countries, offering training, mentorship, and up to EUR 10,000 in prizes with no equity taken.