The Rise of Non-Dilutive Funding
In 2025, founders have more options than ever to fund their ventures without giving up equity. Grants — from government programs, corporate initiatives, and private foundations — have become a critical part of the startup funding stack. Unlike venture capital, grants don't require you to give up board seats, voting rights, or ownership.
Foundery.Space currently tracks dozens of active grant programs, ranging from $5,000 micro-grants to $1.5M government contracts. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the most impactful ones.
Government Grants
SBIR/STTR Programs (US)
The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs are the largest source of non-dilutive funding in the United States. Over $4 billion is awarded annually across 11 federal agencies.
Best for: Deep tech, biotech, defense, and climate startups with strong IP.
Innovate UK (Smart Grants)
UK-based startups can access grants from £25,000 to £500,000 through Innovate UK's Smart Grants program. The competition is fierce (success rate around 8%), but the funding is substantial and comes with no equity requirements.
Best for: UK-based startups in AI, clean energy, health tech, and advanced manufacturing.
Horizon Europe (EU)
The EU's flagship research and innovation program offers grants from €500,000 to €5M+ for collaborative research projects. Startups can participate as consortium members or through the EIC Accelerator track.
Best for: European startups working on frontier science and deep tech.
Corporate Grant Programs
Google for Startups
Google offers up to $100,000 in Cloud credits, plus equity-free cash awards through their Founder's Fund and Black Founders Fund programs. The application process is straightforward and decisions are made quarterly.
Best for: Startups leveraging cloud infrastructure, AI/ML, or Android development.
AWS Activate
Amazon provides up to $100,000 in AWS credits, technical support, and training through the Activate program. While technically credits rather than cash, for cloud-heavy startups this can be equivalent to $100K in savings.
Best for: Cloud-native startups with significant infrastructure costs.
Stripe Atlas (incorporation grants)
Stripe occasionally runs grant programs that cover incorporation costs and provide initial funding for startups building on their payment infrastructure.
Best for: Fintech and e-commerce startups.
Private Foundation Grants
Emergent Ventures
Tyler Cowen's fast-acting grant program awards $5,000 to $250,000 to individuals working on high-impact projects. The application is a simple Google Form, and decisions come within weeks.
Best for: Individuals with bold ideas in AI safety, biosecurity, or education.
Fast Grants (by Emergent Ventures)
A rapid-response grant mechanism designed to fund projects within 48 hours. Originally created during the pandemic, the model has been applied to AI safety and other urgent challenges.
Best for: Time-sensitive projects that need funding immediately.
Gitcoin Grants
A community-driven funding mechanism using quadratic funding. Projects receive matching funds from a pool based on the number of individual contributors, not just the total amount raised.
Best for: Open source projects, developer tools, and public goods.
How to Win Grant Applications
Lead with the problem, not the solution. Grant reviewers want to understand the significance of the problem you're solving. Start with data about the market, the pain point, and why existing solutions fall short.
Be specific about deliverables. Unlike pitch decks that can be vague about milestones, grant applications need concrete deliverables. "We will publish 3 research papers, release an open-source library, and train 50 researchers" beats "we will advance the field."
Align with the funder's mission. Every grant has a specific focus. Tailor your application to show how your work directly advances the funder's goals. Generic applications get rejected.
Include a detailed budget. Break down exactly how every dollar will be spent. Vague budgets signal that you haven't thought through the execution.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Browse all available grants and track their deadlines on Foundery.Space.