Developer advocate is one of the fastest-growing roles in tech — and one of the most misunderstood.... Tagged with devrel, opensource, career, developer.

The IDEA Fund: Missouri’s State-Sponsored Venture Capital Program [...] The Innovation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Advancement (IDEA) Fund is MTC’s flagship state-sponsored venture capital initiative that makes investments in exchange for equity or convertible debt to the most promising early-stage, high-growth potential businesses. By leveraging state and federal funding, the IDEA Fund makes direct investments to early-stage entrepreneurs as part of their venture funding rounds to support commercialization, accelerate additional private investment and create jobs in the state. This program is a catalyst for economic growth, supporting businesses as they create jobs, drive technological advancements, and build a stronger future for Missouri. The IDEA Fund is primarily funded by the Federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) 2.0 program. [...] The July 2026 Award Cycle – IDEA Fund Info Session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. 2026 beginning at 12 PM. [...] Venture Capital Program: • Designed for Series A or later-stage companies raising $5 million -$20 million. • Provides up to $2 million in investments and matching co-investment. • For the purpose of scaling the businesses, attracting additional private capital, and increase the impact of third-party investments • The company must identify at the time of application, a lead investor with relevant domain expertise and/or significant due diligence experience, as determined by MTC. • The lead investor requirement is waived for MTC Portfolio Companies if 25% of the funding round is identified and the company is in good standing with MTC’s data collection process. [...] Investment Process: [...] 1. Application Process: Complete the required application process. 2. Application Submission: Submit the application before the deadline for consideration in the next award cycle. 3. Review: MTC staff reviews applications quarterly. 4. Notification: Applicants are notified approximately one month after the deadline whether they are invited to present to the MTC Investment Committee. 5. Committee Presentations: Selected applicants present to the Investment Committee, which recommends funding decisions to MTC’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. 6. Board Approval: Recommendations are reviewed and approved by the MTC Board of Directors. 7. Due Diligence: Approved companies with matching funds undergo a due diligence process. 8. Participation Agreement: Approved companies sign a Participation Agreement before closing the investment. (Download Participation Agreement →) [...] 2026 Award Cycle Deadlines [...] • January 2026 Award Cycle • April 2026 Award Cycle • July 2026 Award Cycle • October 2026 Award Cycle [...] January 2026 Award Cycle [...] CLOSED January 2026 Award Cycle • Application deadline: 11:59 pm, November 4, 2025 • Presentation to Investment Committee: January 2026 • Approval & Award: by end of January 2026 [...] April 2026 Award Cycle [...] CLOSED April 2026 Award Cycle • Application deadline: 11:59 pm, February 3, 2026 • Presentation to Investment Committee: April 2026 • Approval & Award: by end of April 2026 [...] July 2026 Award Cycle [...] July 2026 Award Cycle • Application deadline: 11:59 pm, May 5, 2026 • Presentation to Investment Committee: July 2026 • Board approval: by end of July 2026 [...] October 2026 Award Cycle [...] October 2026 Award Cycle • Application deadline: 11:59 pm, August 4, 2026 • Presentation to Investment Committee: October 2026 • Board approval: by end of October 2026 [...] 2026 Application – Ready to Apply? Take the next step toward securing state-sponsored venture capital funding with the FY26 IDEA Fund Application. [...] • Download the FY26 IDEA Fund Application (PDF) → for review purposes. • We recommend preparing responses in advance, as the online platform does not support saving drafts. Please complete your submission in one sitting.

The future of DevRel is shifting fast. Learn what’s changing, what no longer works, and how tech startups can build a DevRel strategy that drives adoption, engagement, and revenue.

A month-long launchpad for founders building the magically weird before it becomes consensus.

Here are some ideas and opportunities we’re most excited to see founders tackle next at Pear VC.

A 9-week sprint to get fundable

The Google for Startups Accelerator offers mentorship and technical support to companies using AI to disrupt the energy sector.

New multi-donor fund by Renaissance Philanthropy seeded by Biohub and Wellcome opens first call for proposals, with letters of intent accepted beginning May 11

The Open Source for Science Fund invites letters of intent from developers and maintainers of open source software projects that underpin AI and data-intensive research in the life sciences. This program will fund technical advances and address significant bottlenecks in software tools with demonstrated community adoption in the life sciences, allowing them to unlock new capabilities for scientists worldwide and evolve functionality to meet the demands of AI-native research environments. [...] Open Source for Science Fund is [...] multi-donor initiative [...] Renaissance Philanthropy [...] philanthropic and industry [...] sustain and evolve [...] scientific software for the AI era. With seed funding from Biohub [...] Wellcome, and support from [...] builds on the track record [...] for Science ( [...] ) program — six cycles, [...] deployed across 230+ projects — as a successor initiative that is operationally independent and purpose [...] built to scale. [...] “Open Source for the Life Sciences” (OS4LS) is the inaugural call of the Open Source for Science Fund. It is targeted at open source software that underpins data-intensive research and AI-driven discovery in the life sciences. [...] serves critical needs for a research audience, a realistic plan of work [...] with the project’s own roadmap [...] and genuine buy-in from [...] maintainer community about [...] For this Request for Applications, we seek to support domain-specific software tools across a broad range of [...] life sciences. We also welcome proposals focused on foundational libraries and software dependencies as well as collaborations among related projects within the same software ecosystem. [...] Available funding: Up to $250,000 USD total over two years (up to $125,000 USD/year) [...] Available funding: Up to $1,000,000 USD total over two years (up to $500,000 USD/year) [...] • Open source libraries that serve as core dependencies of scientific applications across multiple domains in [...] life sciences, OR [...] developing shared interoper [...] , or common [...] and capabilities across [...] set of related [...] within the same [...] Applications in this track may propose coordinated work spanning multiple [...] For both tracks, grants will be awarded for two years (24 months). Proposals will be evaluated for appropriateness of budget relative to the scope of work proposed. Indirect costs may not exceed 10% of direct costs and should be included in the maximum funding for each track. A detailed budget is not required at the LOI stage. [...] for staff (full-time, part-time, [...] contract): developers, contributors, [...] writers, community managers, [...] • Projects applying for funding must be open licensed and have a publicly available codebase in a repository. Proprietary software or software with custom / restrictive licenses is not eligible for funding. [...] • The software project(s) must have a mature codebase and demonstrated traction and adoption in the life sciences. Early-stage prototypes or planned software projects lacking evidence of adoption are not in scope for this call and unlikely to pass the LOI stage. [...] This is a two-step process: an initial Letter of Intent (LOI), followed by invitations to a select number of applicants to submit a Full Application. The application form will be available on May 11 at 9am Pacific Time at https://os4science.org/funding%5Fopportunity/os4ls/. [...] Date Milestone --- --- May 4, 2026 Website launch; RFA announced May 11, 2026 LOI Application portal opens (9 am PDT / 4 pm UTC) June 8, 2026 Letters of Intent due (2 pm PDT / 9 pm UTC) June 23, 2026 Notification of invitation to submit Full Applications; Full Application portal opens (9 am PDT / 4 pm UTC) July 21, 2026 Full Applications due (2 pm PDT / 9 pm UTC) October 2026 Earliest notification of decisions December 1, 2026 Earliest project start date

If you’re working on a tech venture that could genuinely lead to better outcomes for people and planet, then we’d love to hear from you.

2026-27 MHACH Call for Proposals Applications MAD [...] The new phase of the collaboration between the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) begins in April 2026 and builds on the successful cooperation launched in 2022. The collaboration known as Designing for Sustainability is now the MIT and HPI AI and Creativity Hub (MHACH). This second phase is planned to run for ten years until 2035. It expands collaborative research to include educational activities that explore the intersection of computing, creativity and human-centered innovation, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and creativity. [...] In the program year 2026-27, the collaborating institutions invite proposals for joint research in design, technology, AI and creativity. The program year runs from September 2026 to August 2027. The collaboration seeks to engage multidisciplinary research teams with diverse backgrounds in computer science, AI, engineering, planning, architecture, science, digital health, humanities, and management; proposals are encouraged from all academic units at both MIT and HPI. [...] We also invite joint proposals for engagement seed funding around topics that explore the intersection of computing, creativity and human-centered innovation, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and creativity. [...] 2026-27 Timeline [...] CALL FOR APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN [...] APPLICATION DEADLINE June 3, 2026 [...] DECISIONS June 30, 2026 [...] Funding and guidelines [...] In addition to the Joint Research Project funding, MHACH offers Engagement Seed Funding for MIT and HPI Principal Investigators who have identified a potential collaborator at the partner institution and would like to further explore the project topics before submitting a full application. [...] Principal investigators must be tenured and tenure-track professors at MIT and HPI, authorized to supervise PhD students, and meet NSF eligibility requirements. Please review the infosheet for detailed guidelines on eligibility and program tracks. [...] Joint Research Projects [...] • 2026 Call for Joint Research Project Proposals & Application Guidelines PDF, including 2026 Application Cover Sheet • 2026 Pre-proposal Questionnaire (MIT PIs only) PDF • 2026 Research Project Proposal Template Document • 2026 Budget Template for PIs Spreadsheet [...] Engagement Seed Funding [...] • 2026 Call for Engagement Seed Funding Proposals & Application Guidelines PDF, including 2026 Proposal Form [...] The program focuses on community building, research and knowledge exchange, and the creation of joint research outcomes. [...] Selection Criteria [...] Funding decisions favor projects that set new research priorities for this emergent knowledge domain. The collaboration plan must demonstrate scientific depth and mechanisms to sustain the proposed innovation. Selection is also based on scientific merit, methodology, rigor and evidence of feasible plans for an active collaboration. [...] We seek proposals positioned to yield insights into AI applications across disciplines, industries and societal challenges that have visibility and the potential to make a significant impact. The protocols that researchers might apply to achieve “insights” versus “data” will be appraised by the selection committee for viability.

The first accelerator that combines market access with founder resilience — helping international startups land, validate, and expand in Finland and Europe. [...] Apply for the Autumn 2026 Batch [...] The Northern Light accelerator delivers hands-on support to validate your product with real customers, navigate sales in local and EU markets, and secure traction alongside revenue. We also prioritise founder resilience to keep your team focused and execution-ready [...] faster market entry, [...] Startups – spring 2026 [...] The second cohort brings together founders from Brazil, Japan, Argentina, Australia, India, the UK, Singapore, Cameroon, South Africa, Turkey, Ireland, and Iran. Meet the inspiring startups of the spring 2026 batch! [...] Our 3-month accelerator program is designed for non-Finnish founders or teams ready to build in Europe, starting from Helsinki. We provide a physical base at Maria 01, enabling you to join our vibrant community. [...] There is a participation fee for the Northern Light Accelerator of €2,000 (incl. VAT) per startup (up to two founders). This includes not only the full program, its activities, and support package valued at €120,000, but also a dedicated desk space at Maria 01 for three months with full access to all campus services and facilities, as well as a startup ticket to Slush 2026 for the Autumn Batch – all delivered equity-free. [...] Current program and application period [...] The third batch of our program will take place in Autumn 2026, starting on August 21st and finishing on November 20th. The application period is open from the 16th of April until June 6, 2026. Please note, that we review applications continuously and the spots are limited, that is why we encourage you to apply early. We expect to make all decisions on successful applicants by early the end of June 2026, to allow all the accepted participants enough time to prepare for their travel to Helsinki. [...] APPLY – Application period opens [...] Northern Light is for early-stage international startups looking to enter the European market through Finland. You should have a company registered in some country. Additionally, you should also have at least an MVP or early traction and be committed to scaling your business in Europe. You can also apply if you are already in Finland and have at least one non-Finnish co-founder or team member. [...] 11. When can I apply for the program? [...] We run two accelerator programs each year, each with a dedicated application period. Check this website for the current application dates. If no application period is open at the moment, you can sign up for our mailing list below to stay informed about when the next application window opens. [...] Startups – autumn 2025 [...] The first-ever program brought together founders from India, the Philippines, Norway, the USA, Ireland, Kenya, Spain and Finland. Meet the inspiring startups of the autumn 2025 batch! [...] Apply for Autumn 2026 Batch.

The Summer of Open AI Research is a 5-week, fully online research program sponsored by EleutherAI. [...] We invite people with little research experience to contribute to open science under the mentorship of experienced researchers. We offer a selection of projects to apply to, listed below. Each project will run as a small cohort. Participants will be credited on their project, which may result in publication. [...] We also encourage researchers who are willing to mentor a small group for five weeks to propose projects. Funding will be provided. Submit a proposal by clicking the button on the right until May 15. [...] We are primarily looking for projects around open source AI, interpretability, or AI safety, but we welcome other proposals that fit the general theme of open science. [...] 15 May 2026 [...] 18 May 2026 [...] 8 June 2026 [...] 5 July 2026 [...] 6 July 2026 [...] 13 July 2026 [...] 1 August 2026 [...] Apply as a participant until June 8, 2026.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: DECARBON8-US IMPACT FUND 2026 [...] Accepting Applications from Climate Resilience Companies in Grid, Water, & Food Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 [...] Our 2026 Decarbon8-US Fund is focused on Climate Resilience: Grid, Water, & Food. Climate change is already reshaping where and how people can live, grow food, and access basic resources. As extreme heat, drought, flooding, and storms intensify, protecting access to energy, water, and food is becoming as essential to climate action as reducing emissions. [...] INVESTMENT DETAILS [...] If you’re one of the 2 - 4 selected companies, you have the opportunity to receive: [...] Investment capital of ~$300k in combined funding from Decarbon8-US Fund, E8 Annual Fund, and direct investment by E8 members (Decarbon8-US shows up on your cap table as a single SPV investor to keep it clean). [...] APPLICANT CRITERIA [...] entrepreneurial experience, tenacity, and self-awareness [...] a venture-scale business. [...] Be in Pre-seed to Series A stages of growth financing. [...] Have a funding round (SAFE/priced equity, note) that will accept investments at least through mid October 2026. [...] If you’re a former Decarbon8-US applicant or E8 portfolio company, we encourage you to apply. Our Decarbon8 Screening Committee and expert judges will evaluate your application, specializing in cleantech investing and climate resilience. The criteria used includes climate resilience and impact, problem/solution fit, including competitive advantage, team, traction and go-to-market plan, investment terms and likelihood of returns. [...] TIMELINE [...] May 1 — Applications open. [...] June 18 — Applications close. [...] Late June — Screening Committee selects 12-16 companies for pitch round. [...] Early July — Companies present to the Screening Committee; 6-8 semi-finalists are selected. [...] Mid July — Semi-finalists undergo deeper evaluation; 3-5 finalists are selected. [...] August — Due diligence with finalists. [...] Early September — 2-4 companies are selected for investment by Decarbon8-US Fund. [...] September 17 — Selected companies pitch at the Annual Meeting in Seattle to the full E8 membership for additional co-investment by E8 members. [...] Late September / Early October — E8 Annual Fund votes to invest in selected companies. [...] LEARN MORE & APPLY [...] Apply to Decarbon8-US 2026 here. For more information, contact us at director@e8angels.com. [...] Companies that apply to Decarbon8-US may also be considered for E8's standard funding process, which runs from September to May. Learn more on our website. [...] Decarbon8-US is an impact fund administered by 501(c)(3) Realize Impact that invests donations and grants into early-stage climate companies through equity and debt. Founded by E8 in 2020, the fund has deployed $10.4M in combined philanthropic and personal co-investment. Investors lead screening and diligence alongside sector experts to identify high-potential companies at early stages. Selected companies receive investment from Decarbon8-US and the opportunity to pitch E8's member community for additional capital, including through the E8 Annual Fund.

The Startmate Accelerator lights a fire underneath your early stage company. Spend 12 weeks laser-focused on setting the foundations for exponential growth.

Semi-annual fellowship investing $100K SAFE (<1% equity) in founders.

One of the world's largest multi-stage venture capital firms, investing across technology and healthcare since 1977.

We empower founders like you to become investor-ready. Our highly customized 3-month program in St.Gallen – founded by the University of St.Gallen, START Foundation, and Swiss Innovation Park East – equips you with crucial business strategy, connects you with seasoned mentors and investors, and fast-tracks your journey to venture capital.

UNDP Timbuktoo Pan-African Incubation Programme 2026: Open for AgriTech Startups - Eduloaded.com [...] UNDP Timbuktoo Pan-African Incubation Programme 2026: Open for AgriTech Startups [...] Applications are now open for the UNDP timbuktoo Pan-African Incubation Programme 2026 for AgriTech Startups. This program, hosted by the timbuktoo AgriTech Hub in Ghana with support from the Government of Japan, targets innovative AgriTech startups building solutions for Africa’s agricultural transformation. The deadline runs on a rolling basis, and the first cohort starts in May 2026. This article covers eligibility criteria, program benefits, and steps to apply. [...] The program aims to spot and nurture promising AgriTech startups through hands-on support. Accredited incubators in the timbuktoo ecosystem deliver structured incubation. Startups also connect with a pan-African network of founders, partners, and investors. On top of that, participants use the SIGMA digital platform, powered by Seedstars. It offers tools, mentorship matching, learning resources, and AI guidance to boost growth and investment readiness. You can find more details on the official UNDP webpage. [...] • Applications are open on a rolling basis for AgriTech startups based in Africa or targeting African markets with a prototype or MVP. • Selected startups get structured incubation, mentors, pan-African networks, and access to the SIGMA digital platform. • Benefits include investment readiness support, demo days, and pathways to acceleration and funding. • Cohorts start every three months from May 2026, with the first one kicking off soon. [...] Selected startups gain strong support to grow. Benefits include a mix of local and pan-African resources. Applications roll in quarterly, with cohorts every three months starting in May 2026. Check out these advantages: [...] • Structured incubation programmes delivered by leading African incubators • Access to experienced mentors, entrepreneurs and sector experts • Participation in a pan-African network of founders, incubators and ecosystem partners • Access to the SIGMA digital platform for startup development and progress tracking • Receive investment readiness support, including pitch development and investor engagement • Participate in demo days and ecosystem events across Africa • Access potential pathways to acceleration programmes and early-stage investment opportunities [...] To apply, submit on a rolling basis through quarterly cohorts. The first one kicks off in May 2026, with more every three months. Use the dedicated application form to get started. [...] Here’s a quick timeline for the cohorts: [...] Cohort Start Date Notes --- --- --- Cohort 1 May 2026 Ongoing applications Cohort 2 August 2026 Rolling admissions Cohort 3 November 2026 Every three months thereafter [...] The UNDP Timbuktoo Pan-African Incubation Programme 2026 offers AgriTech startups the tools, mentors, and networks needed to transform Africa’s agriculture. With rolling applications and cohorts starting in May 2026, now is the time to apply if your startup meets the criteria. Visit the application form today to join this exciting opportunity backed by the Government of Japan and Seedstars. [...] AgriTech startups based in Africa or targeting African ag markets with a prototype, committed team, and scalable solutions. [...] They get incubation programs, mentors, SIGMA platform access, investor support, demo days, and network connections. [...] Submit your application through the dedicated Airtable form on a rolling basis for quarterly cohorts. [...] When do the cohorts start? [...] The first cohort begins in May 2026, followed by August and November, with more every three months.

Investing in the next generation of Berkeley Founders. For students, researchers & alumni. No idea is too early. Accepting rolling applications; the earlier you apply the earlier you get a decision. Applications close on April 12th.

Cambridge Social Ventures' incubator helps all sorts of social ventures get started and grow through the next six to 12 months of their journey.

AI Tools for Creative Expression – 2026 – Stochastic Labs [...] Residency Subgroup [...] AI Tools for Creative Expression [...] Stochastic Labs is opening applications to our summer residency subgroup for innovators developing AI tools for creative expression. As with last year’s program, we welcome proposals from exceptional engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and artists who stand to significantly impact this emerging terrain. This residency is part of Stochastic’s 2026 summer session: Liveness + Agency. [...] Areas of interest [...] , tools for [...] , novel interface [...] … as well as intersections with malleable [...] Residencies include work space, housing (for those traveling from outside the bay area), and shop access. Residents participate in weekly lunches and dinners with the cohort and invited guests. Applicants may request funds to support travel and other expenses. [...] Dates: July 8th – September 15th (alternative dates may be possible)

Join the Agentic AI Accelerator by Anthropic and AWS — an exclusive program for early-stage startups to build and scale agentic AI solutions using Claude on Amazon Bedrock, with up to $70K in credits, expert mentorship, and investor access.

Apply to the 2025 SSC summer accelerator - build your startup alongside other Boston College student and alumni founders!

The world’s most promising AI startups will go head-to-head at SuperAI Genesis, 10-11 June 2026 in Singapore.

Global investment and transformation firm partnering with founders from seed through growth to build resilient, AI-enabled companies.

Global, technology-focused investment firm backing companies from early stage through buyouts.

San Francisco-based venture capital firm backing companies building revolutionary technologies.

Global multi-stage venture capital firm with a long history of backing enterprise, consumer and healthcare companies.

Multi-stage venture capital firm investing in products and founders across consumer, enterprise, infra, gaming, fintech and AI.

Global seed investors backing outlier founders across deep tech, AI, SaaS, fintech and healthcare.

Early-stage venture capital firm founded by Alexis Ohanian (also known as 776).