Funding for founders at the idea or early stage, sorted by what it costs you. Grants and competitions cost nothing, accelerators and angels take equity, and venture funds from fresh SEC filings show who is raising money to invest this quarter.
87 listings open as of Oct 30, 2026. The first 80 are below; the Finder shows them all with filters.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Amount: Up to $1M: $500K for 10% on a SAFE, plus up to $500K more in the next qualifying round · Due Nov 1, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Very early teams with an idea, prototype or early product who are already building. 12-week in-person residency in San Francisco; founders can apply from outside the US. Applying is free.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Y Combinator
Amount: $500,000: 7% plus an uncapped MFN SAFE · Due Nov 2, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Early-stage startups and founders. The Winter 2027 batch runs January to March in San Francisco. On-time applicants hear back by December 11.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Founder Institute
Amount: Amount not listed · Due Nov 3, 2026 · Texas
Who qualifies: Pre-seed founders in the Austin cohort (Nov 17, 2026 to Feb 10, 2027). This is a paid program with a $1199 entrance fee, not a cash investment; companies pledge a 2.5% warrant that activates only at a qualifying outside financing.
Amount: Amount not listed · Due Nov 11, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Startups whose product launched on or after January 1, 2024 and that have raised no more than $10M. $225 non-refundable entry fee. Finals are in Austin in March 2027.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Techstars
Amount: $220K (Techstars standard accelerator investment) · Due Nov 18, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Remote-first program for domain-expert founders in North American time zones, with emphasis on robotics, energy, applied and physical AI and materials science. Three in-person offsites, no relocation.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Techstars
Amount: $220K (Techstars standard accelerator investment) · Due Nov 18, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Founders in any sector, with priority for AI/ML, robotics, healthtech, tech bio and critical infrastructure. Program starts March 8, 2027.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Techstars
Amount: $220,000 ($200K uncapped MFN SAFE plus $20K for 5% common) · Due Nov 18, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Founders building in markets large enough for $1B+ annual revenue, with focus areas including health, climate, AI/ML, fintech, supply chains, future of work and enterprise SaaS. Founders can be based anywhere. Program starts March 8, 2027.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (Hiring Our Heroes), supported by the FedEx Founder's Fund
Amount: Four $10,000 grants and one $25,000 grant · Due Dec 15, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: For-profit businesses at least 51% owned by a veteran or military spouse, with 3 to 20 employees and under $5 million in annual revenue, located in an economically vulnerable community or showing financial hardship. Owner must live in the 50 states.
Competition (prize money, no repayment) · Rice University
Amount: More than $1 million in cash, investments and prizes · Due Jan 29, 2027 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Student-driven startups with at least two current student founders or team members from any college or university, under $300K equity raised and under $150K revenue in any 12-month period before July 1, 2026.
Competition (prize money, no repayment) · Halstead Bead, Inc.
Amount: $7,500 cash grand prize plus $1,000 gift card; finalists get $1,000 cash · Due May 1, 2027 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Emerging jewelry artists working primarily in silver. Applicants answer 15 business questions and submit a design portfolio. Full eligibility is in the downloadable application.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · City and County of San Francisco, Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Amount: Up to $10,000 per business location (reimbursement) · Due Jun 11, 2027 · California
Who qualifies: San Francisco storefront businesses open to the public with an active Business Account Number, under $5M revenue (single location) and 100 or fewer employees, making accessibility improvements.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Antler
Amount: Typically $500K to $1M initial commitment plus $650K in partner credits · Rolling, apply any time · California, New York, Texas
Who qualifies: Pre-seed founders in San Francisco, New York City and Austin. Antler reviews applications year-round and invites a select group monthly.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Band of Angels
Amount: Amount not listed · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Seed-stage high technology and life science companies, with a monthly deal cycle in Silicon Valley (hybrid with Zoom). No fees for presenting companies. Does not invest in real estate, restaurants, retail or funds.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · TCA Venture Group (Tech Coast Angels)
Amount: Up to several million dollars with syndicate partners · Rolling, apply any time · California
Who qualifies: Startups with a strong team, a defensible idea and early traction raising seed, bridge or early Series A. Most investments are in Southern California companies.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Central Texas Angel Network
Amount: Amount not listed · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Pre-seed, seed and Series A companies, US-based strongly preferred; you do not have to be in Texas. Takes preferred equity, capped convertible notes or capped post-money SAFEs.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Golden Seeds
Amount: Typically $125,000 to $350,000 in a company's first round of outside capital · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US-domiciled women-led companies with at least one woman in an operating C-suite role, a product in beta or later, and proof-of-concept revenue or significant pilots (consumer products need over $1M trailing revenue).
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Keiretsu Forum
Amount: Amount not listed · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Startups apply online to present at the chapter nearest them; US chapters include Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, Silicon Valley, South Florida, Washington D.C. and others. Fees vary by region.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Launchpad Venture Group
Amount: Main Forum companies raising a priced equity round of $500K to $2M · Rolling, apply any time · Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine
Who qualifies: Early-stage science or tech-driven startups headquartered in New England raising a priced round at pre-seed, seed or Series A. Apply through the online prescreen form.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · New York Angels
Amount: Member investments of $100K to $1.5M per deal · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: New York-based angel group that hears live pitches from 10+ entrepreneurs every month. Investments span the United States. Apply through its Gust application.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Pasadena Angels
Amount: Typically $150K to $750K · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Seed+ US C-corps (or Canadian equivalent) with at least an MVP and completed customer discovery. Primary focus is California, but applications from across the US are welcome.
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Pear VC
Amount: $500K to $2M · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Any founder starting a company, including solo founders and teams that have raised up to $2M. Teams must relocate to the SF Bay Area. Two cohorts a year (winter and summer).
Equity investment (investors take ownership) · Houston Angel Network (HAN)
Amount: Investment amount not listed; $100 application fee · Rolling, apply any time · Texas
Who qualifies: Early-stage companies raising pre-seed, seed, bridge or Series A as equity or convertible debt, with a working prototype. Deal committees cover energy, life sciences, consumer, tech and aerospace.
Amount: $15,000 winner each month; monthly winners also qualify for one of three $75,000 year-end grants · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Women 18 or older whose business is at least 50% women-owned and based in the United States or Canada. Any business category qualifies, including revenue-generating nonprofits. There is a $15 application fee.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)
Amount: Up to $4,000 · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: NASE members in good standing. Annual, Veteran and Gold members can apply right away; monthly members must wait 90 days. Applications submitted October to December are reviewed in January.
Amount: $15,000 each month for that month's business category · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Women-owned businesses in the month's featured category (November: STEM; December: Fashion & Interior Design). One Amber Grant application stays active for category grants for 12 months.
Amount: $15,000 winner each month · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Women-owned businesses still in the idea phase or with under $10,000 in sales. Same single application and $15 fee as the Amber Grant; US or Canada, owner 18 or older.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · CDC Small Business Finance
Amount: $10,000 to $50,000 microloans in California; SBA 7(a) Community Advantage $30,000 to $350,000 · Rolling, apply any time · California
Who qualifies: Startups and existing small businesses, with a focus on California. Startups need a 10% down payment and management or industry experience; limited collateral does not disqualify.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank), Small Business Finance Center
Amount: Loan size set by the lender; IBank guarantees part of the loan · Rolling, apply any time · California
Who qualifies: California small businesses with 1 to 750 employees that have trouble getting a bank loan. You apply through a participating lender, and IBank guarantees part of the loan.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · Main Street Launch
Amount: Up to $350,000 · Rolling, apply any time · California
Who qualifies: New or existing for-profit businesses located in California, 100% owned by US citizens, that can show they can repay from historical or projected revenue.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · Working Solutions (CDFI)
Amount: $5,000 to $100,000 · Rolling, apply any time · California
Who qualifies: California entrepreneurs, including pre-revenue businesses and those under 1 year old. SSN or ITIN borrowers are served, with no minimum revenue, credit score or collateral.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · U.S. Small Business Administration
Amount: Up to $5 million · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: For-profit US businesses that meet SBA size standards, are creditworthy, and can't get the credit on reasonable terms elsewhere. Apply through an SBA-approved lender.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · U.S. Small Business Administration
Amount: Up to $50,000 (average about $13,000) · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Active, profit-seeking US small businesses within SBA size limits; some nonprofit childcare centers also qualify. Loans come through nonprofit intermediary lenders.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · U.S. Department of the Treasury (run by states, territories and Tribal governments)
Amount: Nearly $10 billion program; amounts set by each state's program · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Small businesses apply through programs run by their state, DC, territory or Tribal government. Programs include loan participation, loan guarantees, collateral support, capital access programs and venture capital.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · Houston Business Development, Inc. (HBDI)
Amount: $5,000 to $350,000; start-up loans typically $25,000 to $75,000; Fast Track $5,000 to $35,000 · Rolling, apply any time · Texas
Who qualifies: For-profit businesses in the Houston metro area or surrounding counties, with one job created per $35,000 borrowed. Start-up loans need a 33% owner contribution and 3 years of industry experience.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · LiftFund (CDFI)
Amount: $500 to $1 million; rates 0% to 17.50% · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Startups through established small businesses, including owners with limited credit, collateral or experience. Based in San Antonio and lends nationwide, including Texas and California.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · Office of the Governor, Texas Economic Development & Tourism
Amount: Loans of $5,000 to $5 million enrolled by lenders · Rolling, apply any time · Texas
Who qualifies: Texas businesses with fewer than 500 employees, including very small businesses under 10 employees. You apply for the loan through an approved financial institution, which enrolls it in CAP.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · Office of the Governor, Texas Economic Development & Tourism
Amount: Loans of $5,000 to $20 million; state guarantees up to 80% of unpaid principal · Rolling, apply any time · Texas
Who qualifies: Small businesses with fewer than 500 employees and at least 51% of employees in Texas. Apply through an approved lender or ask your lender to enroll.
Loan (you repay it with interest) · USDA Rural Development
Amount: 85% guarantee on loans under $5 million; 80% on $5 million or more · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: For-profit or nonprofit businesses, cooperatives and individuals starting or running a business in rural areas of 50,000 people or fewer. Apply through a participating lender.
Revenue-based financing (you repay from a share of revenue) · Lighter Capital
Amount: Up to $4M per plan · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Tech startups with at least $200K in ARR (or $15K MRR) from software, SaaS, tech services or a similar sector, based in the US, Canada or Australia. Profitability is not required.
Revenue-based financing (you repay from a share of revenue) · Shopify
Amount: Up to $2M · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Select Shopify merchants in the US, Canada, UK and Australia who have sold on Shopify for at least 90 days. Eligibility is set automatically from store data, and repayment is a fixed percentage of daily sales. US loans are issued by WebBank.
Revenue-based financing (you repay from a share of revenue) · Stripe
Amount: Amount not listed · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Businesses that process payments on Stripe. Eligibility is based on payment volume and history on Stripe and shows in the Stripe Dashboard. In the US, loans come from Celtic Bank or Lead Bank and repayment is a fixed percentage of daily sales.
Revenue-based financing (you repay from a share of revenue) · Wayflyer
Amount: $10,000 to $20 million · Rolling, apply any time · Nationwide
Who qualifies: Businesses with at least 6 months of trading history and $10,000+ in monthly sales. The US is a supported country of incorporation. Offers a cash advance repaid as a percentage of revenue, or a fixed-installment term loan.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Environmental Protection Agency
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 8, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Environmental Protection Agency
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 8, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Environmental Protection Agency
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 8, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Environmental Protection Agency
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 8, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Fouling on the TDR sensor used for TLI is a persistent problem. The TDR is necessary to provide accurate and precise readings for fuel measurement. Over time, TDRs can experience sensor fouling through a buildup of crystallization and other contaminants on TDR...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Inexpensive, highly maneuverable, commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threaten tactical forces, critical infrastructure, and installations. Current defenses are limited by cost, by the operator attention they require, and by their...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
The Air Force requires light weight, compactly packaged optical systems to perform critical beam control functions for airborne high energy laser systems. The purpose of this topic is not to develop new outer moldlines or turret designs for airborne systems...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
The PF300 flash bulbs, that provide high-intensity illumination for high-speed video acquisition, are no longer in production. The objective is to award a contract to a small business to engineer, design, and manufacture a modern, robust, reusable replacement...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Here is a draft for a Direct to Phase II SBIR solicitation topic based on the technical capabilities of the data extraction and automated path-planning pipeline. The content has been carefully structured to be precise and concise while protecting all...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
This topic seeks the development of a computationally efficient engineering-level model to predict the formation and characteristics of the "spurt" in fluid cavity created jets. The hydrodynamic spurt is the initial, often unsteady, ejection of material from...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
The lack of a non-destructive, high-precision launching method for high length-to-diameter (L/D) projectiles fundamentally degrades the fidelity of Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) data. For the Air Force, this deficiency directly compromises the...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Context & BackgroundModern Department of Defense (DoD) manufacturing and depot sustainment environments increasingly depend on agile automation to scale up production and maintain rapid operational readiness. While automated assembly technologies have matured...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Air-to-air refueling (AAR) is a critical Department of the Air Force and Department of the Navy capability enabling global mobility, long-range strike, combat airpower projection, and sustained aviation operations. However, aerial refueling remains one of the...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Navy ships have a chilled water system that runs throughout the ship providing cooling to electronic equipment. Operating at a nominal temperature of 42°F, the chilled water system creates a sizable load on the ship’s electrical plant. The DDG 51 class is...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Inexpensive, highly maneuverable, commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threaten tactical forces, critical infrastructure, and installations. Current defenses are limited by cost, by the operator attention they require, and by their...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
The operational challenge on the Eastern Flank is the enablement of U.S. Army forces, operating within a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and joint coalition framework, to sense, understand, exploit, attack, and protect across a contested...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Distributed air operations increasingly depend on timely awareness of objects, hazards, and activities beyond the field of view of any individual platform. Cooperative perception offers a path to extend sensing coverage and reduce blind spots by allowing...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Fire represents a grave hazard to Navy vessels. Recent fire events have propagated through joiner bulkheads and resulted in significant fire damage, which poses a substantial threat to personnel and equipment. Uncontrolled fires can propagate throughout a ship...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
IOUs are used on all Navy DDG 51 class ships to transfer Steering Control, Machinery Control, and Damage Control signals, as well as Interior Communication Alarm and Indication, Synchro and Digital Navigation data. They are also used on USN LHA(R) class ships,...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Flight test missions that traverse multiple Test Ranges (e.g. hypersonic vehicles/weapons, cruise missiles, long-range weapon systems etc.) or that require different test support infrastructures (e.g. sea range, targets, threat simulators, etc.) at remote Test...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
The scaled production of C/C-UHTCs composites (UHTCMCs) for defense applications requires the manufacturing of UHTC precursors in quantities sufficient to support acquisition programs. This SBIR will establish production of an AFRL-patented UHTC preceramic...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
High-power fiber lasers operating in the 2-micron regime offer critical advantages for defense, medical, and industrial applications, including eye-safer directed energy, advanced sensing, and precision materials processing. While kilowatt-class,...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Power source performance in terms of power and energy density is the major objective with affordability, safety, and reliability secondary objectives of Air Force Armament Directorate programs for advanced reserve power sources for weapon systems. Secondary...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
ONR requests proposals for existing technology demonstration platforms, prototypes, and commercial products that provide domestically-sourced, low-cost HUDs) for first-person view (FPV) drone pilots, and augmented reality (AR) capabilities for Forward...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
This topic is intended for technology proven ready to move directly into a Phase II. Therefore, a Phase I award is not required. The offeror is required to provide detailed documentation in the Direct to Phase II proposal which demonstrates accomplishment of a...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of War (DoD)
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Nov 25, 2026 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
AEDC requires a method to resolve temperature and emissivity across the surface of test articles. Specifically, there is a need for a high-speed low-temperature measurement solution that overlaps with other higher-temperature capabilities. The solution...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of Health and Human Services
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Apr 6, 2027 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of Health and Human Services
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Apr 6, 2027 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of Health and Human Services
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Apr 6, 2027 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
Grant (free money, no repayment) · Department of Health and Human Services
Amount: Set by the agency solicitation (see the topic) · Due Apr 6, 2027 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses (under 500 employees, majority US-owned) doing research and development. SBIR and STTR have their own eligibility rules; STTR needs a research institution partner.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (also known as America's Seed Fund) are major sources of early-stage funding for U.S. technology development and commercialization. NIH SBIR and STTR awards...
Grant (free money, no repayment) · National Science Foundation
Amount: Phase I amount set in the current NSF solicitation · Due Jul 7, 2027 · Nationwide
Who qualifies: US small businesses with a new technology that carries technical risk. NSF requires a short Project Pitch first; only invited pitches can submit a full proposal. 268 NSF technology topics are open on SBIR.gov right now.
NSF currently lists 268 open topic areas on SBIR.gov. Start with the Project Pitch on seedfund.nsf.gov.
241 US venture funds sized $10M to $150M filed a new Form D with the SEC in 2026Q3. A filing means the fund is raising money from its own investors, not that it takes cold pitches. Check each fund's own site first.
Costanoa LA Growth, L.P., PALO ALTO, California. Fund size $50M, filed Sep 30, 2026, phone (650) 388-9310 (from the filing). SEC filing
Costanoa LA Early, L.P., PALO ALTO, California. Fund size $50M, filed Sep 30, 2026, phone (650) 388-9310 (from the filing). SEC filing
AI All Star Fund 2, L.P., PORTOLA VALLEY, California. Fund size $50M, filed Sep 30, 2026, phone 6503245980 (from the filing). SEC filing
BRVC Relativity Space LLC, LOS ANGELES, California. Fund size $50M, filed Sep 30, 2026, phone 310-966-1444 (from the filing). SEC filing
House Holdings 1.7, LP, ENGLEWOOD, New Jersey. Fund size $14.6M, filed Sep 30, 2026, phone (201) 218-4136 (from the filing). SEC filing
Fundomo TT-002, LP, Keene, New Hampshire. Fund size $12.5M, filed Sep 30, 2026, phone (315) 505-0004 (from the filing). SEC filing
Fundomo SA-001, LP, Keene, New Hampshire. Fund size $10.3M, filed Sep 30, 2026, phone (315) 505-0004 (from the filing). SEC filing
SCP Opportunity CXXXV LP, BETHESDA, Maryland. Fund size $10M, filed Sep 30, 2026, phone 240-418-2649 (from the filing). SEC filing
8VC AI Fund X, LLC, AUSTIN, Texas. Fund size $11M, filed Sep 25, 2026, phone 512-370-2276 (from the filing). SEC filing
WndrCo Holdings ATM LP, SAN FRANCISCO, California. Fund size $78.8M, filed Sep 24, 2026, phone 424-363-3066 (from the filing). SEC filing
Incisive VC Fund II, LP, SEATTLE, Washington. Fund size $25M, filed Sep 24, 2026, phone 206-618-1192 (from the filing). SEC filing
Overmatch Quartermaster B SPV LLC, AUSTIN, Texas. Fund size $20.5M, filed Sep 24, 2026, phone 8186217734 (from the filing). SEC filing
Substance I, LP, Berkeley, California. Fund size $20M, filed Sep 24, 2026, phone (408) 505-2281 (from the filing). SEC filing
Verdis Seed Venture Capital IV, L.P., WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pennsylvania. Fund size $150M, filed Sep 23, 2026, phone (610) 397-1600 (from the filing). SEC filing
AHOY CAPITAL SPINNAKER FUND III, LP, PALO ALTO, California. Fund size $35M, filed Sep 23, 2026, phone 650-384-9434 (from the filing). SEC filing
Javelin Venture Partners V-A SPV IV, LLC, SAN FRANCISCO, California. Fund size $24.5M, filed Sep 23, 2026, phone 415-471-1300 (from the filing). SEC filing
GV Fund II LP, SAN DIEGO, California. Fund size $50M, filed Sep 22, 2026, phone (360) 340-9337 (from the filing). SEC filing
EGT 20 LLC, NEW YORK, New York. Fund size $27.1M, filed Sep 22, 2026, phone (614) 458-8722 (from the filing). SEC filing
Imagine Access Fund LLC - Series I, MIAMI, Florida. Fund size $10M, filed Sep 22, 2026, phone 4154846514 (from the filing). SEC filing
RPM Ventures Astro I, LP, ANN ARBOR, Michigan. Fund size $100M, filed Sep 21, 2026, phone 734-332-1700 (from the filing). SEC filing
Accretion Capital Partners LP, MIAMI, Florida. Fund size $75M, filed Sep 21, 2026, phone 3054097879 (from the filing). SEC filing
Kindred Flex IV, L.P., SAN FRANCISCO, California. Fund size $50M, filed Sep 21, 2026, phone 415-938-8860 (from the filing). SEC filing
Tamarack Global CHAOS III, LP, GREENWICH, Connecticut. Fund size $40M, filed Sep 21, 2026, phone 646-706-6980 (from the filing). SEC filing
Menlo AI Neo Labs, L.P., MENLO PARK, California. Fund size $35M, filed Sep 21, 2026, phone 650 854 8540 (from the filing). SEC filing
Altimeter Catskill Fund I, L.P., BOSTON, Massachusetts. Fund size $25M, filed Sep 21, 2026, phone (617) 310-6180 (from the filing). SEC filing
Soma Capital AI Fund VII, LP, MIAMI BEACH, Florida. Fund size $32.5M, filed Sep 18, 2026, phone (650) 714-6220 (from the filing). SEC filing
The stages of startup funding, in plain words
Most startups start with savings, friends and family, or a small grant. A pre-seed or seed round from angels or an accelerator usually comes next, in exchange for a slice of the company. Series A and later rounds come from venture capital funds once there is real traction.
Non-dilutive money such as SBIR grants, competitions and revenue-based financing lets you grow without giving up ownership. If your company does real research, SBIR is often the largest check you can get without selling equity.
How to read the venture fund list
The venture funds below filed a new Form D with the SEC in the latest quarterly data set. A Form D means the fund is raising money from its own investors. It does not mean the fund invests in your industry or takes cold pitches, and some are vehicles for a single deal. Look up the fund's own website and portfolio before you reach out.
Questions
What is the easiest startup funding to get?
For most founders it is money that matches what they already have: savings, revenue, a small loan or a grant they clearly qualify for. Accelerators and angels are competitive and take equity.
Do accelerators take equity?
Most do. Y Combinator and Techstars invest a set amount for a set share, which is shown on each listing when the official page states it.
Is the Funding Finder free?
Yes. Browsing, filtering and the weekly match email are free. You never need an account to see the listings.
Where do the listings come from?
Federal grants come from the Grants.gov API, SBIR and STTR topics from SBIR.gov, venture funds from the SEC Form D quarterly data set, and every other program was checked by hand on its official page. Each listing links to its source.
How do you keep it current?
A refresh runs every Monday morning. It pulls the federal data again, removes anything past its deadline, re-checks every official link and hides programs whose page has gone dead.
Do you take a cut if I get funded?
No. KenjiAI does not take a fee or commission from any program listed in the Finder. Apply directly on the official site.
Sources: Grants.gov, SBIR.gov, the SEC Form D data set and each program's official page. KenjiAI takes no fee from any program listed here. Data refreshed Oct 30, 2026; the refresh runs every Monday. See also our funding and credit partners and other free tools.