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Grants, accelerator and fellowship funding opportunities for founders and startups (September to October 2023)
You know how frustrating it is to hear about a funding opportunity the night it closes? We do too so we’ve curated the best opportunities out there. Check back for up-to-date information on available opportunities.
Entrepreneur Awards, Grants and Competitions
- Standard Chartered / DIFC Women in Technology Program
- Join a global network, accelerate your startup and stand a chance to win US$100k as one of top 3 startups
- For startups registered in the UAE with gender-diverse team with at least one female co-founder; ability to demonstrate the technology’s sustainable impact, whether social, economic or environmental and proof solution is innovative & scalable.
- Deadline: None
- Learn more and apply
- IFC She WINS Africa
- Up to 400 women-led startups across sub–Saharan Africa will be supported with skills training and capacity building to strengthen their businesses and help them more easily access financing. In addition to training women entrepreneurs, She WINS Africa will provide gender-smart investing training for funds, accelerators, and venture capital investors to help accelerate investments in women-led startups
- For women-led startups operating across sub-Saharan Africa, who have been in business for 1+ years. Applicants must be fluent in English or French.
- Deadline: N/A
- Learn more and apply
iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE
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- Compete for a share of EUR 100,000, get published on the iF Design Website, get introduced to a global design community, the design interested public and media. All projects selected by the jury receive an individual Winner Certificate.
- For companies, design studios, NGOs, foundations, social enterprises, public and other organizations. The iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE supports projects that contribute to improving our society. If you work towards achieving one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, your project is eligible. our project should already be established and you can apply with the same project a maximum of two times. Student concepts will not be accepted.
- Deadline: 5th October
- Learn more and apply
- Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
- Up to US$300,000 of unrestricted capital over 3 years. Rigorous on-going support.
- DRK has a rigorous requirement and pre-qualification. They are looking for organizations addressing a critical social or environmental issue as the focus of their work, Founders who intend to expand their impact significantly over time. Organizations operating in Africa, Europe, India, Latin America, and the United States. Independent nonprofit and impact first, mission-driven for-profit entities, including US 501(c)3 and its non-US equivalents, C corporations, B corporations, and hybrid organizations. Fiscally sponsored organizations in select cases where there is a plan to spin out (in our experience, independence creates stronger enabling conditions for growth). Post-pilot, pre-scale organizations.
- Deadline: Rolling application process throughout the year
- Learn more and apply
- European Prize for Women Innovators: the 2023
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- Almost EUR500 to top 3 startups each across three prize categories (9 in total) – The Women Innovators Prize, The Rising Innovators Prize and The EIT Women Leadership Award.
- For women entrepreneurs whose companies are established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Must have founded an innovative company registered at least 2 years before the call year. Those applying for the Rising Innovators category must be under 35. There is no age limit to apply for the Women Innovators or EIT Women Leadership prize.
- Deadline: 27th September
- Learn more and apply
- EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women MENA program
- Win access to a network of experts, mentors, and investors, support with developing your business strategy, growth plans, and leadership skills and the opportunity to participate in a global summit of EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women
- For Women entrepreneurs who are founding CEOs (at least 51%) of registered businesses in the MENA region. Their businesses must be: i) at least 2 years old ii) have annual revenues higher than USD 500,000 and iii) must be headquartered in the MENA region
- Deadline: 30th September
- Learn more and apply
- Carver Federal Savings Bank Minority Women-Owned Business Pitch 2023
- Apply for an Opportunity to Win the $10,000 Women Entrepreneur Pitch Grant in Partnership with The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. In addition, you get direct access to a member of the Carver Executive Team, guidance on grant implementation, deposits, and small business loans and a unique platform to showcase business vision and potential in front of expert judges and a wider audience.
- For minority women business owners, businesses located in the five boroughs of New York City, entrepreneurs eager to invest in equipment, technology, or energy efficiency to enhance their operations.
- Deadline: 30th September
- Learn more and apply
- The Momentum $1,000,000 Challenge
- Minimum $1,000,000 backing and opportunity to work with and learn from a skilled team of serial entrepreneurs
- For startups who have a story, skills and ambitions. It is not necessary to have an idea to apply for this challenge
- Deadline: N/A
- Learn more and apply
- The Africa Young Innovators for Health Award
- US$90,000 up for grabs – 2 X first prizes of US$30,000 and 2 X second prizes of US$15,000. Winners get three-month business mentorship from prominent business leaders. Media training, increased PR and press opportunities to present your innovation to a global audience
- This Award is for young African innovators (aged 21 to 35) who have already developed a minimum viable healthcare product/service (or are in the process of developing such a product or service) that contributes to achieve UHC in one of the four areas identified. Full details on program page
- Deadline: N/A
- Learn more and apply
- Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge
- Up to EUR150k in equity free prizes. Over US$3 billion has been raised by past finalists. Winners get 1-to-1 coaching & personal introductions with potential investors, partners and clients. Receive the Deep Tech Pioneer recognition & get a chance to be featured in our reports and invited to speak at future events.
- Open to startups that are: In the early-stage of development or the beginning of their commercialization phase (up to series A), based on a new technology, a scientific discovery or a complex engineering process, addressing an industrial, societal or environmental unmet need or creating a new market, composed of a team of at least 2 people, not a subsidiary or spin-off of an existing company.
- Deadline: 22nd September
- Learn more and apply
Genesis Ventures Dayone Acceleration Program
- The first ticket is £150,000 (approx. €175,000) for 10% equity in your company (at an implied post-money valuation of £1,500,000). You will also get help in building / completing your founding team, coaching and office hours by ex-founders.
- For concept and pre-seed startups with founding teams who have either quit or plan to quit their job and go full-time into their startups. Preference for strong teams with highly capable and ambitious founders with complementary skills; a business /product with the potential for huge and quick growth.
- Deadline: 6th October (Admissions work on a first-come-first-served basis).
- Learn more and apply
America’s Seed Fund
- Up to US$ 2 million equity free for early stage product development
- For deep technologies which show promise but their success hasn’t yet been validated.
- The project must have the potential to positively benefit society and to lead to significant outcomes in the commercial market. Most of the startups that have been funded have fewer than five employees, are recently formed and haven’t received funding from the US government before
- Deadline: none – accepts applications all-year round
- Learn more and apply
Accelerator and Incubator Programs
- a16z SPEEDRUN 2024: Accelerating Games x Tech
- US$500k investment, in person kickoff, live speakers and panels, dinners and mixers, invite-only demo day. The capital is combined with coaching by some of the games industry’s most seasoned talent, community development across the cohort and the industry, and content tailored toward early stage startups. Each SPEEDRUN program culminates with a Demo Day for the best early stage investors in the industry to meet some of the best entrepreneurs across Games x Tech
- For the best gaming founders at the earliest stages of their journey – from any country in the world
- Deadline: 30th September
- Learn more and apply
- Fintech Innovation Lab – London. Powered by Accenture
- Apply for a place in a highly competitive, 12-week program for an opportunity to connect with pertinent decision-makers in the fintech domain, insights to elevate your business and enhance visibility among influential industry players and aAccess to transformative partnerships with over 45 leading global financial institutions.
- For innovative fintech startup companies seeking to refine their offerings and aiming to collaborate with leading financial firms.
- Deadline: 22ndSeptember
- Learn more and apply
- Carbon13 Venture Builder (UK and Europe)
- Apply for an opportunity to get pre-seed investment from Carbon13 of £120,000, get support with accomplishing your milestones around team and culture, PMF, GTM, carbon case and access to a network of experts, mentors, and investors. You will also have an opportunity to participate in a demo day.
- For teams of two or more founders who are building high-potential climatetech ventures. Ventures that have the potential to reduce carbon emissions at scale. This is the only accelerator which can support a climate startup from any sector, which hasn’t raised equity finance yet, to understand its true potential on carbon. For UK and EU registered, early-stage startups
- Deadline: N/A
- Learn more and apply
- Designer Fund Partnership 2023
- Successful applicants receive equity investment of $500k, expert design support tailored to the startup’s needs, access to the community of top designers, founders, and advisors, assistance in hiring and managing elite design teams, product and brand design counsel and support with fundraising through introductions and pitch support.
- For early-stage startups, from Pre-seed to Series A. Companies aiming to leverage design to enhance health, prosperity, and sustainability
- Deadline: 22nd September
- Learn more and apply
The Mint Accelerator By Better Tomorrow Ventures
- US$500k investment for 10% ownership, 12-weeks in their San Francisco office, mentorship from the best and brightest in fintech and a lifetime community. Finally you get to present to their LPs, founders and other investors on BTV’s annual LP meeting day.
- The accelerator is specifically and exclusively for Fintech startups
- Deadline: N/A
- Learn more and apply
The Catalyst Fund
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- Generous program benefits including US$100,000 in cash, US$100,000 in venture building, access to network of 100+ global investors, up to US$175,000 in perks, dedicated PR and media support and being part of alumni
- For Africa-focused Fintech and climate resilience startups serving underserved and climate-vulnerable communities. Your team must comprise local founder with gender-balanced leadership teams. Pre-seed startups with a product in market, some customers and working towards product market fit.
- Deadline: N/A
- Learn more and apply
Standard Chartered Bank and Singapore Management University Women in Entrepreneurship Incubator
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- 20 female entrepreneurs from 10 early-stage impact-focused startups training, mentoring, and pitching exercises, as well as seed funding. The top five teams will receive up to S$80,000 in seed funding
- The program is for aspiring and current female entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Singapore, aiming for social impact. Participants are required to have a business or business idea that addresses at least one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and aligns with at least one of SMU’s Strategic Priorities of Digital Transformation, Sustainable Living, and Growth in Asia.
- Deadline: 1st September
- Learn more and apply
Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) Accelerator
- MBRIF Accelerator program offers a personalised learning journey aligned to founders’ most pressing needs. It’s equity and cost free.
- For startups based in the UAE (or interested in expanding to the UAE) Must be post-ideation with idea tuned to a developed product or service. Priority areas are Tech, Education, Clean Energy, Water, Transport, Health and Space.
- Deadline: N/A
- Learn more and apply
Founders Factory Africa Accelerator
- Receive up to $250,000 equity investment + $100k-$300k in non-dilutive funds.
- Access experts in product, growth, design, talent, tech, strategic partnerships, and investment, our Founders Factory Africa Studio team is well-positioned to help founders address a wide variety of challenges
- For ventures at idea, pre-seed and seed stage that are solving real problems and have the potential for massive scale
- Deadline: None
- Learn more and apply
Katapult Accelerator Programs:
- Three separate accelerators – Africa, Ocean and Climate
- EUR150k to EUR500k upfront investments and ongoing support to scale startups
- Participate in 3-month tailor-made accelerator program
- For impact startups with a strong focus on ocean, climate and food tech solutions.
- Learn more and apply
Baobab Network Africa Accelerator
- Up to $50,000 equity investment, 3 months of hands on venture support and lifetime access to the Baobab network.
- For tech-oriented start-ups that have built a minimum viable product (MVP) and have some early traction. Startups must be for-profit.
- Deadline: None
- Learn more and apply
- Startup Wise Guys SaaS Accelerator Program Africa:
- Up to EUR65k investment for up to 12% equity with a follow-on possibility
- Get access to weekly 1:1 support in areas like sales, marketing and pitching
- Access top notch industry experts joining a network of 600+ founders, 350+ founders and 200+ investors
- For English speaking East and West African early-stage digital B2B SaaS startups with initial traction, a solid team and a focus on one of these areas: Fintech, agriTech, Edtech, CleanTech and Retail Tech
- Deadline: 7th September 2023
- Learn more and apply
Nordic AMPlify USA
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- Support from US healthcare systems, funding opportunities by providing direct access to a large network of prominent US venture capital and investment firms
- For the most promising Nordic digital health and medtech companies interested in accelerating their U.S. market entrance and growth.
- Nordic Digital Health and MedTech companies working with sustainable solutions for future healthcare services such as eHealth, mHealth, Telehealth and Telemedicine and eSocial care
- Learn more and apply
Corporate Pilot Programs
- Pepsi Cola Labs Digital Marketing Program 2023
- PepsiCo Labs is looking for ground breaking MarTech solutions to take PepsiCo’s marketing abilities to the next level
- Focus areas are: agility and efficiency in generating personalized content and creatives (including measuring engagement and LTV), enhanced media planning visibility and accessibility across PepsiCo brands, enable live & blended fan experiences (music, sports, gaming).
- Deadline: None – ahead of kick off in Q3 2023
- Learn more and apply
Other Funding Options
- GMC coLABS
- US$50,000 to US$250,000 seed investments in form of revenue-share agreements over 5-years. You also get strategic advisory support from recruited industry experts.
- For women-focused startups (improving the lives of women and girls is at the core of your business), that are investment-ready, widely scalable and innovative
- Deadline: None: open year-round
- Learn more and apply
- The Growth Impact Fund
- £50,000 to £1,500,000 in early-stage, growing organisations. Investments can either be equity, patient debt or revenue share, giving founders a choice of what works best for them
- In addition, the Fund offers up to £15,000 in grants BEFORE the investment and up to £20,000 alongside the investment. Successful organisations receive access to a professional network, alumni, and opportunities for follow on funding and support to continue their growth.
- The Fund is for UK-based organisations of all sizes who are committed to improving diversity, solving inequity and looking to grow
- Deadline: None: open year-round
- Learn more and apply
Know Your Numbers Before You Apply
Even when it’s equity free, every investor or even grant provider wants to know you have what it takes to succeed. You will surely be asked for your unit economics and be judged on how you communicate your ambition. Our resources and financial modelling tools are the easiest and most affordable solution for founders to know your numbers and confidently communicate with investors
