Top 25 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in 2025
As the startup ecosystem continues to flourish, identifying suitable funding opportunities becomes crucial for early-stage entrepreneurs. Below is a detailed list of the Top 25 grants for early-stage startups in 2025, complete with descriptions, eligibility criteria, award amounts, and links to their respective sources.
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1. Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants
Description: This initiative provides funding, technology, and mentorship to small businesses, focusing on business development and AI implementation.
Award Amount: $25,000 cash grant, an AI technology package valued at $10,000, and access to mentorship programs.
Who Can Apply: Businesses located in North America (excluding Quebec) with annual revenues under $7.5 million and 75 or fewer employees.
Focus: Business development, AI implementation
Application Deadline: Not specified, check the official website.
2. Hustler's MicroGrant
Description: Monthly grants offered through a collaboration between Deja Vu Parker and HerSuiteSpot to bolster small businesses.
Award Amount: $1,000
Who Can Apply: Small businesses
Focus: Supporting essential expenses
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
3. 500 Global Flagship Accelerator
Description: A four-month accelerator program that offers seed funding, mentorship, and access to a global network.
Award Amount: $150,000 investment for a 6% equity stake.
Who Can Apply: Early-stage startup founders.
Focus: Seed funding, mentorship, networking
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
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4. Visa Everywhere Initiative
Description: An annual program for technology startups that leverage Visa's products to solve payment or commerce challenges.
Award Amount: Varies, typically $10,000 to $100,000.
Who Can Apply: Technology startups with a product or service that integrates with Visa's network.
Focus: Technology, payments, commerce
Application Deadline: Not specified, check the official website.
5. The Freed Fellowship Grant
Description: A monthly grant aimed at small business owners, with additional funding and mentorship opportunities.
Award Amount: $500 monthly, with a chance to win a $2,500 end-of-year grant.
Who Can Apply: Any micro or small business owner in the U.S.
Focus: General small business support, mentorship
Application Deadline: Monthly.
6. Skip Grants
Description: Multiple grants offered throughout the year, including instant grants and training programs.
Award Amount: $1,000 to $10,000 or more.
Who Can Apply: Varies by program; must create a free Skip account.
Focus: General small business support, training
Application Deadline: Varies.
7. NASE Growth Grant
Description: Quarterly grants available for members of the National Association for the Self-Employed.
Award Amount: Varies.
Who Can Apply: Eligible NASE members.
Focus: General business growth
Application Deadline: Applications reviewed in January, April, July, and October.
8. Pivot. Grow. Micro Grant
Description: A quarterly grant program designed to help small businesses cover essential expenses.
Award Amount: $2,500.
Who Can Apply: Small businesses.
Focus: Essential expenses and growth opportunities
Application Deadline: Rolling.
9. HoneyBook January Jumpstart Grant
Description: Prize packages offered to U.S.-based businesses to aid in their development.
Award Amount: Prize packages valued over $10,000, including a $5,000 professional development budget and a one-year HoneyBook Premium subscription.
Who Can Apply: U.S.-based businesses.
Focus: Business Development
Application Deadline: Not specified, check the official website.
10. Pitch Perfect Grant
Description: A collaboration aimed at growing businesses through financial assistance.
Award Amount: $5,000
Who Can Apply: Individuals aged 18 and older in the U.S. or Canada with an active business.
Focus: Business growth
Application Deadline: January 30, 2025.
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11. The Big Idea Grant by Yippity Doo
Description: This grant supports women entrepreneurs through funding and mentorship.
Award Amount: $1,000, plus mentorship and resources.
Who Can Apply: Women entrepreneurs with a clear business vision.
Focus: Women entrepreneurs, mentorship
Application Deadline: Rolling, one recipient per month.
12. Illinois Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs
Description: Provides state match for companies already awarded federal SBIR and STTR grants.
Award Amount: Varies
Who Can Apply: Small businesses conducting R&D on technology relevant to federal agencies.
Focus: Research and development, tech commercialization
Application Deadline: June 30, 2025.
13. Illinois Tech Incubator Enhancement Grants Program (TIEG)
Description: Grants focused on modernizing tech incubators within Illinois.
Award Amount: Varies.
Who Can Apply: Tech incubators
Focus: Support for facilities and equipment for startups.
Application Deadline: March 17, 2025.
14. Illinois Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program
Description: Offers financial assistance for capital improvement projects targeting socially disadvantaged companies or very small businesses.
Award Amount: Varies.
Who Can Apply: Businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or those classified as very small.
Focus: Capital improvements, operational efficiency, sustainability
Application Deadline: April 7, 2025.
15. Brace Award Venture Competition
Description: Specifically designed for early-stage oncology companies to compete for substantial funding.
Award Amount: Up to $600,000 in funding.
Who Can Apply: Early-stage oncology companies.
Focus: Oncology, healthcare startups.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2025.
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16. Traction Boost Accelerator Program
Description: A dedicated program focusing on startups enhancing their product through testing.
Award Amount: $2,000 to $5,000.
Who Can Apply: Startups focusing on product testing
Focus: Product testing
Application Deadline: April 8, 2025.
17. Flat 6 Labs Seed Program
Description: Offers seed funding specifically for startups across the Middle East.
Award Amount: $115,000.
Who Can Apply: Startups based in Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Focus: Regional startup funding
Application Deadline: February 15, 2025.
18. Santander X Cultivate Small Business Grant
Description: Designed to support early-stage food businesses owned by women, BIPOC, or immigrants.
Award Amount: Up to $13,000 in capital grants, plus a 12-week educational curriculum.
Who Can Apply: Early-stage women, BIPOC, or immigrant-owned food businesses.
Focus: Food businesses, minority-owned businesses.
Application Deadline: Not specified, check the official website.
19. EIC Accelerator
Description: European funding providing support for startups and SMEs with innovative and impactful products or services.
Award Amount: Grants up to €2.5 million and equity investments between €0.5 and €10 million.
Who Can Apply: Startups and SMEs with high-impact products/services.
Focus: Innovation, market disruption
Application Deadline: Continuous short applications; full application deadlines on March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025.
20. Awesome Foundation
Description: Provides monthly $1,000 grants with no requirements attached to support various projects.
Award Amount: $1,000
Who Can Apply: Any project and its creator
Focus: General purpose projects
Application Deadline: Monthly
21. Antler Global Startup Program
Description: An early-stage venture capital program designed to support startups globally.
Award Amount: Varies
Who Can Apply: Early-stage startups
Focus: Global startup support.
Application Deadline: Check website
22. Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition
Description: Funding opportunity tailored for minority-owned businesses.
Award Amount: Varies, reaching thousands of dollars.
Who Can Apply: Businesses at least 51% minority-owned, in operation for over two years, with fewer than 50 employees and under $2.5M annual revenue.
Focus: Minority-owned businesses.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
23. Skip's Instant Grant Program
Description: Offers instant financial support for small businesses that apply through the Skip platform.
Award Amount: Varies, typically between $1,000 to $5,000.
Who Can Apply: Small business owners with a registered Skip account.
Focus: Immediate cash flow assistance for businesses.
Application Deadline: Rolling applications.
24. DOL Women’s Bureau Grants
Description: These grants support projects that aim to promote gender equality in the workplace.
Award Amount: Varies based on the project scope.
Who Can Apply: Nonprofits and organizations working toward women's empowerment.
Focus: Gender equity, workplace improvement
Application Deadline: Check the website for specific dates.
25. BIPOC Business Grant Program
Description: Aims to uplift BIPOC entrepreneurs through financial assistance and additional resources.
Award Amount: Up to $10,000.
Who Can Apply: BIPOC-owned businesses.
Focus: Business development and outreach
Application Deadline: Not specified, check the official website for updates.
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FAQ
Q: What grants are available for small businesses focusing on AI implementation?
A: The Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants provide $25,000 cash and an AI technology package. Learn more about Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants.
Q: How much funding does the Hustler's MicroGrant offer?
A: The Hustler's MicroGrant provides $1,000 monthly to support essential expenses for small businesses. Find out more about Hustler's MicroGrant.
Q: Can early-stage startups get mentorship along with funding?
A: Yes, the 500 Global Flagship Accelerator offers $150,000 investment plus mentorship and networking opportunities. Discover more about the 500 Global Flagship Accelerator.
Q: Is there a specific grant for food businesses owned by minorities or women?
A: The Santander X Cultivate Small Business Grant specifically supports early-stage women, BIPOC, or immigrant-owned food businesses with grants up to $13,000. Learn more about Santander X Cultivate Small Business Grant.
Q: What is the application process like for the Visa Everywhere Initiative?
A: Technology startups can apply for the Visa Everywhere Initiative, which typically awards $10,000 to $100,000. The specific application process can be found on their official website without a defined deadline. Explore Visa Everywhere Initiative.
Q: Are there grants specifically for minority-owned businesses?
A: The Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition is designed to support businesses that are at least 51% minority-owned. Learn about the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition.
Q: What funding does the EIC Accelerator offer?
A: The EIC Accelerator provides grants up to €2.5 million and equity investments ranging from €0.5 to €10 million for innovative startups and SMEs. Discover the EIC Accelerator.
Q: How can I apply for the Illinois Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program?
A: This state program offers a match for companies that received federal SBIR and STTR grants. The application deadline is June 30, 2025. Find out more about Illinois SBIR.
Q: Are there grants available for women entrepreneurs?
A: Yes, the Big Idea Grant by Yippity Doo supports women entrepreneurs with $1,000 and additional resources. Learn more about the Big Idea Grant.
Q: What grant programs are available for startups specializing in oncology?
A: The Brace Award Venture Competition offers funding up to $600,000 for early-stage oncology companies. Discover the Brace Award Venture Competition.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
