Top 25 Grants for AI Startups in North America in 2025
AI startups are flourishing in North America, driven by groundbreaking innovations and substantial funding opportunities. Here’s a detailed guide to the top 25 grants available for AI startups in 2025, with essential details and links to help you get started.
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1. Lenovo AI Innovators Program
Description: Provides a cash grant, an AI technology package, and mentorship. Award Amount: $25,000 cash grant, $10,000 AI technology package Mentorship: Access to Goodie Nation and Chantel Cohen mentorship programs. Eligibility: North American businesses (excluding Quebec), under $7.5 million in annual revenue, and 75 or fewer employees. Focus: Business development and AI implementation. Learn more about Lenovo AI Innovators Program
2. Hessian.AI Startup Competition 2025
Description: Early-stage competition for AI startups and entrepreneurs with innovative AI ideas. Award Amount: Up to €5,000 Benefits: Coaching, workshops, networking, branding, and potential workspace access. Eligibility: Startups 2 years old or younger. Additional: Connections with advanced startups from the AI Accelerator RISING. Discover the Hessian.AI Startup Competition 2025
3. Google.org Accelerator for Generative AI
Description: Funding and support for organizations using generative AI for social impact. Funding Range: $500,000 to $2 million+ Support: 6 months of structured support, Google employee pro bono assistance, technical training, Google Cloud credits. Eligibility: Nonprofits, civic entities, academic institutions, and social enterprises. Focus: Projects in knowledge, skills & learning, scientific advancement, and resilient communities. Learn more about Google.org Accelerator for Generative AI
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4. UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge Tourism 2025
Description: A challenge to innovate in the tourism sector using AI. Categories: Brand, Promotion and Marketing; Smart Destinations and Deep Technologies; Education and technology; Efficiency and operations. Benefits: Presentation at UN Tourism Demo Day, acceleration at SPARK, access to UN Tourism network. Evaluation: Scalability, product/technology maturity, team maturity, partnerships, SDG contribution. Deadline: March 31, 2025 Discover UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge Tourism 2025
5. U.S. Army xTech Live Pitch Competition at CES 2025
Description: Pitch competition for small to medium businesses focusing on AI, IoT/Sensors, or Robotics. Award Amount: Up to 10 winners can each receive $10,000. Opportunity: Pitch directly to the Department of Defense. Learn more about U.S. Army xTech Live Pitch
6. AI Festival Startup Competition (Milan)
Description: International competition for AI startups at the AI Festival in Milan. Benefits: Present to investors, B2B meetings, exhibition space. Focus: AI projects with societal impact. Selection Criteria: Startups developing innovative AI, tech, and digital projects. Learn more about AI Festival Startup Competition
7. Cooperative AI Foundation Research Grants
Description: Grants for research in cooperative AI. Focus: Specific research areas detailed on their website. Additional: Early-career track available. Learn more about Cooperative AI Foundation Research Grants
8. EU Grants and Funding (General)
Description: Searchable database of EU grants and funding opportunities. Focus: AI and other tech areas. Types: Innovation and business development grants, acceleration programs. Explore EU Grants and Funding
9. General Trend: Venture Capital Investment in AI Startups
Observation: Significant increase in VC investments in AI startups. Data Points:
- AI startups comprised 22% of first-time VC financing in 2024.
- $7 billion of first-time funding to AI & ML startups (through Q3 2024).
- AI-related startups raised $19 billion in Q3 2024 (excluding OpenAI's $6.6B round).
- Investing in AI in pharmaceuticals, fintech, healthcare, vertical software. Learn more about Venture Capital Financing for AI
10. General Trend: Investor Interest in AI/GenAI
Observation: Majority of startup investors interested in AI/GenAI startups in 2025. Data Point: 56% of investors identified AI/GenAI as a top investment. Discover More on Investor Interest in AI
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11. IBM Startup Grant Program
Description: Grants for AI-driven healthcare and life sciences solutions. Award Amount: Up to $50,000 in IBM Cloud credits. Mentorship: Dedicated technical support and access to IBM resources. Eligibility: Startups with innovative AI solutions in healthcare. Focus: Enhancing patient care and operational efficiencies.
12. Amazon AI and Machine Learning Startup Grants
Description: Provides resources and credits for AI startups using AWS services. Award Amount: Up to $100,000 in AWS credits. Support: Access to AWS Activate program, technical training. Eligibility: Startups using AI and ML on AWS platforms. Focus: Scaling and developing AI and machine learning technologies.
13. Microsoft AI for Earth Innovation Grants
Description: Grants for projects leveraging AI to tackle environmental issues. Award Amount: Up to $50,000. Support: Access to AI tools, technical training, Azure credits. Eligibility: Nonprofits, academia, and startups. Focus: Climate, agriculture, water, and biodiversity projects.
14. Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Description: Early-stage funding for social enterprises utilizing AI. Funding Range: $300,000 over 3 years. Support: Access to a vast network of industry and philanthropic experts. Eligibility: Early-stage social entrepreneurs with scalable solutions. Focus: Tackling social issues with innovative AI solutions.
15. NVIDIA Inception Program
Description: Provides support for AI startups at all stages. Benefits: Marketing support, GPU grants, technology and business training. Eligibility: Startups developing AI technology. Focus: Cutting-edge AI solutions and research.
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16. Startup Israel's AI Innovation Fund
Description: Funding and support for AI-driven projects in diverse sectors. Award Amount: Up to $200,000 per project. Eligibility: Israeli and international startups in AI development. Focus: Healthcare, transportation, cyber security and more.
17. America’s Seed Fund (NSF SBIR)
Description: Funding for research and development of innovative technologies, including AI. Funding Range: $50,000 to $1.5 million in grants. Eligibility: Small businesses in the US working on groundbreaking science and technology. Focus: Early-stage development of AI technology.
18. CIT GAP Funds
Description: Early-stage investment and funding for high-growth startups. Award Amount: Up to $100,000. Eligibility: Tech startups in Virginia, focusing on AI solutions. Focus: Industries such as healthcare, cybersecurity, and IT.
19. Element AI Startup Grant
Description: Support for startups developing transformative AI solutions. Award Amount: Up to $250,000 in grants. Eligibility: Startups with disruptive AI technologies. Focus: Industrial AI applications, AI research, and development.
20. Blackstone LaunchPad Techstars
Description: Funding and mentorship for innovative startups, including AI. Award Amount: Up to $100,000. Mentorship: Access to the Techstars network of mentors and investors. Eligibility: Startups participating in Blackstone LaunchPad programs. Focus: AI innovations across various sectors.
21. In-Q-Tel AI Fund
Description: Invests in AI startups developing solutions beneficial to the US intelligence community. Award Amount: Varies based on project scope and potential impact. Eligibility: Startups creating innovative AI technologies. Focus: National security, data analytics, machine learning.
22. Plug and Play Tech Center
Description: Accelerator program providing funding, mentorship, and networking. Award Amount: Up to $150,000. Eligibility: Startups focused on AI, IoT, and related technologies. Focus: Connecting startups with corporations and investors globally.
23. Anaplan Innovator Hub
Description: Grants and support for AI-driven business planning solutions. Award Amount: Varies based on project scope. Eligibility: Startups focusing on AI in enterprise solutions. Focus: Enhancing business operations through AI.
24. Fintech 71 Accelerator Program
Description: Funding and support for fintech startups utilizing AI. Award Amount: Up to $100,000. Eligibility: Startups developing AI solutions for the fintech sector. Focus: Financial services, security, data analytics.
25. Autodesk AI Impact Residency
Description: Residency program providing funding, workspace, and mentorship. Award Amount: Varies. Eligibility: Startups and researchers working on AI projects. Focus: AI-driven solutions in architecture, engineering, and construction.
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FAQ
Q: What is the Lenovo AI Innovators Program?
A: The Lenovo AI Innovators Program offers a $25,000 cash grant, a $10,000 AI technology package, and mentorship from Goodie Nation and Chantel Cohen. Learn more about the Lenovo AI Innovators Program.
Q: What is the Hessian.AI Startup Competition 2025?
A: The Hessian.AI Startup Competition 2025 offers up to €5,000 in prize money, coaching, workshops, and networking opportunities for startups aged 2 years or younger. Discover Hessian.AI Startup Competition.
Q: What support does Google’s Generative AI Accelerator offer?
A: The Google.org Accelerator for Generative AI provides $500,000 to $2 million in funding, along with six months of support, pro bono assistance, and Google Cloud credits. Explore Google.org Accelerator for Generative AI.
Q: What is the UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge 2025?
A: The UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge 2025 focuses on innovation in the tourism sector using AI, with awards for projects related to branding, smart destinations, and efficient operations. Learn more about UN Tourism AI Challenge.
Q: What is the U.S. Army xTech Live Pitch Competition at CES 2025?
A: The U.S. Army xTech Live Pitch Competition at CES 2025 invites small to medium businesses to pitch AI, IoT/Sensors, or Robotics projects, with up to 10 winners receiving $10,000 each. Discover xTech Live Pitch at CES.
Q: What benefits does the AI Festival Startup Competition (Milan) provide?
A: The AI Festival Startup Competition offers opportunities for startups to present to investors, participate in B2B meetings, and showcase innovative AI projects. Learn more about the AI Festival Startup Competition.
Q: What are the Cooperative AI Foundation Research Grants?
A: The Cooperative AI Foundation Research Grants support research projects in cooperative AI, with specific focuses detailed on their website. Explore Cooperative AI Foundation Research Grants.
Q: Where can I find EU grants for AI startups?
A: A comprehensive database of EU grants and funding opportunities for AI and other tech areas is available online. Search EU grants and funding.
Q: How much venture capital was invested in AI startups through Q3 2024?
A: Venture capital investments in AI startups amounted to $7 billion in first-time funding, excluding a significant $6.6 billion round for OpenAI. Read more on AI startup VC investments.
Q: What percentage of investors are focused on AI and GenAI startups for 2025?
A: Approximately 56% of startup investors have highlighted AI/GenAI startups as a top investment area for 2025. Discover investor interest in AI startups.
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.
