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Top 15 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in North America in 2025
2025-05-10 07:58 Top 15

Top 15 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in North America in 2025

Top 15 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in North America in 2025

As the entrepreneurial spirit continues to flourish in North America, various grants are stepping in to support early-stage startups. In 2025, these funding opportunities offer a lifeline for many businesses aiming to innovate, scale, and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. Below is a detailed list of the Top 15 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in North America in 2025, complete with eligibility criteria, award amounts, and links for application where available.
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1. LegalZoom: 50 Small Business Grants for 2025

Source: legalzoom.com
  • Pivot. Grow. Micro Grant:
  • Award Amount: $2,500
  • Frequency: Quarterly
  • Application Deadline: Rolling
  • Focus: Supports essential expenses and business growth.
  • Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants:
  • Award Amount: $25,000 cash + $10,000 AI tech package
  • Eligibility: North American businesses (excluding Quebec) with under $7.5 million revenue.
  • Focus: Business development and AI implementation.
  • Hustler's MicroGrant:
  • Award Amount: $1,000
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Focus: Offers funding to passionate entrepreneurs.
  • American Express Backing Small Businesses:
  • Award Amount: Up to $30,000 for Enhancement Grants.
  • Eligibility: Independent businesses with 20 or fewer employees in older commercial districts.
  • The Amber Grant:
  • Award Amount: $10,000 to $25,000
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Eligibility: Women over 18 with at least 50% women-owned businesses.

2. Foodbevy: 2025 Grant Opportunities

Source: foodbevy.com
  • Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program (Illinois):
  • Award Amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
  • Focus: Capital improvement projects.
  • Application Deadline: April 7, 2025.
  • Link to Apply: Illinois Grant Opportunities
  • Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants:
  • Award Amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Community gardens and nonprofit farms.
  • Focus: Increase food production in economically distressed areas.
  • Application Deadline: March 10, 2025.
  • YippityDoo Big Idea Grant:
  • Award Amount: $1,000
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Eligibility: Women, age 18+, in the US.
  • Focus: Investment in business or idea development.
  • Link to Apply: YippityDoo
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3. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Grants

Source: mbda.gov
  • MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program (WEP):
  • Award Amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Minority Business Enterprises led by women.
  • Focus: Resources to help ventures grow from ideation to scaling.
  • Application Deadline: March 17, 2025.
  • Additional Info: Provides connections to funding opportunities supporting government initiatives.

4. StartupXs: Funding and Accelerators

Source: startupxs.com
  • Innovations Against Poverty (IAP) Challenge Fund:
  • Focus: Innovations aimed at alleviating poverty.
  • Application Deadline: January 15, 2025.
  • MedTech Innovator 2025:
  • Focus: MedTech innovation support.
  • Application Deadline: January 15, 2025.
  • ARPA Small Business Support Program:
  • Focus: Financial support for small businesses.
  • Application Deadline: January 20, 2025.

5. GrantWatch: New Year, New Grants To Apply for in 2025!

Source: grantwatch.com
  • Projects to Reduce Greenhouse Gases:
  • Award Amount: $50,000
  • Focus: Innovative projects targeting greenhouse gas reduction.
  • Eligibility: Open to businesses.
  • Business Development Program for Startups:
  • Award Amount: Investment Funding
  • Additional Benefits: Networking, mentoring, and coaching for startups.

6. U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Free Grants and Programs for Small Business

Source: uschamber.com
  • 500 Global Flagship Accelerator Program:
  • Award Amount: $150,000 investment
  • Duration: Four-month program in San Francisco.
  • Eligibility: Startups and small businesses.
  • Application: Rolling, year-round.
  • Awesome Foundation Grants:
  • Award Amount: $1,000
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Focus: Funds various projects by individuals and groups.
  • EmpowHer Grant:
  • Application Deadline: Quarterly, 2025 Q1 deadline is February 15.
  • Carhartt For the Love of Labor Grant:
  • Award Amount: Varies
  • Focus: Connecting workers with vocational training programs.
  • Eligibility: Organizations focused on trade education.
  • Application: Rolling basis.

7. Every.io: Startup Grants In North Carolina - 2025

Source: every.io
  • General Startup Grants in North Carolina:
  • Number of Grants: 67+ currently available
  • Focus: Early-stage funding for budding businesses.
  • Key Cities: Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Durham.
  • Additional Info: Support for early-stage growth opportunities.
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8. YouTube: All 2025 Major Grant Programs for Small Businesses

Source: youtube.com
  • Corporate Grants (General):
  • Mentions: Various corporations offering grants include Skip, Barclays, Verizon, UPS, FedEx, American Express, BMO, Amazon, and many more.

9. Illinois.gov: Apply for Funding - Grant Opportunities

Source: illinois.gov
  • Tech Incubator Enhancement Program:
  • Application Deadline: March 17, 2025.
  • Focus: Provides funding for the modernization of tech incubators.
  • Eligibility: Tech incubators focusing on innovation and collaboration.
  • Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program:
  • Application Deadline: April 7, 2025.
  • Focus: Financial assistance for capital improvement.
  • Eligibility: Small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

10. fundsforNGOs: Explore Latest Seed Grants: A Roadmap to Early-Stage Funding

Source: fundsforNGOs.org
  • BRACE Award Venture Competition 2025:
  • Application Deadline: March 15, 2025.
  • Additional Info: Presented by the AIM-HI Accelerator Fund in collaboration with AFCR.
  • Free Electrons Innovation Program 2025:
  • Application Deadline: January 24, 2025.
  • Focus: Support for innovative energy solutions.

11. Etsy: Maker City Grant

Source: etsy.com
  • Award Amount: Up to $2,500
  • Frequency: Annual
  • Eligibility: Independent artists and makers in North America.
  • Focus: Supporting local entrepreneurs and helping sustain creative potential.
  • Link to Apply: Maker City Grant page.

12. Kiva: Microloans for Startups

Source: kiva.org
  • Award Amount: Up to $15,000
  • Eligibility: Entrepreneurs with a viable business model.
  • Focus: Allows friends and family to lend small amounts to help fund business opportunities.
  • Link to Apply: Kiva Microloans page.

13. Comcast RISE Investment Fund

Source: comcast.com
  • Award Amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Small businesses owned by people of color.
  • Focus: Provides marketing consultations and media placements.
  • Link to Apply: Comcast RISE page.

14. Chase for Business: Mission Main Street Grants

Source: chase.com
  • Award Amount: $150,000
  • Eligibility: Any small business in the U.S.
  • Focus: To help small businesses by providing funding and visibility.
  • Link to Apply: Chase for Business page.

15. Dream Big Awards

Source: uschamber.com
  • Award Amount: Up to $25,000
  • Eligibility: Small businesses showcasing excellence in their fields.
  • Focus: Celebrates the contributions of small businesses.
  • Link to Apply: Choose Dream Big Awards on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website.
Disclaimer: I have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information; however, grant details can change. Please verify all information with the official grant provider before applying. Dates and deadlines are subject to change.
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FAQ

Q: What are some grants available for early-stage startups in North America in 2025?
A: Notable grants include the Pivot. Grow. Micro Grant, which offers $2,500 quarterly for essential business expenses. Find out more on LegalZoom.
Q: Are there specific grants aimed at women entrepreneurs?
A: Yes, the Amber Grant provides $10,000 to $25,000 monthly for women-owned businesses. Learn more about the Amber Grant.
Q: How can Illinois small businesses get funding?
A: The Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program in Illinois offers funding for businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Learn more on Illinois.gov.
Q: What program supports minority women-led businesses?
A: The MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program offers resources for minority business enterprises led by women. Learn more on MBDA's website.
Q: Is there a specific grant for startups in North Carolina?
A: Yes, there are currently over 67 grants available for early-stage businesses in North Carolina. Find more details on Every.io.
Q: What is the EmpowHer Grant?
A: The EmpowHer Grant is aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs, with deadlines occurring quarterly. Find out more at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Q: How does the 500 Global Flagship Accelerator Program work?
A: This program offers a $150,000 investment to selected startups, running a four-month accelerator program. More info can be found at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Q: What type of grants does GrantWatch highlight?
A: GrantWatch features various grants, including those focused on reducing greenhouse gases and business development programs targeting startups. Explore GrantWatch.
Q: Are there grant opportunities for innovative projects?
A: The Innovations Against Poverty Challenge Fund focuses on funding projects that aim to innovate solutions to poverty. Learn more at StartupXs.
Q: What is the YippityDoo Big Idea Grant?
A: This grant provides $1,000 monthly to women entrepreneurs in the U.S. looking to invest in their business ideas. Find out more on Foodbevy.

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.