Top 15 Grants for AI Startups in North America in 2025
The landscape for AI startups is rapidly evolving, and 2025 promises a plethora of funding opportunities to propel innovative companies forward. Here is a detailed guide on the Top 15 Grants for AI Startups in North America for 2025, including eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and links to official sources.
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1. National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR/STTR Program
Description: The NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs focus on funding R&D for high-potential startups, particularly in groundbreaking technologies such as AI.
Funding Type: Grants (non-dilutive funding)
Target Stage: Early-stage startups with high growth potential.
Amount: $250,000 to over $1 million, depending on project phase.
Eligibility: US-based small businesses with fewer than 500 employees.
2. AI Grant Accelerator
Description: AI Grant is an accelerator program tailored for seed-stage AI-native product startups, offering funding and vital resources for growth.
Funding Type: SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity)
Target Stage: Seed-stage startups.
Amount: $250,000 on an uncapped SAFE, plus $350,000 Azure credits.
Additional Benefits: Access to mentorship, a summit in San Francisco, and a demo day with top-tier investors.
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3. NVIDIA Inception Program
Description: This program supports AI startups by providing access to technology, resources, and a network that fosters business growth in data-driven initiatives.
Funding Type: Access to resources and technology credits.
Target Stage: All stages of startups.
Amount: Variable based on company needs.
Additional Benefits: Provides GPU credits, technical support, and access to NVIDIA’s large network.
4. The Arthur W. Page Center's Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar Grant
Description: This grant targets academic researchers exploring the ethics of generative AI in public communication.
Funding Type: Grant
Target Stage: Academic proposals.
Amount: Not specified, varies.
Eligibility: Proposals employing diverse methodologies are welcome.
5. AI Seed Grant Program at Princeton University
Description: The Princeton AI Lab offers seed grants to kickstart AI research across various domains, emphasizing innovative and impactful proposals.
Funding Type: Seed Grant
Target Stage: Early-stage research projects.
Amount: Grants from $0 to $110,000 based on project scope.
Eligibility: Exclusively for Princeton faculty and lecturers.
6. AI-Informed Discovery and Inquiry Seed Grants at Johns Hopkins University
Description: These grants facilitate funding for AI and data-driven projects proposed by faculty in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.
Funding Type: Seed Grant
Target Stage: Early-stage research projects.
Amount: Up to $25,000 direct costs.
Eligibility: Limited to tenure-track and research faculty at Johns Hopkins.
7. AI Journal (IJCAI) Funding Calls
Description: The Artificial Intelligence Journal offers funding for activities that promote AI research and community engagement.
Funding Type: Sponsorship for AI-related initiatives.
Target Stage: Various, focusing on activities that enhance AI research.
Amount: Approximately $160,000 annually for funding.
Deadlines: Winter and Summer funding calls open; check website for specifics.
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8. NordForsk Call for Proposals on Responsible AI
Description: NordForsk is launching a call for research proposals focused on promoting the responsible use of AI in the Nordic-Baltic area.
Funding Type: Research Grants
Target Stage: Research-focused projects.
Amount: Not specified, minimum of 11 projects supported.
Eligibility: Open to Nordic and Nordic-Baltic researchers.
9. Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants
Description: Lenovo provides cash grants and technology packages to aid the growth of small businesses aiming to integrate AI into their operations.
Funding Type: Cash grant and technology package.
Target Stage: Small businesses under 75 employees with revenues under $7.5 million.
Amount: $25,000 cash grant plus a $10,000 AI tech package.
Eligibility: North American businesses (exempting Quebec).
10. Walmart Spark Good Local Grants
Description: Walmart funds community-driven initiatives through direct grants for local non-profits and similar entities based on their service areas.
Funding Type: Grants
Target Stage: Local non-profits, government entities, and educational institutions.
Amount: Between $250 and $5,000.
Eligibility: Must be a 501(c)(3) organization, a government entity, or an educational institution.
11. AI Specific Grants Through Grant Portals
Description: Various online portals, such as Grant Portal and GrantWatch, aggregate specific grants available for AI startups.
Funding Type: Grant
Target Stage: Early-stage AI startups.
Amount: Ranges from $10,000 to $250,000 depending on the specific grant.
Eligibility: Varies based on individual grant requirements.
12. Venture Capital Firms Investing in AI
Description: Numerous venture capital firms target AI startups for investment, offering essential equity funding to support growth.
Funding Type: Equity investment
Target Stage: Seed to growth stage startups.
Amount: Varies significantly by firm.
Key Firms: Norwest Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, among others.
13. Microsoft for Startups Program
Description: This initiative offers technical assistance, cloud credits, and access to resources for startups leveraging Microsoft technology in AI.
Funding Type: Access to technology, cloud credits, and support.
Target Stage: Early to growth stage startups.
Amount: Up to $150,000 in Azure credits.
Eligibility: Must be recognized as a qualified startup.
14. Government Initiatives and Funding in Canada
Description: The Canadian federal and provincial governments provide various funding programs that support AI research and commercialization initiatives.
Funding Type: Grants, loans, and tax credits.
Target Stage: Early to growth stage.
Amount: Varies based on the program.
Eligibility: Open to Canadian companies or US companies with business operations in Canada.
15. Innovate UK BridgeAI Programme
Description: The UK government program offers grants to businesses aiming to trial and implement AI technologies across multiple sectors.
Funding Type: Grants
Target Stage: Small businesses in various sectors.
Amount: Variable; total of £7 million across 120 projects.
Eligibility: Focused on small businesses (UK-based).
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FAQ
Q: What are the National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR/STTR Programs?
A: The NSF's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide funding for small businesses and startups to conduct research and development focused on innovative technologies, including AI. Learn more about NSF SBIR/STTR.
Q: How does the AI Grant Accelerator support startups?
A: The AI Grant Accelerator offers funding and resources specifically for early-stage AI-native product startups, providing $250,000 on an uncapped SAFE along with Azure credits. Discover more about AI Grant Accelerator.
Q: What resources does the NVIDIA Inception Program provide?
A: The NVIDIA Inception Program supports AI startups by providing access to technology, GPU credits, and a network of support without any application deadlines. Explore NVIDIA Inception.
Q: What is the Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar Grant?
A: This grant focuses on research proposals that explore the ethics of generative AI in public communication, aimed at academic researchers. Find more information on the Page/Johnson Grant.
Q: What kind of support does the AI Seed Grant Program at Princeton University offer?
A: The AI Seed Grant Program at Princeton provides seed grants for various AI research projects, with funding amounts up to $110,000 based on project scope. Learn about Princeton's AI Seed Grants.
Q: Who can apply for the AI-Informed Discovery and Inquiry Seed Grants at Johns Hopkins University?
A: These seed grants are open to tenure-track and research faculty in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences for AI-driven proposals, providing up to $25,000 in funding. Find more about Johns Hopkins Seed Grants.
Q: How does the AI Journal (IJCAI) support AI research?
A: The AI Journal offers funding to support the promotion and dissemination of AI research, providing approximately $160,000 annually. More details can be found at IJCAI.
Q: What funding opportunities are available through Lenovo’s Evolve Small Initiative?
A: Lenovo’s initiative provides grants and a technology package aimed at supporting small businesses, specifically those with AI implementation needs. Check out Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative.
Q: What does the Microsoft for Startups Program offer?
A: The Microsoft for Startups Program provides resources, technical support, and Azure credits to AI startups, with potential funding of up to $150,000 in Azure credits. Explore Microsoft for Startups.
Q: Are there any funding opportunities available through Canadian government initiatives?
A: Canadian federal and provincial government programs offer various forms of support, including grants and tax credits for AI research and startups. [Search relevant government websites for more information].
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.
