Seed Funding Grants for New Ventures

Seed funding grants can be a game-changer for new ventures, providing the necessary capital to get started and take the first steps towards growth.

Many seed funding grants are offered by government agencies, such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which provides grants of up to $1 million to small businesses.

These grants can be a great way to secure funding without having to give up equity in your business. They can also help you build credibility and attract additional investors.

The application process for seed funding grants can be competitive, but it's worth the effort if you're selected.

Government-funded seed grants are a great way to get started, with America's Seed Fund being a well-known example that focuses on technological innovations, advancements, and research.

The Seed Grant program provides funding for a new direction or continuing early support of existing research or creative activity, with the expectation that this assistance will lead to the application for external funding or support within one year of the completion of this award.

You can receive up to $100,000 in funding through the Seed Grant program, which is a significant amount to help you get started.

Here are some key characteristics of the Seed Grant program:

The Seed Grant program offers a funding option of $30k, which is designed to provide early support for research or creative activity that can lead to external funding within a year.

This funding is expected to support new directions or continuing early support for existing research, as long as the applicant has received no or only minor awards (less than/equal to $1,000) for early components of the work.

The Seed Grant program encourages multidisciplinary projects that foster connections across campus, deal with transformative ideas and concepts, and will lead to new programs of research or creative activity.

This funding can be a great opportunity for researchers and creatives to take their work to the next level and make a significant impact.

New Media Ventures offers grant funding to early stage companies seeking venture investment and building progressive power. They focus on media & narrative, organizing & advocacy, and elections & civic engagement.

Their primary focus areas include media tech, civic tech, and political tech, with a special interest in the intersection of these verticals and AI. NMV is especially interested in impactful, innovative solutions for the next few months.

NMV prefers ventures with an existing user base, demonstrated proof of concept, and a clear plan for generating revenue and/or growth. This can be in the form of a scalable business model or a clear opportunity to build power.

They also look for ventures with a sustainable model and impact, such as those that expect to generate revenue or have a plan for sustainable growth. NMV encourages people who have been historically overlooked in the startup community to apply.

NMV is a mission-driven organization that works to invest in entrepreneurs and activists building progressive power in the United States. They care about environmental protection, economic equality, racial justice, and a thriving democracy.

Selected organizations can receive $50K to $100K in funding, typically in the form of convertible notes or SAFEs for for-profits, and unrestricted grants for nonprofits.

The Apf: Visionary Grant is a type of government-funded seed grant that aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

One notable example of a government-funded seed grant is America's Seed Fund, which focuses on technological innovations, advancements, and research.

The Apf: Visionary Grant offers more than just funding; it validates your business idea, gives you credibility in the market, and supports research.

With the Apf: Visionary Grant, you can also expect to have access to additional resources like expert mentorship programs or networking opportunities.

This grant can be a game-changer for your business, providing the necessary validation and support to take your idea to the next level.

The Curtiss T. Brennan & Mary G. Brennan Foundation views its grants as seed money to catalyze significant archaeological projects.

Grants from the Brennan Foundation focus on early centers of complex culture or civilization, with a strong emphasis on excavation and field research.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Creating Equitable Pathways to STEM Graduate Education initiative provides grants to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to model effective systems and practices for equitable learning environments in STEM graduate education.

Grants from the Sloan Foundation support partnerships between MSIs and graduate programs nationwide, with a goal of removing barriers and creating opportunities for students to thrive in STEM graduate education.

Non-profit organizations like the Curtiss T. Brennan & Mary G. Brennan Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation often provide grants to startups that align with their mission, including social enterprises and environmentally focused small businesses.

Seed grants from these organizations can range from a few thousand dollars to up to $500,000, as seen in the Sloan Foundation's initiative.

Non-profit organizations also provide seed grants to support work between two or more institutions, as seen in the Brennan Foundation's funding for archaeological projects.

These grants can be a game-changer for startups, providing the necessary funding to launch or expand a project and make it more attractive to traditional funding sources.

The government offers various seed fund grants to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, such as America's Seed Fund, which focuses on technological innovations, advancements, and research.

To be eligible for these grants, small businesses must meet certain criteria, including being majority-owned and operated by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, having 500 or fewer employees, and conducting research that aligns with the funding agency's mission.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, also known as America's Seed Fund, provide seed grants to small businesses for research and development projects.

Eligible small businesses must meticulously outline innovative technology areas in their proposal, which is then reviewed by program managers to assess feasibility and potential impact.

Successful candidates receive funding in the form of a grant or contract to further advance their groundbreaking research and development endeavors.

In addition to financial support, SBIR/STTR programs offer valuable resources such as access to government facilities and expertise, market validation, and potential partnership opportunities with larger companies.

The Seed Grant program provides funding for a new direction or continuing early support of existing research or creative activity, with the expectation that this assistance will lead to the application for external funding or support within one year of the completion of this award.

This program strongly encourages multidisciplinary projects that foster connections across campus, deal with transformative ideas and concepts, and will lead to new programs of research or creative activity.

The application process for SBIR/STTR grants is highly competitive and involves multiple stages, including an initial review by program managers and a final evaluation by subject matter experts.