Tech Innovation Grants

I've been dedicating time to collecting grant opportunities for impact-driven companies. I couldn't resist using AI tools to dive deep into the data and analyze where the money is actually flowing... The most surprising finding hit me immediately: -Innovation and Development grants (35% and 33% respectively) vastly outnumber traditional "aid" categories. -Out of 226 grants analyzed (totaling $402M), For-profit organizations now have access to 84% of opportunities. But here's where it gets really interesting for our regions: -🌎 LATIN AMERICA (52 opportunities, 23% of total) The sweet spot? Digital Innovation dominates the landscape. If you're building fintech, edtech, or cleantech solutions in LATAM, you're sitting in the hottest sector for grant funding. -🌍 AFRICA (53 opportunities, 23.5% of total) Climate Action and Global Health lead the charge. The funding priorities reflect urgent continental needs, but there's a strategic opportunity for organizations that can bridge sectors. Think climate-health nexus or education-climate solutions. -The game-changer insight? Few grants explicitly require impact measurement, yet our analysis shows the highest-value grants tend to demand it. This is your competitive advantage: while most organizations scramble to meet basic legal requirements (35% require legal registration, 29% years of operation), investing in robust impact measurement frameworks sets you apart. My strategic recommendations for both regions: 1. Don't just apply to grants in your exact sector. The data shows cross-sector solutions (like digital innovation for climate action in LATAM, or health-tech for education in Africa) are hitting multiple funding streams. 2. Think globally, not just locally. With global grants representing 35% of all opportunities, don't limit yourself to regional funding. Go international from day one. 3. Frame your impact through a digital or AI lens, even if it's not primarily a tech solution. Given digital innovation and AI's dominance in funding opportunities, positioning your work within digital transformation narratives can unlock significantly more funding doors. Want the full report? Comment and I send it out in a DM:  - ➡️ 🇬🇧 "English report" for the complete analysis in English  - ➡️ 🇪🇸 "Reporte en español" for the Spanish version 🔺 Disclaimer: This analysis is based on grant opportunities we've manually collected, so there may be selection biases we cannot control (you'll notice it's heavily focused on companies rather than traditional NGOs). This isn't academic research, but our own analysis aimed at helping the entrepreneurship and social innovation ecosystem. Courtney Sipes Shoshana Grossman-Crist #Grants #ImpactInvesting #SocialEntrepreneurship #LatinAmerica #Africa #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #ClimateAction #GlobalHealth

Founders are chasing VCs while ignoring ₹𝟳𝟳,𝟬𝟴𝟬 𝗖𝗿 of free money. The Indian government is handing out non-dilutive capital like candy in 2025. But most founders don’t even know where to look. I’ve mentored 100s of early-stage teams. Here's what blows my mind: → They’ll spend 3 months tweaking their pitch deck… → But won’t spend 3 hours applying for a ₹50L grant. Let’s break it down: The 2025 Opportunity Map → Deep Tech & Startup Fund: ₹30,000 Cr → MSME Budget Outlay: ₹23,168 Cr → Startup India Fund of Funds: ₹10,000 Cr → PLI (Electronics/Auto/Textiles): ₹13,000+ Cr → Startup India Seed Fund: ₹945 Cr EARLY STAGE? You’re leaving free money on the table. → ₹50L: Startup India Seed Fund → ₹40L: SAMRIDH → ₹15L: Atal Innovation Mission POST-REVENUE? You can scale without VCs. → ₹2 Cr: CGTMSE (Collateral-free loans) → ₹10 Cr: Multiplier Grants → ₹1 Cr: Stand-Up India (for SC/ST/Women founders) IN MANUFACTURING? It’s literally raining subsidies. → PLI across 14+ sectors → Massive push in electronics, auto, textiles What’s the catch? Most founders don’t know where to begin. Here’s your cheat sheet: → Startup India → myScheme → SIDBI → MeitY Startup Hub You’ll need: ✓ DPIIT registration ✓ Clean documentation ✓ Clear business plan ✓ Compliance-ready books ✓ Incubator partnerships (for some) Don’t be the founder who complains about VC rejection… …while ignoring the ₹50L grant sitting in your inbox. 💬 Drop your most burning question in the comments. ♻ Repost to wake up founders who are sleeping on free capital. 🔔 Follow Anshuman Sinha for more Startup insights. #India #Entrepreneurship #AngelInvesting #Startups #Economy

The European Commission provides €4.6 billion to support net-zero technologies, battery cell manufacturing for electric vehicles and renewable hydrogen through the EU Innovation Fund. For #battery cell manufacturing, the call "IF 24 Battery" provides €1 billion in #funding. ⏳ The #call was opened yesterday, 3 December 2024. The deadline for applications is 24 April 2025. An online Info Day will be held on 17 and 18 December to explain the call and funding conditions in detail. 🏭 The #InnovationFund is financed by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS). Accordingly, CO2 reduction efficiency is a key funding criterion. Another criterion is the degree of innovation, based on the novelty of technologies in Europe.  🥇 The projects are to be selected and approved in a single-stage process by the end of 2025. The focus lies on #largescale projects for the #manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles, including the application of new manufacturing techniques and processes. 👉 Further information: * Press release: https://lnkd.in/emwSfiUJ * Call text: https://lnkd.in/egDE3xnM * Info day: https://lnkd.in/ek7c4cUY

🚀 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 🚀 Starting up is tough. But you are not alone. The Indian government has many schemes to help you grow fast and stay strong. 1. 𝐃𝐏𝐈𝐈𝐓 & Startup India • Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) – Up to ₹20 L for proof of concept. Up to ₹50 L to scale. • Fund of Funds (@FFS) – ₹10,000 Cr corpus for VC funds. • Tax Holiday – 100% income-tax exemption for 3 years. • Angel Tax Exemption – No tax on fair‑value investments. • Fast‑track Exit – Close down in 90 days under IBC. 2. Department of Science, Technology and Innovation DST (Science & Tech) • Nidhi Prayas – ₹10 L for early prototypes. • nidhi eir dst goi – ₹20–30 K/month stipend for aspiring founders. • Seed Support – ₹25 L via incubators. • TBI & Accelerator – Soft loans or equity for growth. 3. MeitY Startup Hub (Electronics & IT) • TIDE 2.0 – Grants ₹4–7 L (ideation) and ₹7 L (PoC). • Samridhi Skilling Centre – ₹40 L matching fund plus mentor support. • GENESIS – Up to ₹1 Cr for deep‑tech in Tier II/III cities. 4. @𝐌𝐒𝐌𝐄 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 • Incubation – ₹15 L per idea; ₹1 Cr to incubators. • Aspire NZ Seed Fund (Aspire) & PMEGP – Seed funds and subsidy‑linked loans up to ₹25 L. • CGTMSE-India – Collateral‑free loans up to ₹2 Cr (75–85% guarantee). 5. DBT – Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) (Biotech) • BIG – ₹50 L grant for biotech PoC. • SBIRI & BIPP – ≥₹1 Cr grants/loans for SME R&D. • 74 Bio‑incubators – Labs, mentors, equipment. 6. NITI Aayog (AIM & WEP) • Atal Incubation Centre- BIMTECH Centres – Grants + infrastructure. • Atal New India Challenges – Funds for public‑sector solutions. • Women Entrepreneurship Platform – Networking + funding for women. 7. 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢 & 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 • RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubator, IIT (BHU)‑RAFTAAR – ₹25 L for agri‑startups. • Agri‑Clinics – Training + finance. • Pmfme Scheme & SAMPADA – ₹10 L grants for food processing. 8. 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 & 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 • iDEX – Up to ₹1.5 Cr for defence innovations. • TDF – Up to ₹10 Cr for indigenisation. 9. 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 & 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 • Swadesh Darshan & PRASHAD – Boost homestays, guides, apps. • Tourism Hackathons – Pitch ideas on heritage tech. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 "𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐃𝐅" 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐏𝐃𝐅 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 👉 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬: 1. Get DPIIT recognition. 2. Pick schemes that fit your stage. 3. Connect with incubators. 4. Apply early. - 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟕 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 - https://lnkd.in/dnAZwnqC Join my #WhatsApp Channel for live updates: https://lnkd.in/dzf-Gu2M Follow Utkarsh Mishra | Tag a @founder | #Grants2025 Tag a founder friend who must know this. Let’s build in India, for India! 🇮🇳 #StartupIndia #GovtSchemes #Entrepreneurs #Innovation #MakeInIndia

🤖 AI Funding: a tale of three hubs dominating the landscape ↓ A new analysis by Startup Genome provides context to the hyper-concentration of funding for cutting-edge AI companies and hubs: 🔵 Almost 80% of VC funding for 'AI-native' companies is concentrated in Silicon Valley, Beijing, and Paris between 2023 and 2024, finds Startup Genome's analysis of data from PitchBook, DealRoom, Crunchbase and its local partners.   🔵 Silicon Valley alone secured 65% of the $47bn raised in 2023-24, more than double its share of total tech funding.   🔵 Established ecosystems like London and Tel Aviv are struggling to translate their tech leadership into AI success.   🔵 The rapid scaling potential of AI companies is attracting significant investor attention, with 57.9% of global VC funding in Q1 2025 going to AI, finds PitchBook. 🔵 Founders from developing countries are increasingly relocating to major AI hubs, highlighting a talent migration trend.  As the AI landscape evolves, what strategies should emerging start-up ecosystems adopt to remain competitive? Are we witnessing a shift in the global tech power dynamics? Share your thoughts 💬 #AI #data #VC #venturecapital #tech #ecosystems #innovation #startups

2025 will be the year private companies cement new paths for liquidity. While H1'25 didn't see a full rebound in traditional exits, the surge in AI M&A, rising secondary transactions, and innovative deal structures point to a maturing private market ecosystem. The combination of record private capital flows and creative liquidity solutions suggests the tech exit landscape is adapting to new realities, balancing growth imperatives with strategic exit opportunities. To capture the changing nature of tech exits, we partnered with EquityZen to incorporate deeper secondary transaction data in our State of Tech Exits H1'25 report. As CEO, Atish Davda, notes: "The exit market remains muted, but liquidity isn't on the sidelines. CB Insights’ report shows that secondary transaction activity has now seen its seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth. This confirms what we’re seeing at EquityZen: as tech companies stay private longer, the secondary market is providing a crucial and reliable release valve for liquidity for both employees and investors." Unsurprisingly, AI companies dominate both traditional and new liquidity markets. As Atish highlights: "The AI boom is reshaping the exit landscape. The intense demand for AI companies, which are selling for a median valuation of $121M—more than 3x the median valuation of all other acquired companies—is driving both primary and secondary activity. In the secondary market specifically, AI companies are unsurprisingly the most popular amongst investors. The private market is now the primary battleground for companies and investors to gain access to cutting-edge AI technology and talent." Leading secondaries investor, Jared Carmel (Founder & CEO at Manhattan Venture Partners) adds that: “We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how tech companies approach public markets... This shift is already playing out in the data. We’re seeing record levels of private funding, exceeding $2 trillion in cumulative investment, and explosive growth in secondary transactions. The real value creation and liquidity will increasingly occur in private markets, rather than public ones. With companies staying private for two decades, secondary liquidity becomes absolutely critical — employees, early investors, and founders can’t wait 20 years for an exit.” Our latest State of Tech Exits report covers the trends shaping exits and liquidity in the tech space. For a full recap of what happened in H1’25 and what are we likely to see in the back half of the year, attend our expert webinar with Thomas Sineau tomorrow (linked in comments).

💸 Funding & Grants Series  Climate Incubators & Accelerators Supporting Indian Startups Every time I connect with founders through Bharat Climate Startups, I’m reminded of the one thing that makes or breaks an early-stage climate solution: ecosystem support. From regenerative agriculture to green mobility and plastic alternatives — startups need more than ideas. They need partners, labs, grants, and believers. This post features 5 climate-focused incubators and accelerators in India that offer grants, pilot funding, or non-dilutive support to help climate founders grow.👇 🔹  SINE (Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship -SINE IIT Bombay and Entrepreneurship) – IIT Bombay 💰 Provides non-dilutive grants and robust incubation support for technology-driven startups, including those in cleantech and climate tech. 📌 SINE’s focus on commercialization and innovation helps transform early ideas into impactful ventures. 🔹 NSRCEL – IIM Bangalore 💰 Supports social and technology startups with incubator programs that include grants, mentorship, and ecosystem access—ideal for climate innovators. 📌 NSRCEL’s extensive network and tailored support have helped many founders accelerate their impact. 🔹 T-Hub –Hyderabad  💰 An accelerator that runs specialized cohorts—including sustainability and climate tech tracks—with grants, pilot funding, and hands-on support. 📌 T-Hub’s dynamic environment connects startups to investors, mentors, and corporate partners. 🔹 Climate Collective – Climate Launchpad & Climate Ready Programs 💰 Grants, pre-seed support & founder mentorship 📌 Focused on cleantech, carbon markets, climate fintech, nature-based solutions 🌱 Supported by European Union, Asian Development Bank, and global partners 📩 Working on a climate solution and exploring incubator or accelerator programs? Drop me a message—I’d love to connect and share insights from my travels across India. Here's to building a vibrant support ecosystem for climate innovators! 💚 #ClimateAction #ImpactFunding #BharatClimateStartups

Grants: an overlooked funding tool in a founder’s arsenal. Here’s why they matter 👇 Grants are usually provided by governments (or government-affiliated bodies) to help founders who are building something novel, often with a big societal impact. But the beauty of grants vs other investment vehicles is that they’re often non-dilutive. That means you can pay for expensive equipment, hire specialist staff, or fund product development without giving away equity. They’re typically most available at the earliest stages - when private capital is still hesitant, but the potential societal benefit of your innovation is clear. But any founders considering grants should go in with their eyes open: Because grants don’t take equity or require repayment, they’re highly sought after and competition is fierce. Your application needs to be watertight, which has created an entire industry of professional grant writers who know how to craft proposals that tick all the right boxes. And because success rates are low, you can’t build your funding strategy around them. Still, if you’re building something transformative, grants can buy you the breathing room to prove your concept before you raise equity investment. In other words: free money isn’t really free. It takes time, rigour, and persistence. But done right, it can give your startup the early lift-off it needs. #Fundraising #StartupFunding #Grants #Innovation #FounderTips

Hardware is a fundraising magnet - Investors are backing frontier tech funds at the highest rate in 10 years – more than one in three VC dollars in 2024 went to a fund with a stated focus in frontier technology. Silicon Valley Bank's 2025 Frontier Tech Report unveils exciting trends in deep #tech and #hardware #innovation . Despite tariff challenges, venture capital investment in frontier tech surged 47% YoY in 2024, with over one-third of VC funds targeting hardware-focused startups—the highest in a decade! 💰 Key highlights: - Aerospace & Defense Lead: Companies like Anduril and SpaceX are driving massive deals, with defense tech valuations soaring (Anduril hit $28B!). - AI Compute Boom: VC investment in AI hardware is set to hit record highs in 2025, fueled by companies like Groq and Lightmatter optimizing for #AI inference. - Unicorn Surge: 17 new frontier tech unicorns emerged in 2024, with SpaceX leading at a $350B valuation. - Tariff Impacts: Hardware companies face margin pressures, but strategic shifts toward US suppliers and automation are gaining traction.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀: 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 Ever felt confident about a project, only to be surprised by unexpected challenges? As Tech Leaders and CIOs in fast-paced SMEs, you know surprises can derail even the best plans. That's where contingency plans and reserves come in – your project's safety net. But beware, poorly built nets can leave you with a nasty fall. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻: A roadmap for handling potential risks. Think of it as a set of "if-then" scenarios with solutions. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲: Allocated funds to cover those planned-for problems. It's your financial safety cushion. 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁: 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 #𝟭: Underestimating Risks. Don't just plan for sunshine! Identify ALL potential challenges, from tech glitches to resource delays. 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 #𝟮: Unrealistic Reserves. Don't be penny-wise, pound-foolish. Set a realistic reserve based on risk assessment. 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 #𝟯: Lack of Flexibility. Your plan shouldn't be a straightjacket. Build in room for adjustments as the project unfolds. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲" 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼: Imagine a crucial software update gets delayed. With a strong contingency plan, you have alternative vendors lined up and a reserve to cover potential costs. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁: 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: Get diverse perspectives on potential risks. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀: Update your plan and reserves as the project progresses. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Project management experts can help you build a robust framework. (Think of me as your net-weaving consultant!) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 & 𝗔 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱: Solid contingency plans and reserves are your secret weapons for project success. By avoiding these pitfalls, you'll navigate roadblocks with confidence. Remember, even the most experienced climbers value a strong safety net. Ready to build a future-proof plan for your projects? Schedule a free consultation to discuss how I can help! Every project holds the potential for greatness. Let's make sure yours reaches new heights! #projectmanagement #innovation #technology #management #leadership #consultants #consulting #business