Start Up and Small Business Grants - Dec 22, 2023

Updated: December 22nd, 2023

Are you a startup or a small business seeking ways to expand and thrive? We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of grants, competitions, and programs designed to help your business succeed. These projects provide crucial assistance, mentoring, and funding opportunities to assist you in taking your entrepreneurial journey to the next level.

Not sure how to develop your pitch deck? Click here to read our free guide 

Tips for Completing More Effective Applications

1. Ask Chatgpt (literally). Get support from AI in completing questionnaires.
2. Paraphrase your answers with Quilbot 
3. Ensure you validate Chatgpt’s output with some Google search.
4. Support your answers with relevant data, statistics, or evidence.
5. Proofread your work. Avoid typos as much as possible. Use Grammarly.
6. Tailor your pitch deck. A little nip and clip here and there to align with the program’s strategic focus

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The 2024 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award

Application Deadline:

• January 23rd, 2024

Program Country:

• Unspecified

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Must be based in a low-income country
• Social entrepreneurs improving primary health care.

Support Type:

• Total grant of USD 700000 for the three finalists.
• Non-financial: technical advice, data gathering and analysis

Apply here: The 2024 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award

The Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award (DAAYTA) in partnership with TechnoVision (TVC)

Application Deadline:

• January 16th,  2024

Program Country:

• Nigeria

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Nigerian
• 18-35 years

Support Type:

• Financial: ₦12,000,000 (twelve million naira). Terms and conditions apply.
• Non-financial:
• Participation in an entrepreneurial education program at the Pan Atlantic University’s Enterprise Development Centre in
  Lagos, Nigeria.
  5-month acceleration support services for the development of their venture by TVC Labs.

Apply here: The Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award

Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders

Application Deadline:

• February 1, 2024

Program Country:

• Hybrid, USA

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Canada, USA.
• Women founders

Support Type:

• Non-financial (mentorship and networking)
• Google Cloud credits

Apply here: Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders 

Developp Ventures Application

Suitable start-ups to be funded through develoPPP Ventures are selected during an open call for applications. This takes place twice a year and is open to all start-ups that meet the conditions for participation. Depending on the target country, the funding contract is concluded with one of the two implementing partners, DEG Impulse gGmbH or Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Program Country:

• Germany

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania

Support Type:

• Financial: Matching funds.

Application Deadline:

• December 31st, 2023

Apply here: Developp Ventures Application

Standard Chartered Women In Tech Incubation Programme

The Standard Chartered Women in Technology Incubator is Africa’s leading incubator program for female-led and founded businesses. It aligns with calls for more diversity in technology, and entrepreneurship and for more opportunities for women to develop entrepreneurial and leadership excellence. This program is an initiative of Standard Chartered Bank Zambia in partnership with BongoHive.

Better WorkPlaces Challenges Cup 2024

SHRMLabs’ Better Workplaces Challenge Cup (BWCC), powered by SHRM, is a global competition in search of the most innovative and game-changing ideas and solutions that are solving the workplace’s most critical challenge.
The BWCC Startup track is a three-round hybrid pitch competition to identify workplace tech startups that are revolutionizing the way we work. Startups will present their technologies in front of HR experts, business leaders, and SHRM members with a chance to win $50,000 and take their business to the next level.

Program Country:

• USA

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes

Support Type:

• Financial:  $50,000 cash prize.

Application Deadline:

• January 15th, 2024

Apply here: Better WorkPlaces Challenges Cup 2024

Epic 2024 Elevator Pitch Competition

EPiC is a unique, worldwide competition for global startups to expand their footprints into Asia, leveraging extensive network and tailored support from Hong Kong’s largest innovation ecosystem.

Gain exposure across our extensive network of investors and corporate partners, and accelerate your business in the world’s fastest-growing region.

Program Country:

• China

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes

Support Type:

• Financial:
  • Top 12 Finalists each FinTech, PropTech or MobilityTech: Each of the top 12 finalists will be awarded a cash prize of US$10,000.
  • One Winner from each Category: One Winner will be selected among the top 12 finalists in each Category which will receive an additional cash prize of US$20,000.
  • EPiC 2024 Champion: The EPiC 2024 Champion will be selected among the Winners of the Categories which will receive an additional cash prize of US$60,000.

Application deadline:

December 31st, 2023

Apply here: Epic 2024 Elevator Pitch Competition

The Gener8tor Luxembourg Accelerator 2024

The gener8tor Luxembourg accelerator is a 12-week program that will provide support, coaching, capital, and connections to Luxembourg and European startups.

Program Country:

• Luxembourg

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Limited to Luxembourg and European Startups

Support Type:

• Non-financial: Mentorship and monitoring
• Financial: Selected teams will receive a €100,000 investment in return for 7.5% equity in their company via a right to purchase future equity (i.e. SAFE note or equivalent) or through issued equity.

Application deadline:

• January 19th, 2024

Eureka GlobalStars Japan Round 2

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £2 million to develop innovative proposals in partnership with Japan and other participating Eureka members. This competition aims to fund business-led, collaborative research and development (CR&D) projects focused on industrial research. This competition will be for innovative proposals developed between the UK, Japan and the other participating Eureka members. UK applicants can apply for a maximum grant request of up to £600,000 for each project. The project must have high market potential and develop at least one of the following: innovative products, technology-based applications or technology-based services

Program Country:

• UK

Worldwide Eligibility:

Limited to:

• Canada
• Czech Republic
• France
• Netherlands
• Singapore
• Spain

Support Type:

• Financial grant: Up to £600,000 for each project.

Application deadline:

January 31, 2024

Apply here: Eureka GlobalStars Japan Round 2

Google’s Startups for Sustainable Development program

Google’s Startups for Sustainable Development program fosters a global ecosystem of impact-focused start-ups. The program builds community and provides companies with mentors, funding and platform technology. The UN’s 17 SDGs provide the basis for monitoring impact. The program is not time-limited to assist businesses in their aim to achieve long-term impact at scale.

Program Country:

• Global

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes. Start-ups with an Impact focus

Support Type:

• Financial:  unspecified
• Non-financial: Technical advice, platform technology

Application deadline:

• Ongoing until otherwise specified

Apply here: Google’s Startups for Sustainable Development program

The Rice Business Plan Competition

The Rice Business Plan Competition, hosted and organized by Rice University’s internationally recognized Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Rice Business, provides an educational program mirroring real-world experience through this multi-day event for student startups from around the world.

2024 focus areas:

Energy, Cleantech and Sustainability, Life Sciences and Healthcare Solutions,  Hard tech, Digital Enterprise, Consumer Products and Services

Program Country:

• USA

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes. Student founders

Support Type:

• Financial:  Various Prizes and investments:  $1.7 Million in total. 2024 Prizes are yet to be announced
• Non-financial: brand visibility with PR support for finalists, attracting new audiences, partners, and investors

Application deadline:

• January 31, 2024

Apply here: The Rice Business Plan Competition 

The MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition

The MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition includes three separate contests (called Pitch, Accelerate and Launch)  held yearly from October to May.

Program Country

• USA

Worldwide Eligibility:

• At least one member of the team must be a registered MIT student.

Support Type:

• Financial. varies from $2K to $100K prize

Application Deadline:

• Variable. Opening mid-October

Apply here: The MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition

The Y Combinator Program

Y Combinator is now accepting startup applications for the Winter 2024 investment cycle which will take place between January and March of 2024.

Program Country

• USA

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes

Support Type:

• Financial. $500,000 (equity investment)
• Visa assistance

Application Deadline:

• October 13, 2023. Applications are welcome after this deadline.
• 10 additional slots announced December 6th, 2023

Apply for the Winter 2024 batch here

The Hult Prize

The Hult Prize encourages young people to use social entrepreneurship to address the world’s most critical concerns.

Program Country

• Multi-country: USA, Kenya, India, Tunisia

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes

Support Type:

• Financial award. $1M

Application Deadline:

• Qualifiers will be held between November 2023 and February 2024

Apply for the Hult Prize here 

Collision Start-up Program PITCH

PITCH is Collision’s startup competition that brings together the world’s leading early-stage startups to battle it out onstage

Program Country

• HQ in Ireland; multi-country conferences

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes. Membership in their start-up program is required

Support Type:

• Funding (type: unspecified)
• Non-financial: exposure to funders

Application Deadline:

• unspecified.

Join the Collision Start-up program 

Plug and Play Program

Start-up ecosystem linking start-ups to potential funders and helping them land large clients.

Program Country

• USA

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes.

Support Type:

• Non-financial: exposure to funders

Application Deadline:

• Open year-round

Join the Plug and Play Center

 

UK-US Offshore Wind Collaborative R&D

UK-registered organizations can apply for up to £2 million in funding for offshore wind R&D projects. UK projects must collaborate with independently financed US projects. This grant is provided by Innovate UK and is exclusively available for projects in the United Kingdom.

Program Country

• UK

Worldwide Eligibility:

• UK-based only

Support Type:

• Financial: up to £2 Million

Application Deadline:

•  January 10, 2024

Apply here: UK-US Offshore Wind Collaborative R&D

 

Rising UP in Spain Program

Rising UP in Spain is an ICEX-Invest in Spain technology and business talent attraction initiative designed for foreign entrepreneurs looking to establish a presence in Spain in conjunction with a local partner.

Program Country

• Spain

Worldwide Eligibility:

• Yes. But Local partners required

Support Type:

• Non-Financial: Access to funders, mentorship, Visa support

Application Deadline:

• Ongoing

Apply here: Rising Up in Spain