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Grant funding help

Grants like SBIR, Horizon Europe and climate programs are free capital, but winning them is a craft. Describe your company and the programs you are eyeing, and consultants and founders who have won them can help.

Find grant funding An example request
Posted by
Fundraising Founder and Startup Operator
Answered by
A grants consultant or founder who has won the relevant grant program.
You get
Grants you can actually win
You share
Technology area, Geography, Grant type, Deadline and Eligibility
Visibility
Posted under your company
Group
Raising capital
Fig. 598 · Application form

What people see when you post

A request reads like this. The answers become the details, so someone can tell at a glance whether they can help.

Sample request

Grant funding help

Posted under your company

Deep-tech hardware, US-based. I think we qualify for SBIR but the application is opaque. Who's won one and can guide me?

  1. Post it in a few lines

    Every grant funding help request answers the same questions: technology area, geography, grant type, deadline and eligibility.

  2. The right people see it

    A grants consultant or founder who has won the relevant grant program. The button they see says Guide my grant.

  3. You choose who to reply to

    Posted under your company. Close it when you have what you need.

Sample written for this page. It is not a real request.

Questions about grant funding help

How do you write a winning grant proposal?

Read the solicitation closely and answer the evaluation criteria in the reviewer's order, using their language. Be specific about the technical innovation, the risk you are reducing, the work plan and milestones, and why your team can deliver. Show commercial potential with evidence, such as letters of support, pilots or customer interviews. Reviewers read many proposals, so clarity wins. Talking to the program officer before submitting, where allowed, is one of the most useful and least used steps.

Should a startup hire a grant writer?

A grant writer or consultant is most useful the first time you apply to a program, for large or complex proposals, and when your team lacks time. They know the format and the common reasons proposals fail. You still need to own the technical content, since reviewers look for real insight. Be cautious with success-fee-only arrangements, which some programs restrict, and check whether the consultant has won in the specific program and agency you are targeting.

How long does it take to get grant funding?

Plan for months, not weeks. For many US federal SBIR and STTR awards, the time from submission to award is commonly around six months or more, depending on the agency. EU programs vary from a few months for rolling calls to longer for competitive rounds. Because of this lag, grants work best as part of a funding plan that does not depend on a single award arriving on time.

Can grant funding be combined with venture capital?

Yes, and many deep-tech companies do both. Grants can fund early technical work before a raise, and some programs reward private co-investment, such as the EIC Accelerator's combination of grant and equity or the new US Strategic Breakthrough awards that require matching private or non-SBIR funds. Check a program's rules on ownership, since some require majority ownership by individuals or restrict ownership by venture funds, and keep the grant-funded work clearly separated in your accounting.

Founders looking for leads, checks, intros and a second read on terms

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