Grants, seed funds and programs for student founders, innovators and early-stage startups: seed funding through incubators, innovation challenges, prototype grants and fellowships that support research with a commercial use.
Most of these schemes are applied for through an incubator or a host institution, and many require the startup to be registered and recognised before it can receive funds. Check the stage a scheme supports, from idea and prototype to market entry, and keep the registration certificate, a pitch deck or project proposal and the founders’ details ready.
Some innovation challenges and student grants accept individuals or teams; seed funds usually require a registered and recognised startup. The eligibility section of each entry follows the call.
It depends on the scheme. Some give a grant for proof of concept and offer later support as debt or convertible instruments; the award value section of each entry states the form of support.