Stop Googling "Free Money for Startups"
Finding a grant is harder than winning one. Most founders waste 10+ hours a week scrolling through government portals, outdated lists, and spammy websites.
To save you time, we tested and ranked the top 7 platforms to find startup grants and fellowships in 2026.
The Rankings
1. Startup911
- Best For: Personalized, noise-free alerts.
- Cost: Free / Premium
Why it wins: Unlike other databases where you have to search manually, Startup911 works backwards. You tell it who you are (e.g., "Healthtech founder in India"), and it emails you only the matches that fit. No scrolling, no outdated links.
Verdict: The "Set it and forget it" solution for busy founders.
2. F6S
- Best For: Accelerators & Global Tech
- Cost: Free
F6S is the industry standard for applying to accelerators like Techstars. It has a massive community and many perks/deals.
Verdict: Essential for accelerator applications, less focused on pure cash grants.
3. OpenGrants
- Best For: US Government Grants
- Cost: Free / Paid
A comprehensive database of US federal and state grants. Excellent for deep tech and research-heavy startups in America.
Verdict: Great for US-based research startups.
4. GrantWatch
- Best For: Non-profits & Small Businesses
- Cost: Paid Subscription
A classic database. It covers everything from art grants to small business loans. It is very broad, so filtering can be time-consuming.
Verdict: Good if you are a non-profit, less optimized for high-growth tech startups.
5. Instrumentl
- Best For: Academic & Institutional Grants
- Cost: Paid
Designed for professional grant writers and non-profits. It has powerful tracking tools but is expensive for an early-stage startup.
Verdict: Pro tool for grant writers.
- Best For: US Federal Prize Competitions
- Cost: Free
Official listing of prize competitions from US agencies (NASA, DOD). These are "challenges" (solve X problem) rather than standard grants.
Verdict: High effort, high reward.
7. FundsforNGOs
- Best For: Social Impact & Developing Nations
- Cost: Free / Paid
If you are building a social enterprise in Africa, Asia, or LatAm, this is a strong resource for development funding.
Verdict: The go-to for social impact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are there really "free" grants? A: Yes. Grants are non-dilutive, meaning you don't give up equity. However, they are not "free" in terms of effort—applications take time, and reporting requirements can be strict.
Q: Should I pay for a grant database? A: Generally, no. Most databases simply scrape public information. We recommend starting with free tools like Startup911 or F6S before paying for a subscription.
Q: What is the success rate for grants? A: It varies wildly. Highly competitive grants (EIC) have <5% success rates. Niche, local grants can have 20-30% success rates. The key is applying only where you have a strong fit.
🏆 The Winner?
If you want to spend your time building instead of searching, the choice is clear.
Join Startup911 Today Get the best grants from all these sources curated and delivered to your inbox. Stop searching, start applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are these grant databases free to use?
Most offer a "freemium" model. You can search for free on OpenGrants and F6S, but detailed filtering or contact info often requires a subscription.
2. Which database is best for US-based grants?
Grants.gov is the official source for all US federal grants, but it is hard to navigate. OpenGrants is a much more user-friendly layer on top of it.
3. Do these platforms write the grant for me?
No, they are search engines. However, some (like OpenGrants) have a marketplace where you can hire professional grant writers.