Business Grants
Browse business grants, innovation vouchers, SME programs, export support, local incentives, and growth funding.
Business grants can support innovation, expansion, export development, workforce training, energy upgrades, resilience, digital adoption, equipment, research partnerships, and local economic development. Some are run by national agencies. Others are state, city, regional, university, chamber, or foundation programs with narrower eligibility.
The first filter is business fit. Check company size, revenue, age, location, ownership, sector, legal structure, and whether nonprofits or sole proprietors are allowed. Then check cost fit. A program may fund consulting but not equipment, prototypes but not marketing, training but not salaries, or reimbursement only after approved expenses are paid.
Many business grants require more administrative discipline than founders expect. You may need tax clearance, financial statements, quotes, project budgets, insurance, procurement documentation, job-creation estimates, environmental information, or proof that the business is in good standing. A simple grant can become slow if those records are scattered.
Use this page to find current business funding leads, then verify the official rules and prepare a practical application. Funders tend to favor businesses that can explain the opportunity, the barrier, the funded activity, and the measurable result in plain language.
Current matching opportunities
These listings are limited to open, rolling, or upcoming opportunities that match this guide. Check the official source before applying.
LookUp Innovation Challenge 2026: Up to $2,500 for Youth Mental-Health and Digital-Wellbeing Ideas
The LookUp Innovation Challenge offers youth leaders up to $2,500 in microgrant funding, five months of mentorship, and cohort support for ideas that promote a healthier digital world and better mental-health outcomes.
RICHeS Advanced Capabilities in Conservation and Heritage Science 2026–2027: £500,000–£1.5 Million UKRI Infrastructure Grants
The AHRC and UKRI RICHeS call funds UK consortia to strengthen conservation and heritage science infrastructure, expand access, and develop industry-linked innovation projects.
Avinya’27 Energy Startup Challenge 2027: Up to INR 3 Lakh, India Energy Week Showcase and Pilot Access
Avinya’27 is an open Indian energy startup challenge offering INR 3 lakh, INR 2 lakh and INR 1 lakh prizes to the top three winners, plus India Energy Week 2027 exposure, mentoring and possible pilot support.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership 2026–2027 Round 3: Up to £12.5 Million for UK Business-University Innovation Projects
Innovate UK is accepting partnership applications from UK knowledge bases and UK businesses for strategic innovation projects that embed new expertise in a growing company.
2027 NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator: Up to $994,000 in Aging-Technology Prizes
The National Institute on Aging's 2027 Start-Up Challenge offers early-stage aging-technology innovators up to $994,000 in total cash prizes, a five-month accelerator, mentorship, and commercialization support, with submissions due January 15, 2027.
Economic Research on the Returns to R&D Investment 2026: Up to £308,000 for 24-Month UKRI Projects
The ESRC and UKRI fund research that improves measurement of the economic and social returns to research and development, with projects up to £308,000 full economic cost and a 19 November 2026 deadline.
Tokyo Global Innovation Challenge 2026: Student Startup Competition With More Than ¥1 Million in Prizes
The Tokyo Global Innovation Challenge 2026 is an English-language business competition for teams of 3 to 6 undergraduate or graduate students, with more than ¥1 million in prizes and a final competition in Tokyo.
Arizona Innovation Challenge Fall 2026: $100,000 Non-Dilutive Funding for SaaS Startups
The Arizona Commerce Authority's Fall 2026 Arizona Innovation Challenge offers eligible SaaS startups a path to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding and three months of customized support.
Farming Innovation Programme Small R&D Partnerships Round 5 2026: £1–3 Million Grants for UK Agricultural Innovation
Innovate UK and Defra are offering a share of up to £13 million for collaborative UK R&D projects that improve agricultural productivity, sustainability, resilience and progress toward net zero.
Innovation Crossroads Cohort 2027: $115,000-a-Year Fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Innovation Crossroads Cohort 2027 offers eligible technical innovators a two-year, ORNL-embedded fellowship with a $115,000 annual living stipend, health insurance support, research resources, and commercialization mentoring.
National Materials Innovation Programme CR&D Round 1 2026: £500,000–£1 Million Grants for Collaborative Advanced Materials Research
Innovate UK is offering up to £12 million for collaborative industrial research that moves advanced materials innovations toward adoption in priority UK growth sectors, with individual grant requests of £500,000 to £1 million.
European Prize for Women Innovators 2027: Up to €100,000 for Women Founders and Rising Innovators
The European Innovation Council and European Institute of Innovation and Technology are accepting applications from eligible women founders and innovators for nine 2027 prizes worth €20,000 to €100,000.
Application guidance
Use the listings above as a shortlist, then build your application from the official instructions. Save the source page, deadline, eligibility rules, required documents, contact details, and any program-specific scoring criteria. If the deadline is rolling, apply early enough for review queues and budget limits. If the deadline is fixed, work backward from the closing date and leave time for recommendations, institutional approvals, financial documents, and portal errors.
Popular funding types
Business Grants FAQ
Are business grants only for startups?
No. Some support new companies, while others target established small businesses, exporters, manufacturers, local employers, or sector-specific firms.
Can grants cover payroll?
Sometimes, but many programs restrict payroll, owner compensation, overhead, capital purchases, or past expenses. Check eligible costs carefully.
What makes a business grant application stronger?
Clear use of funds, local or sector fit, credible financials, measurable outcomes, and proof that the business can complete the proposed work.