10 Startup Grants and Funding Programs Newly Listed This Week — October 2026

Ten new funding programs, including grants, seed funds, and incubation tracks, have been newly listed this week. These opportunities span various sectors, with notable additions from organizations such as Zerodha, NLnet Foundation, and gradCapital.The programs address diverse entrepreneurial needs, from micro-funding for individual builders to significant investments for established projects, supporting innovation across technology, social impact, and open internet infrastructure.

Newly Listed This Week

Narisetti Hardware Robotics Microgrant (Narisetti Grants)The Narisetti Hardware Robotics Microgrant empowers individual builders and innovators in hardware and robotics. Founded by Akshay Narisetti, an Indian entrepreneur, AI researcher, and software engineer, this program provides micro-funding for individuals developing cutting-edge technology.The initiative supports projects including hardware development, robotics innovations and prototypes, AI-powered hardware solutions, autonomous systems, and technical research. It fosters early-stage development of innovative hardware solutions demonstrating technical creativity and potential. Funding of up to ₹95,000 is available, with applications accepted on a rolling basis.## Solana Foundation Funding Program (Solana Foundation)The Solana Foundation Funding Program promotes innovation and growth within the Solana blockchain ecosystem. The Foundation supports projects developing public goods, providing open-source contributions or free community offerings. This initiative empowers developers, entrepreneurs, and teams to build scalable crypto applications and infrastructure on the Solana network.Funding is offered through milestone-based grants and milestone-based convertible grants for commercial projects. These grants catalyze development across a range of innovations benefiting the Solana community. Funding amounts vary, and proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis.## Zerodha FLOSS Fund (FLOSS/fund)The Zerodha FLOSS Fund, launched in 2024 by Zerodha, provides significant financial support to critical Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects worldwide. Zerodha established this fund to contribute to the global endeavor of open source, empowering developers and communities.This annual funding program makes available up to US$1 million (approximately ₹8.5 crore) to support a wide array of open source initiatives. The fund aims to provide resources necessary to create, maintain, and advance open source projects. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.## Shell E4 Smart Energy Track Accelerator (Shell)The Shell E4 Smart Energy Track Accelerator, also known as the Energy Transition Track, is an accelerator program for early-stage startups innovating in critical areas of the energy sector. This Shell E4 initiative identifies and nurtures ventures that can drive the global energy transition through technological advancements.The program targets startups developing solutions across various domains, including Artificial Intelligence for energy systems, computational science for upstream operations, digital applications for efficiency, and robotics for energy infrastructure. Funding amounts vary. The deadline for applications is 30 October 2026.## NLnet Restack Open Internet Grant 2026 (NLnet Foundation)Restack is NLnet's fund for building a healthy open internet stack, backed by the European Commission's Open Internet Stack initiative. The NLnet Restack Open Internet Grant 2026 will award €7 million in small to medium-size R&D grants for technology building blocks across every layer of the internet stack.This includes core internet infrastructure, alternatives to closed online technologies, secure and privacy-friendly devices, software supply chain security, reproducibility, and open standards. Proposals of €5,000 to €50,000 (up to ₹54.5 lakh) are sought, with potential for scaling. NLnet also offers practical help such as accessibility scans and security audits. All project results must be released under an open-source license. The deadline for applications is 3 November 2026.## Solo Founders Program 2027 (Solo Founders)The Solo Founders Program 2027 is specifically designed for ambitious solo founders building technology companies. This three-month immersive accelerator brings together a cohort of solo founders in San Francisco, fostering an intense building period.Participants benefit from weekly one-on-one sessions with the program's founder and co-founder of On Deck/ODF, receiving tailored guidance and support. The program offers dedicated office space in San Francisco, enabling focused development. Up to ₹95 lakh is available. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2027.## Indie Fund Game Development Funding (Indie Fund)The Indie Fund Game Development Funding is a collective of independent game developers providing financial backing for other promising indie game projects. The fund operates as a syndicate, offering capital to help developers realize their creative visions.Indie Fund focuses purely on providing funding and support without taking on a publishing role, allowing developers to maintain creative control and ownership. The program seeks to empower developers by providing capital to cover development and marketing. Up to ₹95 lakh is available, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.## Pollination Project Daily Grants (The Pollination Project)The Pollination Project Daily Grants is a global foundation providing seed funding to grassroots changemakers. Since 2012, TPP has supported over 6,000 projects across 120 countries, driven by a vision for a compassionate world.The foundation empowers individuals, informally organized groups, and early-stage non-profits whose volunteer-led initiatives address global challenges, including planetary health, climate resilience, equity, and human rights. The program operates on a rolling basis, allowing changemakers to apply for grants of up to ₹9.5 lakh.## The Awesome Foundation Grant (Awesome Foundation)The Awesome Foundation Grant is a global initiative fostering creativity, innovation, and positive impact by providing no-strings-attached micro-grants. Founded in Boston in 2009, it operates through more than 70 autonomous chapters worldwide.Each chapter's 'micro-trustees' pool funds, distributing $1,000 (approximately ₹95,000) grants monthly to empower individuals and teams to bring their