Top 10 Grants for AI Startups Globally in 2025
The landscape of artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, and with it, numerous funding opportunities for AI startups are emerging. For ambitious founders aiming to push the boundaries of AI technology, securing grant funding can be a game-changer. Below is a comprehensive list of the Top 10 Grants for AI Startups Globally in 2025, complete with detailed information about each program, including eligibility, funding amounts, and links for application.
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1. AI Climate Accelerator Program
Description: A 12-week program designed to empower startups utilizing AI to address climate change and environmental challenges.
Focus Areas: Nature conservation, energy transition, circular economy, and more.
Benefits: Attendees receive insights, tools, mentorship connections, tailored support, and access to an exclusive community.
Funding: Approximately $10,000 USD in small non-dilutive grants per team.
Eligibility: Startups working on innovative projects focused on climate and environmental issues.
2. Google.org Accelerator - Generative AI
Description: A program aimed at empowering nonprofits, civic entities, academic institutions, and social enterprises to develop AI-powered solutions for social impact.
Focus Areas: Knowledge, Skills and Learning, Scientific Advancement, Resilient Communities.
Benefits: Provides funding, structured support, pro bono assistance from Google employees, technical training, and Google Cloud credits.
Funding: Ranges from $500,000 to over $2 million.
Eligibility: Open to nonprofits, civic entities, academic institutions, and social enterprises globally.
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3. Cooperative AI Foundation Research Grants
Description: Grants designated for research projects in cooperative AI, emphasizing specific research areas.
Focus Areas: Dedicated research topics within Cooperative AI (specific areas are subject to updates).
Benefits: Financial support for relevant research initiatives.
Funding: Variable funding based on project scope.
Eligibility: Open to researchers conducting cooperative AI projects.
4. EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition
Description: A pitch competition tailored for promising European seed and pre-seed startups, including those in AI.
Focus Areas: Open to all sectors, specifically targeting startups in AI.
Benefits: Access to €750,000 worth of resources, including Google Cloud credits and various funding opportunities.
Funding: Combination of funding opportunities totaling over €750,000.
Eligibility: European seed and pre-seed startups.
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5. dAIEDGE Collaborative Projects
Description: A program supporting the evolution of a dynamic AI ecosystem in Europe.
Focus Areas: Projects emphasizing cutting-edge AI developments.
Benefits: Financial backing for projects that enrich the European AI landscape.
Funding: Project-dependent funding amounts.
Eligibility: Research and technology organizations (RTOs), academia, SMEs, startups, and researchers in the EU.
6. Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence Program
Description: Funding aimed at establishing new research centers focused on the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI.
Focus Areas: Ethical, legal, and societal dimensions associated with AI technologies.
Benefits: Funding for the creation of research centers and related activities like workshops and curriculum development.
Funding: Up to $750,000 available.
Eligibility: Institutions focusing on humanities research.
7. AI Grant (aigrant.org)
Description: Grants aimed at supporting open-source AI projects.
Focus Areas: Open-source initiatives within the AI field.
Benefits: Grants can be in cash or compute resources, provided without additional strings.
Funding: Between $5,000 and $50,000.
Eligibility: Open to any open-source AI project.
8. Climate Change AI Innovation Grants
Description: Seed grants intended to fund research, deployment, and the creation of datasets and tools relevant to climate change and machine learning.
Focus Areas: Projects connecting AI solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Benefits: Provides grants for innovative approaches to addressing climate challenges through AI.
Funding: Up to $150,000 per proposal.
Eligibility: Principal investigator must be associated with an accredited university in one of the 38 OECD Member Countries.
9. UKRI Technology Missions Fund (via Innovate UK BridgeAI Programme)
Description: Funding initiative aimed at AI projects that benefit small businesses in the UK.
Focus Areas: Varied sectors including transport, agriculture, and construction.
Benefits: Financial support for AI testing and trial projects.
Funding: £7 million allocated for 120 projects.
Eligibility: Startups and small businesses based in the UK.
10. DOE SC Program in Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR)
Description: A funding opportunity for basic computer science and applied mathematics research focused on AI for scientific applications.
Focus Areas: Foundation models for scientific use, privacy-preserving training, and energy-efficient AI methods.
Benefits: Research and development funding in AI technologies.
Funding: Varies per project.
Eligibility: Research institutions based in the USA.
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FAQ
Q: What is the AI Climate Accelerator Program?
A: The AI Climate Accelerator Program is a 12-week initiative aimed at empowering startups that use AI to address climate and environmental challenges, offering non-dilutive grants of approximately $10,000 USD per team. Learn more about the AI Climate Accelerator Program.
Q: What type of support does the Google.org Accelerator - Generative AI offer?
A: The Google.org Accelerator - Generative AI provides funding ranging from $500,000 to over $2 million, along with structured support and technical training for nonprofits, civic entities, academic institutions, and social enterprises. Discover more about this opportunity.
Q: Who can apply for the Cooperative AI Foundation Research Grants?
A: The Cooperative AI Foundation Research Grants are available to researchers working on projects related to cooperative AI, with funding varying based on the specifics of the project. Find out more about eligibility.
Q: What is the EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition?
A: The EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition is an event aimed at European seed and pre-seed startups, offering a combination of funding opportunities and resources totaling over €750,000, including Google Cloud credits. Learn more about the competition.
Q: What is the focus of dAIEDGE Collaborative Projects?
A: dAIEDGE Collaborative Projects supports the development of a dynamic European AI ecosystem, providing funding for various AI projects led by research and technology organizations, academia, and startups within the EU. Explore more about dAIEDGE.
Q: What does the Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence Program support?
A: The Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence Program funds the establishment of research centers that focus on the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI, with grants available up to $750,000. Learn more about this funding opportunity.
Q: How does the AI Grant function?
A: The AI Grant provides funding for open-source AI projects, offering grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, with no strings attached. Find more information about the AI Grant.
Q: What is the purpose of the Climate Change AI Innovation Grants?
A: Climate Change AI Innovation Grants are seed grants supporting research and projects that intersect AI and climate change, with funding available up to $150,000 for eligible proposals. Discover details about the grants.
Q: Who is eligible for the UKRI Technology Missions Fund?
A: The UKRI Technology Missions Fund, part of the Innovate UK BridgeAI Programme, is aimed at small businesses in the UK working on AI projects across various sectors, with available funding of £7 million for 120 projects. Learn more about this fund.
Q: What research does the DOE SC program in Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) focus on?
A: The DOE SC program in Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) provides funding for basic computer science and applied mathematics research in AI, focusing on projects like foundation models for computational science and energy-efficient AI algorithms. Find out more about this program.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities.
