About this guide
An independent, source-linked guide to federal and state funding for US startups.
Objective
This guide consolidates US federal startup programs — plus state-level incentives across all 50 states and DC — into a single, searchable reference. It is designed to help founders find the right program for their stage, sector, and situation.
Who it is for
- Founders & Entrepreneurs
- Students & Researchers
- Immigrant founders navigating US visa pathways
- Investors & Incubator staff
How to use it
- Start with the Scheme Finder. Answer 5 quick questions to find programs suited to you.
- Check the "What Do You Need?" Index for a need-based view (grant, loan, lab access, buyers, IP).
- Use the Lifecycle Map to find programs matching your stage of growth.
- Explore the full Directory for a structured overview of all programs with key details.
- Deep dive into Program One-Pagers for full details including how to apply.
Startup focus legend
Part A / Startup-Specific — startups are the primary or sole intended beneficiary; Part B / Startup-Relevant — broader eligibility (small businesses generally) but startups regularly benefit and apply.
How it is organised
The guide opens with an overview of federal programs (80 documented in full), a Scheme Finder wizard, a need-based index, and a Lifecycle Map. Beyond the federal layer, it links to federal-agency innovation programs (AFWERX, DIU, NSIN, In-Q-Tel and more), a state-by-state schemes index covering all 50 states + DC (65 programs), an incubator/resource-partner directory (SBA Small Business Development Centers, NSF I-Corps hubs, and accelerators) covering all 50 states + DC (111 entries), and every state's official economic-development portal. A dedicated section covers startup-visa and immigration pathways for founders who are not US citizens or permanent residents — a topic outside the scope of the India edition this project was adapted from.
The six types of support
GRANT
Fund given with no repayment needed, no equity given up.
LOAN / CREDIT
Repayable loan or credit guarantee to help access debt.
INCUBATION
Access to lab, workspace, mentoring and ecosystem support.
MARKET ACCESS
Pathways to sell, export, or access government procurement.
OTHER
Tax credits, exclusions, and fee reductions rather than direct funding.
MIXED
Combination of the above types of support.
About this website
This site is an independent reference compiled from official federal and state government sources — SBA.gov, SBIR.gov, Grants.gov, agency program pages, and each state's official economic-development portal. Every program page cites the specific official page it was drawn from, and every entry is re-checked against that source before it ships. There is no single source document the way there is for the India edition this project was adapted from; see the repository for the full sourcing method.
Licensing & attribution
Most content here describes US federal government programs. Works created by the US federal government are generally in the public domain under 17 U.S.C. §105 (unlike the India edition's source playbook, which is a Crown/Government copyright work reproduced here with attribution). State-program and private-accelerator content is summarized from each organization's own public materials, with a link back to the original source on every page.