Maximizing Your Startup’s Potential: A Guide to Lesser-Known Grants and Resources

While traditional sources of funding, such as venture capital and angel investors, are common ways to raise capital, there are other avenues that startups can explore. This article will discuss three methods: tapping into government grant funding, crowdfunding, and participating in accelerators. 

We will elaborate on how startups can leverage these funding sources and their advantages and drawbacks. By exploring these options, startups can find the proper funding fit for their business needs.

Startups Can Tap into $500B of Government Grant Funding

Government grants are often untapped sources of funding for startups. In 2019, over $500 billion in government grants were awarded to organizations and businesses. While grants typically don’t need to be paid back, the application process can be complex. However, for startups can be a source of non-dilutive funding.

How to Get Started with Startup Government Funding 

The first step is registering your startup on Grants.gov, the official government website, for grant opportunities and applications. This will allow you to browse available grants and apply for ones that match your business.

However, don’t expect to find only a few grants targeting startups. Most grants are aimed at nonprofits, research institutions, infrastructure projects, and other areas. Look for grants related to your industry and how your startup’s mission may align with the grant’s goals.

Cultivating contacts at relevant government agencies is critical. Speaking to program officers can help determine which grants suit your startup. They can also provide insight into the application process and what makes for a compelling application. While the process may take time, developing relationships and learning about the inner workings of programs will benefit your startup.

For the actual application, consider hiring a grant-writing expert. Professional grant writers have experience crafting winning applications and can help startups put their best foot forward. They know how to articulate your startup’s mission effectively, convey critical milestones and metrics, and propose a realistic budget for grant funds. Unless you have experience with grants, hiring an expert is worth the investment.

With hard work and persistence, government grants can be unlocked as a source of substantial startup funding. In 2019, the USDA awarded over $5 million in grants to innovative agricultural startups and food businesses. 

By following the necessary steps, startups in any industry can tap into government grants and open up a new channel of capital to drive business growth. While competitive, government grants are worth pursuing as non-dilutive funding for your startup.

Crowdfunding: Fuel Your Startup with the Crowd

Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo provide startups with funding from many small backers. Since 2011, more than $34 billion has been raised on crowdfunding platforms.

How to Run a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign

To run a successful campaign, choose a platform that fits your needs. Kickstarter is the largest and most well-known, while Indiegogo is a close second. Fees range from 3-5% of total funds raised. 

You’ll need to create a campaign page highlighting your startup’s story, key features of your product or service, and how backers’ funds will be used. Set a fundraising goal and deadline, typically 30 to 60 days.

Build buzz leading up to your campaign launch. Start by tapping into your personal network, asking friends and family to support and share your campaign. Build a website to capture email addresses and spread the word on social media using eye-catching graphics and short, engaging videos to demonstrate your product. Offer rewards and incentives at various backer levels to give people a concrete reason to contribute.

Once your campaign launches, don’t sit back and wait for people to come to you. Continue actively promoting your campaign on social media, email, and in the press. Send updates to backers and offer stretch goals to keep people engaged. Thank backers personally and provide any promised rewards and incentives promptly.

Crowdfunding can be an ongoing source of capital for startups. Many companies do follow-up campaigns to launch new products or features. However, “crowdfunding fatigue” is risky if you return to the well too often. 

But by building a loyal base of backers, startups can tap into a pool of people who believe in their mission and want to see them succeed. Crowdfunding is a valuable tool for startups looking to raise money, increase awareness, and connect with their core customers.

The Accelerator Advantage: How Startups Gain Funding, Mentorship, and Growth

Accelerators provide funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities for startups. Top accelerators like Y Combinator and Techstars offer upwards of $100K in funding and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. For example, Airbnb and Dropbox are YC alumni.

Accelerators typically invest in startups in exchange for equity, usually around 5-10%. They run 3-4 months programs where founders work closely with mentors to accelerate their startup’s growth. At the end of the program, startups get a chance to pitch to investors on a demo day.

Mentorship and networking are invaluable benefits of accelerators. Mentors are experienced entrepreneurs and investors who can guide startups through challenges like scaling the team, improving product-market fit, and raising funding. Startups also get access to a network of fellow founders, mentors, and investors that can lead to partnerships, hires, and funding.

Drawbacks of Accelerators

However, accelerators don’t suit every startup. The equity stake means losing ownership and control. The programs are also intensive, requiring founders to take time away from building the business. Strict deadlines may not fit startups still searching for product-market fit. The funding is often relatively small, so it may fail to meet the needs of capital-intensive startups.

Things to Consider When Applying for an Accelerator

Getting into top accelerators is highly competitive. Accelerators consider factors like:

• Traction – Startups with solid growth and retention have a higher chance of acceptance. Accelerators want to see product-market fit.
• Team – Strong teams with technical and business experience are appealing to accelerators. Diverse, determined founders that can execute well tend to get in.
• Market opportunity: Accelerators favor startups targeting large, fast-growing markets. A big vision and scalable business model are pluses.
• Product – A unique, innovative product that solves a real problem will catch an accelerator’s eye. Strong UX and UI are also important.
• Referrals – Getting referred by mentors, investors, or other accelerators the program respects can increase your chances. But the startup still needs to demonstrate potential for success.

While accelerators aren’t for every startup, the top programs provide funding, mentorship, and networking that can be instrumental in a startup’s growth. With hard work and perseverance, accelerators are within reach for determined founders building scalable startups.

Pitch Competitions: How Startups Win Funding and Valuable Exposure

Pitch competitions are events where startups pitch their companies to a panel of judges to win funding and gain exposure. Competitions like TechCrunch Disrupt, SXSW Pitch, and LAUNCH Festival have helped launch startups like Mint, Dropbox, and GroupMe.

To win a pitch competition, startups must deliver a compelling pitch conveying their vision. The pitch should tell a story, focusing on traction, key milestones, and future goals. Judges want to see evidence of a viable business model and passionate founders.

Tips to Pitch Competition Success

According to past judges and winners, here are some tips for pitching success:

• Share your startup’s story – Explain how you came up with the idea and why you’re passionate about solving this problem. Your enthusiasm will shine through.
• Focus on your key metrics and milestones – Highlight growth, active users, revenue, or funding to show tangible progress. But don’t overload the judges with too many metrics.
• Convey your big vision – Pitch competitions favor startups aiming to disrupt industries and impact millions of lives. Share your ambitious vision for where you’ll be in 5-10 years.
• Discuss your business model – Explain how you make money and how you’ll scale revenue over time. Judges want to see startups with a path to becoming sustainable, profitable businesses.
• Be authentic – Judges can spot disingenuous founders from a mile away. Share the challenges and failures you’ve faced honestly. Your passion and perseverance will resonate.
• Practice your pitch – Run through your pitch multiple times in front of colleagues and mentors. Get feedback and make improvements. Being well-rehearsed will boost your confidence during the actual pitch.
• Focus on storytelling – Build an emotional connection with the judges by using storytelling techniques like suspense, conflict, and resolution. A compelling story will make your pitch memorable.

Pitch competitions provide startups with opportunities for funding, mentorship, and exposure they can’t find anywhere else. With a winning pitch, compelling story, and demonstration of real progress, startups can tap into these resources to launch their companies to new heights. Competitions have been integral in helping innovative startups get their first break—and they could be for you too.

Corporate Partnerships: Why Big Companies Want to Help Startups

Corporate partnerships provide funding and resources for startups to scale their business. Corporations like Coca-Cola, Nike, and Walmart are partnering with startups through accelerators and incubators. Coca-Cola’s partnership with Suja Juice led to its acquisition. These partnerships benefit both startups and corporates.

Advantages of Corporate Partnerships for Startups 

For startups, corporate partnerships offer several advantages:

• Funding and resources – Corporates provide funding, office space, tools, and more to help startups grow. For example, Target’s retail accelerator offers $10,000 and 12 weeks of programming for selected startups.
• Industry expertise – Startups can tap into corporates’ industry knowledge and connections. A partnership with Samsung, for instance, provides startups with insights into electronics manufacturing and distribution.
• Potential acquisition –  A strategic partnership may lead to an acquisition if the startup’s solution aligns well with the corporate’s needs. Coca-Cola acquired Suja Juice within a year of partnering.

For corporates, startups partnerships drive innovation:

• New solutions –  Startups move fast and are on the cutting edge of new technologies like AI, blockchain, and virtual reality. Partnerships give corporates exposure to innovative solutions that can transform their business.
• Reinvigorate culture – Interacting with startups helps corporates to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and make faster decisions. This cultural change is critical for large companies to remain competitive.
• Branding –  Partnering with startups appeals to entrepreneurs and technologists, helping corporates strengthen their branding to attract top talent.

While partnerships present an opportunity, startups must ensure the relationship aligns with their mission and values. Look for partners with complementary goals, and have honest conversations about each other’s motivations, priorities, and potential conflicts of interest before cementing a partnership. 

With open communication and shared vision, corporate partnerships can fuel startup success.

Venture Debt: How Startups Use Loans to Fund Growth Without Dilution

Venture debt provides startups access to funding through loans rather than by selling equity. For fast-growing startups, venture debt makes up 10-30% of total funding. Startups can borrow money from venture debt lenders to extend their runway, ramp up growth, or avoid a down-round. The significant pros of venture debt are that it does not dilute equity and has more flexible terms than bank loans.

How Startups Qualify for Venture Debt

To qualify for venture debt, startups typically need to have raised a Series A round and have a robust and fast-growing business model. Venture debt lenders assess startups based on their growth metrics, gross margins, and equity from strong VC backers. The more traction and VC support a startup has, the more leverage it has to negotiate venture debt terms.

What Startups Need to Know About Lines of Credit and Term Loans

The two most common types of venture debt are lines of credit and term loans. Lines of credit give startups access to capital on an as-needed basis, while term loans provide a lump sum of debt to be repaid over a fixed period. Term loans typically have lower interest rates but less flexibility. The amount startups can borrow depends on their revenue and equity but is usually 1-3x their most recent equity round.

For example, Uber took out a $1.6 billion venture debt round from Morgan Stanley in 2016 to fuel its global expansion without diluting its equity. The high-interest loan was risky for Morgan Stanley but paid off hugely as Uber’s valuation soared. Other startups like Pinterest, Blue Apron, and Domo have also used venture debt to extend their runway during rapid growth.

Is Venture Debt Right For Your Startup?

Venture debt allows startups to access growth capital without giving up equity. For fast-growing startups, venture debt can be a strategic way to fund expansion between equity rounds and maintain leverage in future fundraising. With the right terms and strong business fundamentals, venture debt enables startups to scale quickly without dilution.

Which Startup Funding Source Is Best For Your Startup? 

Leveraging different funding sources is vital for a startup to get the capital you need to grow. While government grants offer a source of non-dilutive funding, the application process is complex, and building relationships with relevant government agencies is crucial. 

Crowdfunding platforms provide access to funding from many small backers, with Kickstarter and Indiegogo being the most popular. Accelerators offer funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities, but equity stakes and intensive programs may only suit some startups. Startups must explore all options to find the right funding fit for their business needs.

At Aleph One, we are a Venture Studio investing and working with early-stage and pre-seed startups. We help startups create custom tech products and invest 50k-100k into the companies we work with.