How to Get Startup Funding Fast

Ever since the technology boom started in the 1980s, startups have contributed a great deal to our economic advancement as a society. Many startups are based on the disruption of the old and the bringing in of the new. Since many startups are focused on business models that are innovative and sometimes unproven, it can be challenging to find funds. They have fueled a lot of interest from both consumers and funders.

So there’s probably a lot of new startups, maybe even on a daily basis. How many could there be? 100? 1000? According to the Business Formation Statistics (BFS) from the U.S. Census Bureau, there were over 5 million new business startup applications submitted in 2022 alone. That comes out to an average of over 13,000 EVERY DAY! At the same time, it’s important to note that less than 20% of startups actually succeed. There are various ways to find startup funding to help your startup be among the 1 in 5 that do succeed. GrantWatch is a grant search database that can help you find grant funding opportunities for your startup. Below are some ideas for various startup funding sources, as well as a listing of startup grants currently available:

Startup Funding Sources

1. Crowdsourcing. There are sites online where you can initiate crowdfunding campaigns. You can do one yourself through your own website and/or social media, or by use of an email list if you have one. Many people choose to use an already established crowdfunding platform.
2. Funders’ Assets. Sometimes funders use some of their own assets to raise money for their startups. Many funders believe strongly in their company and are willing to risk their funds in a venture they believe in.
3. Family and Friends. These are also common startup funding sources to consider. There are many examples of young college students or dropouts with little funds of their own asking for financial help for their startup. More than a few of these ‘garage startups’ grew to become major corporations!
4. Angel Investors. These are typically wealthy individuals who invest in startups in return for a percentage of future profits (think “Shark Tank”).
5. Loans. One of the more traditional ways to raise money for startups is by applying for a business loan. These can come from both traditional sources (banks and credit unions) and non-traditional sources (e.g., borrowing against a life insurance policy).
6. Grants. See below for some grants currently available to fund startups.

Startup Grants

• Opportunities for technology startups to participate in an investment program to facilitate business growth.
• Grants of $20,000 and in-kind support available to Black female small business owners to foster business growth.
• In addition, there is funding for agricultural startups to participate in a business development program.
• There is a grant of $2,500 and in-kind services available for an entrepreneur to start or expand their business.
• Finally, there is funding for grants of $2,500 to entrepreneurs to support recovery after a natural disaster.

As you can see, there are a lot of choices for startups to get funding for their ventures.

With close to 8,000 grants currently available, GrantWatch.com is the leading grant listing directory. Upgrade to a MemberPlus+ subscription to view full grant details, including eligibility criteria and application information. For more information, you can also visit the GrantWatch FAQ page.