List of non-dilutive grants founders can apply to even without much traction:

• Google for Startups: up to $100k credits
• AWS Activate: up to $100k credits
• Microsoft for Startups: up to $150k credits
• NVIDIA Inception: credits hardware access
• Meta Llama Grants: varies by cohort
• EU Horizon Grants: €50k–€2.5M
• SBIR (US): $50k–$250k Phase I
• Startup India Seed Fund: up to ₹50L
• DST NIDHI (India): ₹10L–₹1Cr
• Y Combinator OSS Grants: non-equity

Most of these require a ton of paperwork, so if you have patience you can apply to many of these.

You can get free premium plans in India as per below details:

• Gemini Pro: 18 Months Free for Jio unlimited 5G customers (claim it before October 29, 2026)
• ChatGPT Go: 12 Months Free for everyone in India (No specified end date)
• Perplexity Pro: 12 Months Free for Airtel users (claim it by January 16, 2026)
• Gemini Pro: 12 Months Free for Students (offer ended September 15, 2025)

List of programs that explicitly accept solo founders:

• Pioneer (no longer making new investments)

• Antler (pre-team model)

• Founder Institute

• Neo

• AI2 Incubator

• Betaworks AI Camp

• On Deck (fellowship, not capital)

• APX (solo founders common)

YC and Techstars say they accept solo founders, but success rate is lower.

If anyone here got in solo, curious which program and at what stage.

• a16z Speedrun ($750k–$1M for ~7–10%)
• Y Combinator ($500k for ~7%)
• Pioneer ($20k for 1%)
• LAUNCH ($125k for 6–7%)
• The Mint ($500k for 10%)
• AngelPad ($120k for 7%)
• Techstars ($220k for ~5–7%)
• 500 Global ($112.5k for 6%)
• Entrepreneur First ($250k for ~9%)
• South Park Commons ($400k for 7% $600k guaranteed follow-on)
• HFO Residency ($1M uncapped for 5% or $500k uncapped 3%)
• NEO ($600k via uncapped SAFE with $10M floor valuation)
• Sequoia Arc ($1M)
• PearX ($250k–$2M)
• Betaworks AI Camp ($500k)
• Greylock Edge (SAFE note $500k in credits)
• Conviction Embed ($150k uncapped MFN SAFE)
• OpenAI Converge ($1M equity investment)
• Startup Wise Guys (up to €65k for equity)
• APX (up to €500k, typically €50k for 5%)
• Founders Fellowship ($150k for 5–10%)
• Seedcamp (€100k–€200k for 7–7.5%)
• Antler (€100k for 10% stipend)
• Google for Startups (up to $100k)
• Accel Atoms (up to $500k–$1M)
• AI Grant ($250k uncapped)
• AI2 Incubator ($50k–$150k)
• Afore Capital ($100k–$500k)
• Berkeley SkyDeck ($200k)
• Soma Capital ($100k)
• Founder Institute (equity-based program with undisclosed funding)
• Boost VC (up to $500k for 15%)
• Antler ($200k–$250k for 8–9%)

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