$250,000, No equity, one condition: you leave college. That's the Thiel Fellowship, and it takes applications all year from anyone 22 or younger.
The grant on this list most likely to trip people up is the small one. A Philadelphia-area microgrant of up to $5,000 opens October 15, but you only qualify if you've already had one-on-one help or a training event from the center that runs it. That step has to happen first, so the clock is running now.
Grants are competitive. Treat each one like a lottery ticket you earn with careful paperwork. We opened every official page today. If a number below doesn't match when you click, trust the page.
1. PA Southeast Business Assistance Center Microgrant (Pennsylvania)
- Amount: $1,500 to $5,000 per business, with an estimated 100 to 200 awards.
- Who qualifies: for-profit businesses at least 51% owned or controlled by people from historically disadvantaged groups who live in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia County. The page's list includes women, veterans, people with disabilities, and Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+ owners. At least 51% of your revenue must come from those counties, and you need fewer than 100 full-time employees.
- The catch: you must have had one-on-one help or attended a training event from the center in the last 6 months.
- Deadline: the window is expected to run October 15 to November 15, 2026. Award letters are expected by January 1, 2027.
- Official link: PA SEBAC Microgrant
2. Duquesne New Venture Challenge
- Amount: over $125,000 in cash and prizes. The five finalists win $30,000, $15,000, $10,000, $5,000, and $5,000.
- Smaller prizes: up to 15 semifinalists get $1,000 each when they turn in Stage II, and the three best videos win $1,500, $1,000, and $500.
- Who qualifies: individuals or teams of up to five, anywhere in the continental U.S. You don't need a registered business, but any entity tied to the idea must be four years old or less. No Duquesne connection is needed for the first two stages.
- The catch: finalist teams must add a Duquesne-affiliated member (the school helps you find one) and pitch in person in Pittsburgh, with travel at your own cost.
- Deadline: Stage I is due November 15, 2026. You send a one-minute YouTube pitch and a business summary of 500 words or fewer.
- Official link: Duquesne New Venture Challenge
3. MavPitch (UT Arlington students)
- Amount: winners of the December round get up to $15,000 in venture funds, plus a shot at another $25,000 in a second pitch next summer.
- Who qualifies: UTA undergrad or grad students registered this fall, or grads from Spring 2026 or later, alone or in teams of up to four. Students must lead the venture. Existing companies can enter only if total sales and total funding are each $100,000 or less, all-time.
- Deadline: the video portal opens November 1. A three-minute video is due November 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central. Up to 10 semifinalists pitch live on December 3.
- Official link: MavPitch at UT Arlington
4. Shophand Small Business Boost Grant
- Amount: $5,000 total, split into $2,500 in no-strings cash and $2,500 in Shophand tech and operations help.
- Who qualifies: U.S. for-profit businesses that are already operating (not just an idea), with fewer than 50 employees and under $5 million in annual revenue. You must follow Shophand on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
- Note: it's free to apply, but the page says applicants who used a paid Shophand service this cycle get preference.
- Deadline: Round 2 closes November 30, 2026. The winner is announced December 15.
- Official link: Shophand Small Business Boost Grant
5. Thiel Fellowship
- Amount: $250,000, paid over two years. The Fellowship takes no equity.
- Who qualifies: anyone 22 or younger without a university degree. You can apply while you're in school, but you must drop out to accept. An idea is enough to start, but you need to show real work toward it. Individuals only, and you don't have to move.
- Deadline: rolling. The FAQ says there is no deadline and applications are accepted year-round.
- Official link: Thiel Fellowship FAQ
Before you apply
A real grant never asks for a processing fee, a gift card, or your bank login to "release" the money. None of the five above lists an application fee on its official page. If someone cold-calls you about a grant you never applied for, hang up. Don't pay for a list of grants.
Pick the one or two you actually qualify for. A tight, specific application beats ten rushed ones every time.
Verified on each official page: October 7, 2026.