91 free resources on this topic. Everything here is free and hand-picked. You can also search within this topic.
Fellowship programme at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon supporting advanced research stays. Application details and eligibility on the page.
Why I recommend it: Based in Portugal and aimed at researchers — check eligibility, deadlines and whether your field fits before investing time in an application.
ProFellow's guide to using AI chat tools to shortlist fully funded graduate programs in the United States, with prompt ideas and advice on verifying what the tool tells you.
Why I recommend it: Free to read. ProFellow also sells paid fellowship databases and courses, so treat the article as a lead-in to their products. AI tools invent funding details — always confirm anything they list on the university's own page.
Founded in 2014, the first nonprofit accelerator for tech nonprofits. It gives founders funding, resources and partnerships, and runs a free learning academy.
Why I recommend it: If you're building tech for social good as a nonprofit rather than a startup, apply here. Their free Academy and reports are useful even if you never apply.
A free, searchable record of 7,777 grants awarded since 2004 by what was Carnegie Corporation of New York and is now the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. Each record shows the grantee, the amount, the project description, the date awarded, the duration and the funding programme — National Democracy, National Education, International, Libraries, or Special Initiatives — with the geographic area served on newer entries. Filterable by year, programme and grantee, with every grant to one organisation viewable together.
Why I recommend it: This is one of the most useful free tools a nonprofit or grant-seeker has, and almost nobody uses it. Look up organizations doing work like yours and read the amounts, durations and project wording — it shows you what this funder actually pays for and in what language, which is better preparation than any grant-writing course. Two limits: it is a record of past decisions, not an open call, so it tells you nothing about what is currently accepting applications; and grants before 2004 are only in the archives. The foundation renamed itself in 2026, so older references you find elsewhere will say Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Independent daily reporting on India's startup and internet economy: funding rounds, filed company financials, fintech regulation and shutdowns. Useful if you are job-hunting, selling into or investing around Indian tech, because it reports revenue and profit numbers straight from regulatory filings rather than press releases.
Why I recommend it: Free to read and ad-supported, with a paid newsletter sold alongside it. Coverage is India-first, so treat it as a regional source, not a global one.
Database of companies, funding rounds, founders and investors.
From the site: Discover private company data, funding insights, and AI-powered predictions with Crunchbase.
Why I recommend it: Free account gives you limited searches and basic company profiles; the deeper filters are paid. Free is enough to check whether a company you are interviewing with has raised money recently.
Daily startup and technology news: funding rounds, launches, acquisitions and industry moves, written short.
From the site: TechStartups | Reporting on today's technology news, startups, AI innovations, and venture capital funding
Why I recommend it: Good for spotting who just raised money in a field you want to work in — a funded company is usually a hiring company.
A free-to-enter prize for young people solving real problems in their communities, with cash awards and no application fee.
Details: No entry fee and real money attached. Worth a shot if you are young and already building something.
A free searchable database of funded PhD positions, studentships and research masters worldwide, with funding details, deadlines and supervisor contacts.
Why I recommend it: Free to search and filter by funding — use the funded-only filter so you are not applying to positions you would have to pay for.
Every open XPRIZE challenge with its prize purse, deadlines and entry requirements — multi-million-dollar competitions in health, climate, education and AI.
Details: Free to enter and open to teams anywhere — a real route to funding if you have a technical idea and a team.
MIT News coverage of the 2026 delta v Demo Day, where student founders pitched their new ventures.
Why I recommend it: Study these pitches for structure — they are short, specific and evidence-led.
Free step-by-step guidance on starting a business: shaping the idea, funding options, legal structure, finances and promotion.
Why I recommend it: A plain, no-pitch starting point when the paperwork side feels overwhelming.
Free SCORE workshop on October 13, 2026 covering where small business grants actually come from, which ones you qualify for, and how to search federal, state, corporate, and foundation sources without wasting time on scams.
Details: Grant hunting eats time. Start with a session like this so you only chase the ones you can actually win.
Free SCORE workshop on October 20, 2026 on writing the grant application itself: structuring the narrative, budget, and supporting documents reviewers expect.
Details: Take this one right after the finding-grants session — the pair works as a short course.
A free, mentor-driven pre-accelerator for early-traction startups, run in chapters across many cities, designed as the last mile before applying to a major accelerator or raising a first round.
Why I recommend it: Worth applying even if you think you are too early — the pitch practice and mentor feedback are the real value, and it takes no equity.
Free resources from Codie Sanchez's Contrarian Thinking on buying, financing, and scaling small cash-flowing businesses — newsletters, masterclasses, deal frameworks, and acquisition guidance.
Why I recommend it: Use the free resources and skip the upsells until you have looked at real deals. Buying an existing small business is an underrated alternative to starting from zero.
A 16-week accelerator for entrepreneurs building impactful solutions in education and conscious technology, with coaching, capital, connections, and curriculum.
Why I recommend it: Check the current cohort deadline; the fellowship supports founders addressing systemic inequities and provides real capital and coaching.
Grant, mentorship, and network access for women with projects and ideas that advance women and girls — including awards for established change agents, aspiring disruptors, and women facing financial barriers.
Why I recommend it: Read the guidelines carefully: Pave HER Way runs multiple award tracks, and each has distinct eligibility and timing.
Application-only founder showcase series and newsletter covering early-stage New York founders and funding as a hiring signal.
Why I recommend it: Funding news is a hiring signal. A company that just raised is usually about to open roles.
Curated events and in-person experiences for tech professionals, founders, and investors.
Why I recommend it: Confirm whether general membership is open before planning around it.
Job board aggregating openings at early-stage, investor-backed startups.
Why I recommend it: Sort by newest funding. Freshly funded teams hire soonest.
Directory of early-stage startups backed by leading investors, with funding news and company profiles in one place.
Why I recommend it: Great for building a target list of companies before anyone else has heard of them.
Free startup guides from The Entrepreneurship Network covering the early decisions: structure, validation, funding paths, and going to market.
Why I recommend it: Guides like these are best read as checklists. Do the step, then read the next section.
Guide mapping the political actors, coalitions, and arguments shaping AI policy.
Why I recommend it: Helpful for seeing who is actually funding the AI debate you read about every day.
Research and grantmaking analysis on global health, policy, and emerging technology risk.
Why I recommend it: Follow the funding and you learn a lot about which problems get treated as real.
Workforce development, apprenticeship, and funding resources. Formed from the merger of the Institute for American Apprenticeships and Training Funding Partners.
Why I recommend it: Good starting point if you're exploring apprenticeships or workforce training programs, especially for hands-on or trade-adjacent paths.
A New York startup community sharing founder events, funding opportunities, and open roles across the local ecosystem.
Why I recommend it: If you are building in New York, this is one of the easier ways to find rooms worth being in.
Annual gathering for builders, backers, and operators shaping the future of technology and business.
Details: NYC tech summits are great for meeting investors, founders, and operators in one room. Worth considering if you are local or can travel.
Video channel with founder interviews, fundraising breakdowns, and venture capital explainers from the Harlem Capital team.
Why I recommend it: A free education in how funding decisions actually get made. Watch a few founder interviews before you write your first pitch deck.
Free Entrepreneur webinar on current fundraising conditions, investor expectations, and preparing to raise.
Why I recommend it: Register even if you cannot attend live. These sessions usually send a replay, and the investor Q&A is the useful part.
Free job search coaching, credential guidance, and employer connections for immigrants, refugees, and asylees rebuilding professional careers in the US.
Why I recommend it: One of the best free programs I know of. If you built a career in another country and are starting over here, begin with them.
A community for social entrepreneurs and diverse founders after the accelerator stage, connecting them with investors, coaches, and corporate partners to close the relationship gap that blocks funding.
Why I recommend it: Most founder programs stop at demo day. This one exists for what comes after, and the warm-introduction network is exactly what underrepresented founders are usually missing.
A comprehensive nonprofit education platform offering live and on-demand webinars on fundraising, grant writing, marketing, board development, and nonprofit management.
Why I recommend it: If you are launching or leading a nonprofit, CharityHowTo fills a practical skills gap without the overhead of a degree program. Their grant-writing webinars are especially useful.
Alpha backs highly technical students and new grads with up to $250K to start a company, and connects exceptional engineers with opportunities at breakout startups.
Why I recommend it: For technical students and recent grads with a startup idea, Alpha is one of the most direct paths to funding and mentorship. Even reading the portfolio is a masterclass.
Interview show hosted by Mike Cortez where founders, investors, and ecosystem builders discuss raising capital, scaling ventures, and how regional ecosystems like Atlanta and the Southeast fuel innovation.
Why I recommend it: Regional ecosystem shows tell you who the local money and mentors actually are. Listen, then reach out to a guest.
Local reporting on the growth of New York's artificial intelligence sector — which companies are hiring, where the funding comes from, and which neighborhoods anchor it.
Why I recommend it: Regional reporting names employers you will not find on a job board. Turn the company names into a target list.
Linas Beliūnas's fintech newsletter issue rounding up funding, product launches, regulation, and hiring signals across banking and payments.
Why I recommend it: Industry newsletters are cheap market research. Read a few issues before a fintech interview and you will sound like an insider.
Entrepreneur magazine's Q&A hub where founders and small business owners get answers on starting, funding, marketing, and running a business.
Why I recommend it: Useful when your question is common but you cannot find a straight answer — search before you post.
Official federal directory for finding your state's Economic Development Districts and Economic Development Organizations (EDOs/EDCs) — pick a state and get the local contacts.
Why I recommend it: Your local EDO often knows about grants, incubators, and lender contacts long before they show up online.
New York City Employment and Training Coalition open letter urging the Economic Development Corporation to invest in workforce development alongside job creation.
Why I recommend it: Read this if you want to understand how workforce funding decisions actually get made — and who is arguing for job seekers at the table.
Federal workforce program that can cover the full cost of approved job-related training.
Why I recommend it: Apply through your American Job Center. Only sign up for a class you need, because eligibility and funding are limited.
Free SCORE session (sponsored by Visa) on non-traditional funding sources -- grants crowdfunding and more -- for early-stage entrepreneurs.
Details: 1:00 PM EDT
A free small-business platform that matches owners with corporate- and foundation-funded grants (many $10,000+), plus free guides and expert-led events.
Free 12-week virtual "Boost Camp" coaching on marketing, finance, and operations for 250 entrepreneurs each cycle, with 100 also receiving a $20,000 grant. Delivered via Hello Alice.
Run with Main Street America: $20,000 grants awarded to small businesses (over $10 million distributed to 500+ businesses as of the most recent cycle). Applications typically open seasonally around Small Business Saturday each fall.
Why I recommend it: Applications open seasonally, roughly Nov–Jan — check for the current cycle.
A free universal grant application (now part of Honeycomb Credit) that matches women- and diverse-owned businesses to sponsor-funded grants, some bundled with coaching.
Grant packages combining $5,000 cash, a year of free internet/voice/cybersecurity service, equipment, a professionally produced TV commercial, coaching, and online entrepreneurship courses. Open to all qualifying small businesses in specific participating metro areas during limited annual application windows.
Why I recommend it: Only open in select cities during short annual windows — check comcastrise.com for current cities and dates.
New Jersey grants, loans, and technical assistance for small businesses and startups.
Why I recommend it: Check the open programs page monthly — NJEDA funding rounds open and close fast, and eligibility is narrower than the headline suggests.
Search by ZIP code or field of interest to find federally approved WIOA training programs near you — often free or subsidized for eligible workers.
Why I recommend it: Enter your ZIP and the field you want to work in. If a program shows up here, there is likely public money available to pay for it.
Reporting on funding rounds, startup trends, and venture activity.
Why I recommend it: Companies that just raised are hiring. Read it as a lead list for both job search and B2B pitching.
Venture firm investing in diverse founders, with public resources and an internship pipeline.
Why I recommend it: Read their published portfolio thesis before pitching anyone — it is a clear model of what a focused investor thesis looks like.
Cybersecurity scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, and career-change students.
Why I recommend it: Deadlines cluster in the spring. Draft the essay once and reuse it across every scholarship on this list.
Searchable list of Techstars accelerator programs by city and industry, with application windows.
Why I recommend it: Sort by program focus, not by prestige. A niche program with the right mentors beats a famous one that does not know your market.
Local chapters awarding $1,000 microgrants every month, no strings attached.
Why I recommend it: Find your city's chapter and apply. It is the least bureaucratic funding on this whole list.
Rolling seed grants up to $500 for early-stage, community-rooted projects.
Why I recommend it: Small money, fast decision. Perfect for proving a community idea works before you ask anyone for more.
Fellowships offering funding, mentorship, and community for emerging social entrepreneurs.
Why I recommend it: The network is worth more than the check. Alumni open doors for years afterward.
Free courses, coaching, and grant opportunities for small business owners.
Why I recommend it: The courses are decent and finishing them makes you eligible for their grant rounds.
Research foundations, prior grants, and potential funders by mission and geography.
Why I recommend it: Look up who a foundation funded last year before you write a word of your application.
Multi-year funding and hands-on support for early-stage social impact organizations.
Why I recommend it: For organizations, not side projects. Read their portfolio first to see whether you fit their stage.
Directory of women's funds and gender-equity funders you can search by region and focus.
Why I recommend it: Use the directory to find local funders instead of competing nationally for the same few grants.
Monthly $10,000 grants for women-owned businesses and nonprofits, with a simple application.
Why I recommend it: Low-effort application relative to the award. Apply monthly rather than once.
What investors expect at each stage, how terms and valuations work, and how to prepare a raise in the current funding climate.
From the site: Great ideas from dedicated teams can find solutions, yet breakthroughs can fail due to the one resource needed to propel growth: money.
Why I recommend it: Read this before you assume you need VC. Most of the businesses I mentor are better off with revenue, grants, or an SBA loan.
Cole Donovan connects US fiscal pressure and bond market weakness to coming budget decisions about science, R&D, and technology programs.
Why I recommend it: Useful context if your job or grant depends on federal science and tech spending — plan for tighter budgets, not looser ones.
Amazon's $30 million accelerator for pre-seed founders from underrepresented backgrounds, offering equity-free cash, AWS credits, hands-on technical architecture support, mentorship, and introductions to venture capital networks.
In plain terms: This program supports early-stage startups led by Black, women, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ founders. Eligible entrepreneurs can apply to receive cash funding, cloud credits, technical guidance, and mentorship to grow their businesses.
Why I recommend it: Equity-free money plus cloud credits is rare. Best fit if you already have a working prototype and a small amount of traction.
The national training body behind union electrical apprenticeships, now embedding data-center-specific content such as high power loads and redundant backup systems into regional apprentice programs, supported by corporate and Google.org funding.
In plain terms: This organization provides training curriculum for union electrical apprenticeships across the country. You can use the site to locate a local training facility and learn how to enroll in an apprenticeship.
Why I recommend it: Earn-while-you-learn with no tuition debt. Search for your local JATC chapter and ask specifically about data center and AI infrastructure work.
Discussions on building, scaling, and navigating the startup and venture capital world. Hosted by Jason Calacanis.
Why I recommend it: Useful for learning how investors talk, even if you never raise money.
Startup and technology news covering product launches, funding rounds, and trends. Hosted by TechCrunch.
In plain terms: This video channel shares news about startups and the technology industry. You can watch reports on new product launches, funding rounds, and emerging market trends.
Why I recommend it: Skim it to spot which companies are hiring and growing.
One of the largest CDFIs in the country, providing affordable capital, grants, and technical assistance to small businesses and community organizations in under-resourced neighborhoods.
In plain terms: This organization provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to help small businesses and community programs grow. You can use it to find financing, connect with local offices, and search educational resources.
Why I recommend it: Good mix of money and hands-on technical assistance, not just a loan.
The primary federal agency supporting small businesses through counseling, training, capital access, and government contracting assistance.
In plain terms: This federal website helps you start, fund, and grow a small business. You can explore loan options, find local counseling and training, and get certified for government contracting opportunities.
Why I recommend it: Start here for the official rules, then use SCORE or an SBDC for a human to walk you through them.
Represents regional development organizations that administer federal and state economic development funding, including small business loan programs, at the local level.
In plain terms: This national association supports local agencies that manage regional economic development and community programs. You can find your local development district, access training webinars and research, and search for regional planning and development job openings.
Why I recommend it: Regional development orgs are where rural and small-town loan programs actually live.
Federal agency dedicated exclusively to the growth of minority-owned businesses, funding a national network of Business Centers offering free counseling on capital, contracts, and markets.
Why I recommend it: Their Business Centers are the fastest route to contracting and capital introductions.
Comprehensive national guide covering counseling, training, capital, contracting, disaster assistance, and business advocacy resources, with local editions available.
Why I recommend it: Download your state's edition — the local contact list in the back is the useful part.
The largest membership organization for economic development professionals, connecting local and state EDCs with research, training, and best practices for community and small business growth.
Why I recommend it: Use it to find the economic development office in your own city — they often have grants nobody applies for.
Nonpartisan coalition advocating for public policy that expands access to skills training and job quality for lower-income and underserved workers.
In plain terms: This organization advocates for public policies that expand access to job training and career education. You can read their articles and reports to stay informed about workforce programs, credentials, and skills training initiatives.
Why I recommend it: Good source for what training funding exists in your state.
Organizational Psychologist, Wharton Professor. One of LinkedIn's most-followed voices (5M+), sharing research-backed insights on work, motivation, and organizational psychology.
In plain terms: This LinkedIn profile features posts, articles, and courses from an organizational psychologist and business professor. You can explore his updates to learn practical insights on workplace motivation, collaboration, and career resilience.
Why I recommend it: Good antidote to hustle-culture advice — he shows the research behind what actually helps at work.
President, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. Leads a $1.5B foundation investing $500M+ to make AI work for everyone; writes on responsible AI and equitable technology.
In plain terms: This LinkedIn profile features the work of a foundation leader focused on ethical technology and artificial intelligence. You can read his published articles and view courses on responsible AI to learn how new tools affect the modern workforce.
Why I recommend it: Follow for where philanthropic AI funding is going — useful if you're seeking grants.
Philanthropic investment firm supporting organizations that harness technology to empower individuals and communities responsibly.
In plain terms: This philanthropic investment firm focuses on responsible technology and its impact on society. You can check their careers page to search for open jobs and learn about their work.
Why I recommend it: Follow their funding to see which responsible-tech ideas are gaining ground.
Global foundation committed to social justice, funding technology initiatives that promote equity, inclusion, and accountable AI governance.
In plain terms: This global foundation funds organizations and individuals working on social issues, workers' rights, and technology. You can search for grant opportunities, apply for fellowship programs, and read research reports on the future of work.
Why I recommend it: A major funder of public-interest technology work worth tracking.
Foundation investing in social entrepreneurs and innovators tackling the world's most pressing problems.
In plain terms: This foundation funds and supports social innovators tackling major global challenges. You can learn about community impact projects and search for open roles on their community job board.
Why I recommend it: Look here if your business idea is really a mission.
One of the largest foundations dedicated to entrepreneurship, funding research and programs to expand economic opportunity through business creation.
In plain terms: This website provides tools, research, and programs to support business creation and career development. You can explore training through programs like Kauffman FastTrac, connect with peers through 1 Million Cups, and look into funding opportunities.
Why I recommend it: Their free research and toolkits are some of the best small-business data available.
Nonprofit funding organizations that advance equity and inclusion in entrepreneurship, offering grants to support underrepresented founders.
Why I recommend it: Worth checking their grantees — they often run programs you can join directly.
Foundation working to close gaps of access, achievement, and opportunity for underrepresented communities in tech, funding equitable tech policy initiatives.
In plain terms: This organization works to remove barriers and increase diversity in the technology industry. You can explore STEM programs for students of color, read research on tech equity, and learn about early-stage startup funding.
Why I recommend it: Their research explains the leaky tech pipeline — and they fund fixes for it.
Nonprofit providing seed funding and fellowships to early-stage social entrepreneurs, especially leaders of color, building solutions to social problems.
In plain terms: This nonprofit organization provides fellowship programs and funding to people starting social impact ventures. You can apply for a fellowship to get strategic guidance and financial support for your project.
Why I recommend it: Real seed money and coaching for early social ventures — applications open annually.
Founder-turned-investor writing a widely-read AI newsletter covering new tools, launches, and what is actually useful.
In plain terms: An exited founder and investor sharing what he learns about AI tools, products, and startups. A low-effort way to keep up with a fast-moving space.
From the site: Exited founder turned investor. Sharing what I see and learn along the way.
Why I recommend it: The fastest way to stay current on AI tools without living on social media. Skim it weekly, try one tool.
Two pitch decks compared side by side: Airbnb's 10-slide deck that raised $600K, and Fyre Festival's deck, whose company later faced fraud charges, plus sample GitHub work to use as a model for your own portfolio.
In plain terms: This guide compares successful and failed pitch decks from Airbnb and Fyre Festival alongside real GitHub profiles. You can use these examples to learn how to present business ideas clearly and structure your own technical portfolio.
Why I recommend it: One idea per slide. Problem, solution, evidence. Decoration never closed a round.
Created by Justin Smith — Launchpad Library
A one-page clickable directory of accelerators, funds, and small-business support beyond Y Combinator: NY/NJ, Atlanta, Los Angeles, DMV, and Baltimore, plus national programs for underrepresented founders, federal agencies, and corporate grant programs.
In plain terms: This directory lists business accelerators, grants, investors, and government support programs across several regions and nationwide. You can use the clickable links to find funding, free mentoring, and resources to help start or grow your business.
Why I recommend it: Most founders only know Y Combinator. This directory is where the actual money and mentorship live for people building outside Silicon Valley — several programs take no equity at all.
Created by Justin Smith — Launchpad Library (program data via The Knowledge House)
The government and community pages of the Founder's Directory: SBA, local SBDCs, SCORE mentoring, MBDA business centers, Women's Business Centers, Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR R&D grants, plus Comcast RISE, Verizon Digital Ready, Hello Alice, IFundWomen, and LISC.
In plain terms: This directory lists government and community programs that support small business owners and startups. You can use it to find free business coaching, connect with expert mentors, and search for grants.
Why I recommend it: Free 1:1 business coaching from an SBDC or SCORE mentor is the most underused resource in this whole library. Book a session before you pay a consultant.
Created by Justin Smith — Launchpad Library (program data via The Knowledge House)
Social Science Research Council program funding and publishing work on technology, power, and public life.
In plain terms: This research platform publishes articles and essays exploring how technology and artificial intelligence affect workers and society. You can read expert reviews and analyses to learn about labor protections, tech ethics, and workplace automation.
From the site: The Just Tech Platform is a forum, catalogue, and showcase for researchers and practitioners at the nexus of technological development, inequity, and social justice.
Why I recommend it: Great source of fellowships and calls for proposals if you want funded research work.
Reporting on the political ideology and ambitions of Silicon Valley's power brokers.
In plain terms: This publication offers investigative reporting on the political ideologies and ambitions of powerful technology leaders. You can read articles and analysis to understand how tech industry figures influence government and democracy.
From the site: Silicon Valley tech billionaire politics: authoritarianism, fascism, plutocracy, weirdness
Why I recommend it: Context on who is funding what — helpful when you vet a potential employer.
Build a lender-ready business plan section by section, for free.
In plain terms: This free government guide helps you research, structure, and write a business plan from start to finish. You can use downloadable templates and federal market data to calculate startup costs and create a plan for lenders.
From the site: Plan to make your great idea into a great small business using SBA’s data and trend resources, business plan templates and startup cost calculator. Market research and competitive analysis Write your business plan Calculate your startup costs Establish business credit Fund your business Buy an existing business or fra…
Why I recommend it: If you want a loan or a grant, you need this document. Start rough, refine later.
Buying and building small businesses, explained in plain language.
In plain terms: This is the LinkedIn profile of an expert who shares advice on buying and building small businesses. Follow her page to learn straightforward tips on acquiring and operating a business.
Why I recommend it: Why follow: she reframes entrepreneurship as buying cash flow, not chasing unicorns.
