Apply
Prove you're building something useful.
OpenFund pays for the tools that unblock real work. It's free to apply. What we ask in return is evidence: show us the project, the need, and the plan.
Who can apply
Anyone, anywhere, who is building something useful and can show it.
- Student
- Entrepreneur
- Researcher
- Developer
- Creator
- Other useful project
The one rule: you must show genuine need and genuine use.
Resources are limited, so we fund people who can demonstrate that (1) they can't reasonably pay for these tools themselves, (2) they have a real project or goal, (3) the tools will actually be used, and (4) the work is likely to be useful to others. A well-written story without evidence won't be approved.
What we fund
- AI subscriptions (e.g. a chat assistant or coding assistant plan)
- API credits for AI models, speech, vision or data services
- GPU / cloud compute for training, inference or research
- Developer and design tools, hosting and domains
- Occasionally, small hardware needs tied directly to the project
Requests are currently capped at $2,000 per application, for up to 12 months.
What we don't fund
- Cash for personal expenses, rent or tuition
- Projects with no evidence of work or a clear plan
- Speculation, trading, gambling or token launches
- Anything harmful, deceptive or illegal
Evidence beats eloquence
Attach links or files that let a reviewer verify your claims. More, specific evidence is better than a longer essay.
| If you're a… | Good evidence includes |
|---|---|
| Students | Student ID or enrollment letter (kept private), course or thesis page, supervisor contact |
| Developers | GitHub or GitLab profile and repository, commit history, deployed app, technical write-up |
| Researchers | Paper, preprint or proposal, lab or university page, dataset, supervisor letter |
| Entrepreneurs | Product demo or prototype, website, pitch deck, early users or letters of intent, registration documents |
| Creators | Portfolio, published work, channel or audience, project outline with samples |
Files (PDF, PNG, JPEG, WebP, up to 10 MB) are stored privately. Only reviewers can open them, and every view is logged. They're never published.
What happens after you apply
- 01
Apply
Tell us about you, your project, the exact tools you need and their cost. Attach proof.
- 02
Review
A reviewer checks your evidence. If something is unclear, they'll ask you directly in your dashboard.
- 03
Decision
If approved, you'll see your grant: approved tools, amount, duration and how to access them.
- 04
Build & report
Use the tools. We'll check in once about what you built. Sharing it publicly is up to you.
Ready? Have your evidence handy.
Your draft saves at every step, so you can come back to it later.
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