Grant applications vs venture capital
I'm considering raising a few grants as one of the goals of my app is that it's designed to support researchers and open science.
It seems to be compatible with many of the goals of foundations which support science and open research like the Knight Foundation.
Some of the apps in our space have received grants. Some up to $850k but I think the average is going to be about $250k.
I think the main thing that concerns me is the grant application process. There's not as much documentation for how this works.
Additionally, I'm not sure the right grant size for which to apply .
Is this usually for US citizens ? or are these grants available to non-citizens too ?
Is it too complicated to apply for these ?
Is there a lot of competition ?
I've received a grant (25k) to work on a project but it is not financially sustainable for me to devote a ton of time to it. It's been a bummer to work on the project but not being able to realize its intended potential.
If the grants will be able make the project (including paying you) financially sustainable, I'd encourage applying for (multiple) grants. If not, finding a revenue stream or raising money might be helpful.
If you have a business model in mind, indie.vc, earnest capital, or tiny seed fund might be good paths as well.
You're probably going to want to consult a grant writer.
What does a grant writer do ?
They write grant applications.
The grant applications are the basis upon which you are judged worthy of receiving a grant.