AWS Activate provides AI startups with cloud credits to build and scale on AWS infrastructure, including access to high-performance GPU instances for AI/ML training and inference. The program offers tiered credit amounts: startups affiliated with recognized accelerators (Y Combinator, Techstars, 500 Startups, and others) can access up to $100,000 in credits, while self-funded startups can receive smaller allocations. Credits cover the full range of AWS services including EC2 P5 instances with NVIDIA H100 GPUs, G6e instances with RTX 4090 GPUs, Amazon SageMaker for ML model training, Amazon Bedrock for foundation model access, and AWS Trainium/Inferentia chips for cost-optimized AI workloads. The program also includes AWS technical support, architecture guidance, and access to the AWS startup ecosystem. Credits typically expire after 1-2 years. This is distinct from the AWS Cloud Credit for Research program (academic-focused) and the AWS Imagine Grant (nonprofit-focused), serving specifically the startup and early-stage company community through Series B.

NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program is a grant from NVIDIA providing up to $60,000 per award to PhD students conducting research that advances accelerated computing and its applications. Now in its 25th year, the program invites nominations from doctoral students pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and related fields. Recipients receive not only research funding but also access to NVIDIA technology, products, and engineering expertise, along with a mandatory in-person summer internship. Students are nominated by their faculty advisors and selected based on academic achievement and research area alignment.

NASA STRIDE (Science Transport and Robotic Innovation for Deployment and Exploration) is a grant program from NASA that solicits proposals from U.S. industry to conduct design studies of advanced robotic surface and aerial mobility systems with payload transportation and deployment capability for Mars surface operations. The program supports innovation in robotic mobility systems that could enable future Mars science missions. U.S.-based universities and nonprofit research organizations may also be eligible per the grant record. The application deadline for this cycle was March 31, 2026.

CalSEED Concept Award is a grant from the California Energy Commission that provides $150,000 in funding to early-stage clean energy innovators in California. The program targets individuals, businesses, and nonprofits developing hardware, software, or integrated solutions at Technology Readiness Levels 2-4. Eligible technology areas rotate each cycle and have included battery recycling and reuse, long-duration energy storage, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle electrification, industrial electrification, and advanced EV charging. Applicants must be located in California, have under $1 million in private funding, and propose innovations that benefit California ratepayers. Concept Award winners also receive professional development resources and access to accelerator programs, and may compete for a subsequent $450,000 Prototype Award.