Builder Funding Watch

Grants, credits, fellowships, and sponsorships screened for one question: can an individual with no company get it? Each entry verified against its official source, with the date it was checked.

OPENentity rules unclear Restack (NGI) - NLnet (grant)
small-medium R&D grants; EUR 7M total through 2030
open internet stack tech; NLnet traditionally funds individuals - verify guide
deadline: 2026-11-03T12:00:00+01:00 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: First call opened 2026-09-03. Live dated opportunity.

STALE SOURCEno institution needed Catalyst Program - Open Core Ventures (sponsorship)
TBD
individual OSS maintainers
deadline: 2026-01-16 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Page still says 'applications open' for a cohort 8 months past deadline. Watch for next cohort.

CLOSEDno institution needed NGI Zero Entrust - NLnet (grant)
5000-50000 EUR
FOSS privacy/trust R&D; individuals historically eligible
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Ran Aug 2022-Jan 2026; page kept for history. Still circulates as an opportunity - staleness evidence.

BETWEEN WINDOWSno institution needed Google Summer of Code - Google (internship)
stipend varies by country (verify)
individual contributors, mentored FOSS coding
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Org registration closed for this cycle; contributor window later.

BETWEEN WINDOWSno institution needed Outreachy Internships - Outreachy (internship)
stipend TBD (verify)
people underrepresented in tech; FOSS internships
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Cohort-based.

BETWEEN WINDOWSentity rules unclear Sovereign Tech Fund + fellowship - Sovereign Tech Agency (grant)
varies
critical OSS infrastructure projects/maintainers
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Fellowship pilot closed May 2026; Contribute Back Challenges dead since 2023.