Finding Grants Shouldn’t Feel Like a Full-Time Job

If you’re spending hours chasing grants and still missing the mark, you’re not the problem.

Your search strategy is.

Here’s what I tell founders from around the world:
Stop trying to be everywhere. Focus on being effective.

Here’s how:

✅ Be Specific About What You Need
Growth capital? Team expansion? Product development? Funders are looking for alignment. If your targeting is vague, your results will be too.

✅ Go Where the Decision Makers Hang Out
A few essential spots, no matter where you're based:

• Govt Grant Portals – (GrantConnect, Grants.gov, NI Direct, MBIE NZ)

• LinkedIn & Founder Communities – Early alerts often come through word of mouth.

• Local Councils & Economic Development Hubs – Underrated and often less competitive.

• Accelerators + Incubators – Many offer non-dilutive grants as part of support packages.

• Corporate Foundations – Especially active in social impact and regional innovation.

✅ Don’t Just Subscribe. Track.
Set calendar reminders, create a basic spreadsheet, and save key dates. It's not about being perfect - it’s about being prepared.

✅ Learn to Read Between the Lines
The most successful founders don’t just apply - they decode.
Who is this funding really for? What’s the unspoken intent? If you don’t know how to spot it, you risk wasting your time.

✅ Stop Making the Same Mistakes
Most people fall into the same traps - and they’re avoidable.

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Want to know the Top 5 Critical Mistakes I see in every grant round I assess? 
👉 Download my free guide here 

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This isn’t about chasing free money.
It’s about knowing how to play the game and win it on your terms.

Let’s keep the process simple. Smart. And moving forward.