Hello startup people! Here’s the latest drop on Grants, Pitch Competitions, Awards, and Summits.

Are you fundraising?!? Want access to pitch VC’s directly?

I’m starting a new newsletter to focus on pitch-to-VC events, firms that allow you to send your deck without warm intros, and other opportunities where you’re put in front of VC’s for investment or feedback. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll email you when the newsletter is live.

~Diane

Harambeans Africa Jobs Fund Prize – $20,000
Africa; African diaspora; Export manufacturing | Oct 14 | Apply

Detroit Startup Fund Grants – up to $50,000
Detroit | Dec 31 (my guess) | Apply

Sustainable Packaging Summit - Utrecht – 1,000+ attendees
Packaging | Nov 10-12 | Apply

National AI Innovation Challenge – Procurement pathway; Cash prize
Nigeria; LLMs | Oct 12 | Apply

MedTech Innovator Vantage Funding Program – $200,000
Medical devices; Diagnostics | Oct 15 | Apply

MassChallenge Sanofi THRIVE Challenge – $20,000
Rural Healthcare; Digital Health; Women’s Health | Oct 20 | Apply

TeraOpenScience Idea Challenge – $7,500
Research commercialization | Oct 31 | Apply

2027 RAPID + TCT - Call for Speakers – Speak at conference
Additive manufacturing; Aerospace; Consumer products | Nov 4 | Apply

Non-GMO Equitable Transfer Program – $10,000
BIPOC; CPG | Nov 13 | Apply

FoodTech 500 – Recognition
FoodTech; AgTech | Nov 15 | Apply

MassChallenge Sustainable Food Challenge 2027 – Partnership opportunities
FoodTech; AgTech; Sustainable packaging | Nov 25 | Apply

Hello Tomorrow Challenge – €200,000 investment
Deep Tech | Nov 30 | Apply

>>venture>> Startup Competition – CHF 600,000 total pool
Switzerland; FinTech; MedTech; CPG; others | Nov 30 | Apply

🤩 View the full list of 100+ open opportunities - including all Last Chance Opportunities - by signing up here.

OpenAI’s AI and Teen Dev Research Grant – up to $1,000,000
Gen AI; Social impact | Oct 6 | Apply

Storage Design Strategies to Ease Production (STEP) Prize – $500,000 total pool
Energy storage; Supply chain | Oct 8 | Apply

Pitch Latino 2026 – Recognition
LatinX; All startups | Oct 8 | Apply

Beyond the Deal Room curates grants, pitch competitions, awards, and tech summits for 13,000+ founders, VC’s and startup organizations. Over $100M global opportunities, mostly non-dilutive, are available across all verticals each year.

For Startup Organizations: Bring this list to your newsletter and community groups for FREE. Reply to this email for details.

Disclaimer: I receive no compensation for promoting any of these events. While I try to be as accurate as possible when posting requirements such as deadlines, it’s your responsibility to confirm all requirements.

📣 Who am I? Your biggest cheerleader. Startup operator, accelerator operations leader, and advisor to early-stage founders. Named a Top 100 Women Tech Leader (2024). I help founders tap into non-dilutive funding—grants, competitions, and beyond—to build traction between VC rounds. Connect with me on LinkedIn.