Young Entrepreneurs funding

Grants for Young Entrepreneurs 2026

Browse open grant programs for young founders and youth-owned businesses in 2026, sorted by award size, with deadlines and eligibility at a glance.

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Forrest Grants

Funding is hiding in plain sight.

Competitions, seed funds, and mentorship-backed grants aimed at founders under 35.

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Forrest Grant keeps the list clean, relevant, and pointed at programs worth a real application.

Open grants

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Featured grants

High-intent funding opportunities

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Where to focus first

Browse open grant programs for young founders and youth-owned businesses in 2026, sorted by award size, with deadlines and eligibility at a glance. Use this page as your shortlist, then jump into the intake wizard so Forrest can narrow the list to the programs you are most likely to win.

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Advancing Youth Initiative Soaring Shark Tank

Grantor

Advancing Youth Initiative

Award Amount

Varies

youth_ownedmiddle_school_student

Grants for Young Entrepreneurs 2026

Funding is hiding in plain sight.

High-intent funding opportunities

Where to focus first

Advancing Youth Initiative Soaring Shark Tank

Nampa Kid Business Fair

Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition

University of Nevada, Reno LaunchNevada Pitch Competition

New Hampshire FBLA Competitive Events

StartingBlock Madison — Pre-Accelerator & Accelerator Programming

Illinois 4-H Entrepreneurship Programming

NFTE World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge

JA New York Business Plan Competition

Brown Nelson Center Venture Funding

Rutgers Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship Academy

Wisconsin SBDC — Business Counseling & Startup Support for Young Entrepreneurs

NYC Summer Youth Employment Program

Junior Achievement of Vermont – Entrepreneurship & Company Programs

Kauffman Foundation — Youth Entrepreneurship Resources in Missouri

Georgia Tech K-12 InVenture Prize

Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute – University of Utah Student Startup Programs

Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation Major Grants

New Jersey State Council on the Arts Project Support

University of Oklahoma Founder in Residence

EDA Economic Development Assistance — Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Grants

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Training Grants - CDL and Logistics

WV SBDC FASTER Program — Startup Coaching for Young Entrepreneurs

Ridgewood Arts Foundation Grants and Scholarships

New York Business Plan Competition

Ohio Afterschool Network Pitch Challenge

CCRI Student Entrepreneurship Initiative

Diamond Challenge

Oklahoma FBLA Entrepreneurship Competitive Events

Victoria Foundation Newark Grants

High School Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge

One Stone Hatch

Lemonade Day Kenai & Soldotna

Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition

Servant's Heart Ministry Workmanship Program

VEDA SSBCI Loan Participation – Vermont Youth Entrepreneur Loans

University of Pittsburgh Big Idea Competition

Young Entrepreneur Institute Summer Pitch Contest

Junior Achievement of Oklahoma JA It's My Business!

Hope Scholarship

Rhode Island Promise Scholarship

Penn Wharton Startup Challenge

NJIT VentureLink

Oklahoma City University High School Startup Sprint and Business Plan Pitch Competition

Diamond Challenge

Youth Service America Youth Grants

King County Youth and Amateur Sports Grants

MDA Loan Participation Program — Youth-Owned Startup Financing

Junior Achievement of Northern New England Company Program

Diamond Challenge

New Jersey Offshore Wind Workforce and Skills Development Grants

Vermont SBDC – Youth Entrepreneur Business Advising

Jersey Fresh Farm to School Mini-Grant

Invent Penn State LaunchBox and Innovation Network Microgrants

University of Nebraska at Kearney Big Idea UNK

UNH Social Venture Innovation Challenge

Black and Latino Tech Initiative

Northwestern Garage Jumpstart Pre-Accelerator

North Dakota Farmers Market Young Entrepreneur Grant

Utah Micro Loan Fund – Youth & First-Time Entrepreneur Loans

Grants by state

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