Small Business Grants for Startups in Tennessee (2026)
Startups in Tennessee face the classic chicken-and-egg problem: you need capital to build your business, but most funding sources require an established track record. Grant programs specifically designed for early-stage and pre-revenue businesses can break this cycle by providing capital with no repayment obligations and no equity dilution.
The federal SBIR/STTR program is the cornerstone of startup grant funding in America, distributing over $4 billion annually. NSF's America's Seed Fund offers a rolling Project Pitch system ideal for startups, with Phase I awards up to $305,000. DOD, NIH, DOE, and NASA also run SBIR programs for startups developing technologies relevant to their missions.
For non-technical startups, the private grant ecosystem provides substantial opportunities. Skip awards monthly grants with no revenue requirements. The Freed Fellowship provides monthly $500 grants to any small business owner. Hello Alice runs multiple grant rounds for businesses under $1 million in revenue. Kiva offers 0% interest microloans requiring no credit score or collateral.
Accelerator programs like MassChallenge offer equity-free prizes exceeding $100,000. Google for Startups provides up to $350,000 in cloud credits for AI companies. These programs combine funding with mentorship and networking that can be equally valuable for early-stage companies.
In Tennessee, startups can access additional funding through state innovation grants, startup accelerators, and economic development programs. Many states offer dedicated programs for companies under 10 years old or with limited prior funding.
Below you will find all currently active grants that startups and new businesses in Tennessee can apply for.
Available Grants59 Active
Award Amount
$275,000 - $305,000
NSF SBIR Phase I (America's Seed Fund)
Award Amount
$1,000 - $10,000
Skip Monthly Business Grants
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
California Dream Fund
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
NYS Business Seed Funding
Award Amount
$50,000 - $275,000
DOD SBIR Phase I
Award Amount
$150,000 - $293,297
NIH SBIR/STTR Phase I
Award Amount
$50,000 - $200,000
DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I
Award Amount
$250,000 - $2,000,000
EDA Build to Scale (Venture Challenge)
Award Amount
$75,000 - $150,000
SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
Award Amount
$50,000 - $1,000,000
California IBank Small Business Loan Guarantee
Award Amount
$50,000 - $200,000
Ohio Third Frontier
Award Amount
$50,000 - $250,000
Colorado Early-Stage Capital & Retention Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $35,000
Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants
Award Amount
$25,000 - $200,000
TEDCO Seed/Pre-Seed Funding
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
Hello Alice Small Business Growth Fund
Award Amount
$1,000 - $15,000
Kiva 0% Interest Microloans
Award Amount
$2,000 - $350,000
Google for Startups Cloud Program
Award Amount
$500 - $2,500
Freed Fellowship Grant
Award Amount
$25,000 - $100,000
MassChallenge Accelerator (Equity-Free)
Award Amount
$7,500 - $7,500
Halstead Grant for Jewelry Designers
Award Amount
$4,000 - $4,000
NASE Growth Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Amber Grant for Women
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
IFundWomen Universal Grant Application
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Venmo Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$600,000 - $5,000,000
EDA Public Works Program
Award Amount
$150,000 - $2,500,000
EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA HUBZone Program
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA Women-Owned Small Business Contracting
Award Amount
$20,000 - $20,000
Allstate Main Street Grants (Hello Alice)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Fund Her Future Grant (H&R Block)
Award Amount
$15,000 - $25,000
Amazon Business Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$20,000 - $20,000
Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Hero
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Ladies Who Launch Program
Award Amount
$30,000 - $100,000
Cartier Women's Initiative (2027 Cycle)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
EmpowHer Grant
Award Amount
$15,000 - $15,000
Girlboss Foundation Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Red Backpack Fund (Spanx Foundation)
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
NAWBO / Mastercard Small Business Grants
Award Amount
$2,000 - $5,000
Second Service Foundation Veteran Awards
Award Amount
$10,000 - $25,000
Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $50,000
PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Program
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP x L'Oreal Beauty Industry Grants
Award Amount
$10,000 - $20,000
Fearless Strivers Grant (Fearless Fund + Mastercard)
Award Amount
$1,500 - $5,000
First Nations Acorn Fund
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
NBMBAA Scale-Up Pitch Challenge
Award Amount
$5,000 - $10,000
NDI Small Business Hub (Disability Entrepreneurs)
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP Power Forward Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $15,000
USHCC / Wells Fargo Hispanic Business Grants
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a startup with no revenue get grant funding in Tennessee?▼
Yes. Skip monthly grants, Freed Fellowship, and Kiva microloans have no revenue requirements. Amber Grant accepts pre-revenue businesses. NSF SBIR funds pre-revenue technology startups. State programs like the California Dream Fund also support new entrepreneurs with limited track records.
What is the easiest grant for a new business to get in Tennessee?▼
The lowest-barrier grants include Skip monthly grants (no qualifications), Freed Fellowship ($500/month, minimal requirements), Kiva microloans (0% interest, no credit score needed), and Verizon Digital Ready ($10K after completing free courses). These programs have simple applications and frequent award cycles.
How much SBIR funding can a startup get in Tennessee?▼
SBIR Phase I provides $100K-$305K (6-12 months), Phase II provides up to $1-2M (2 years), and some agencies offer Phase III follow-on funding. NSF also offers a Fast-Track combined Phase I/II path worth up to $1.3M. Total SBIR funding across multiple agencies can exceed $5M over a company's lifecycle.