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Effortless AI-driven grant discovery and collaboration for scientists and students.
Community & resource channels – contribute, learn, and connect with fellow ActionStarters
“Find the right grant and the right team – in one place, with AI.”
Explore the OpportunityThe Challenge: Funding Discovery is Broken
Researchers face significant hurdles finding grants and collaborators.
Information Overload
Thousands of grants scattered across fragmented sources.
Time-Consuming Process
Hours spent searching, not researching (~550+ work years on one scheme!).
Missed Opportunities
Early-career researchers & students often unaware of options.
Pain for Students
Navigating funding & finding mentors is daunting.
A Massive & Growing Market
The global research ecosystem represents a vast opportunity.
Huge Funding Ecosystem
Billions invested globally in R&D grants annually.
Enormous User Base
0.0M+
Researchers Worldwide (2018)
+ Millions of Grad Students
All needing funding and tools.
Timely Opportunity
Growth & Demand
Funding areas (AI, climate) expanding, but discovery tools lag.
Untapped Niche
No dominant, personalized platform exists. First-mover advantage.
Modern Solution Needed
Tech-savvy researchers ready for a convenient mobile tool.
Our Solution: AI-Powered Discovery
A mobile-first platform matching researchers with grants and collaborators.
How It Works
- Profile Creation: Users input research interests, background, needs.
- AI Matching: Recommends tailored grants from a vast database.
- Notifications: Alerts for new grants & deadlines.
- Collaboration: Suggests collaborators/mentors based on profiles.
- Connection: In-app messaging to foster team formation.
User Experience:
Intuitive, social feed-like interface, smart search, community forums – a personalized "LinkedIn for research funding" on-the-go.
Recommended For You:
NSF Grant: AI in Healthcare
Deadline: Oct 15
NIH Fellowship: Neuroscience
Deadline: Nov 1
Potential Collaborators:
AI Innovation: Why We're Unique
Our proprietary AI provides a significant edge over traditional methods.
Intelligent Matching
NLP understands grant descriptions & user profiles beyond keywords. Finds nuanced matches (e.g., "ML for healthcare" matches "digital health innovation").
Mobile Edge: Real-time updates & chat push AI assistance anywhere, anytime.
MVP Live & Gaining Traction
Our Minimum Viable Product is built, deployed, and showing promising early results.
Product Development
MVP built and live in beta. Core features: personalized search, recommendations, collaborator search, basic chat/forum. Mobile-first & responsive.
Beta Users & Engagement
Piloting with 0+ researchers/students from 0 universities.
Finding Spring 2025 grants. Promising engagement (e.g., ~0 searches/week, 0% contacted collaborator).
Early Validation
- PhD student found unknown grant & collaborator.
- Cross-university team formed for COVID grant.
- Feedback: Saves time, finds relevant grants.
Confidence in product-market fit.
What Beta Testers Say
"I no longer need to check 10 different websites for grants. This app brings the relevant ones right to me."
- Postdoc Researcher
"The collaborator suggestion was spot on! Found someone with the exact expertise I needed for my proposal."
- PhD Student
Target Users & Growth Strategy
Reaching the global research community through strategic adoption.
Who We Serve
Primary: Academia
Faculty, postdocs, grad students (initially STEM, then broader).
Secondary: Institutions & Industry
Universities, research institutes, funding agencies, corporate R&D.
Global Reach
Starting US/English, expanding internationally (EU, UK, etc.).
How We'll Grow
Bottom-Up Adoption
Attract individuals via conferences, social media, word-of-mouth.
Top-Down Partnerships
Partner with university research/grad offices for bulk onboarding.
Network Effects
More users = better AI & collaboration = more value = more users.
Growth Trajectory
Visualizing our phased rollout across regions and user segments.
Revenue Model & Monetization
Multiple streams focused on user value, prioritizing growth initially.
Freemium Access
Basic grant search, recommendations, networking free for individuals. Drives adoption & data.
Premium (Pro)
Advanced analytics, AI proposal tools, team features via monthly/group subscription.
Institutional Licenses
Enterprise packages for universities/labs (admin dashboards, integrations, bulk access).
Sponsorships
Funding agencies/foundations pay to highlight opportunities to relevant users.
Projected Revenue Mix
Diversified revenue streams supporting long-term sustainability.
Future opportunities: Recruitment services, anonymized data insights.
Competitive Landscape & Our Edge
Standing out in a field of legacy tools and fragmented solutions.
Current Alternatives
Status Quo / Manual:
Govt databases (Grants.gov), email lists, society sites, basic search engines.
Direct Competitors (Legacy):
GrantForward, SPIN, Pivot. Keyword-based, dated UI, minimal AI/social, institution-focused.
Indirect Competitors:
Academic networks (ResearchGate), collaboration tools (Slack). Don't solve grant matching.
Our Unique Advantages
AI-Driven Matching:
Cuts through noise, delivers relevance beyond keywords.
Mobile-First Design:
Convenient access anywhere, unlike legacy desktop systems.
Collaboration Focus:
Actively connects users, turning search into a community process.
Modern UX & Gamification:
Engaging interface (swiping, tracking) makes finding funding less tedious.
Barriers to Entry:
Proprietary AI, accumulating data, network effects create a defensible moat.
Our Team & Advisors
The right blend of technical expertise, domain knowledge, and business acumen.
Brian White
AS STAR
Experienced CEO with a background in operations, sales, and management. Focused on growth and building strong foundation.
Connect on LinkedInFun Fact:
Loves restoring classic cars in his spare time.
Hamit Kaya
AS STAR
Experienced in leading and managing projects, ensuring timely and successful delivery. Strong background in AI and technology development.
Connect on LinkedIn View on GitHubFun Fact:
I was so hyperactive as a kid that caffeine used to come to me for advice!
Aytac Gedik
AS STAR
Highly motivated Full-Stack Engineer with expertise in React, Next.js, C#/.NET Core, and AI integration. Over 5 years of experience building scalable web and mobile solutions.
Connect on LinkedIn Visit PortfolioFun Fact:
Can solve a Rubik's cube in under a minute.
Why This Team Will Succeed
Unique mix of AI prowess, firsthand academic insight, and strong full-stack development capabilities. Mission-driven culture attracts talent. We have the vision, grit, and competence to execute.
Strategic Partnership Opportunities
Collaborating to accelerate growth, enhance value, and reach users.
Universities & Institutions
Official adoption/recommendation, portal integration. Drives user acquisition & credibility.
Funding Agencies (Gov & Foundations)
Broaden outreach (esp. to underrepresented groups), disseminate opportunities, gain insights.
Corporate Partners
Tech integrations (cloud), sponsored challenges, access to talent, scale via existing networks (publishers, ed-tech).
Conferences & Societies
Feature platform in newsletters/events, host workshops, gain endorsements & rapid user growth.
AI/Data Partners
Align with AI leaders (cloud providers, accelerators) for resources, co-marketing, tech credibility.
Partnership Benefits
Increased content, users, AI accuracy, revenue channels, and strategic amplification.
Roadmap & Scalability
A clear plan for growth, feature expansion, and long-term impact.
Now (0-6 Months)
Refine product based on beta feedback. Focus on initial user growth (target: 1k active users across 10+ universities). Enhance core AI model accuracy. Official launch.
Near Term (6-18 Months)
Scale user acquisition (target: 50+ institutions). Introduce grant tracking & initial AI assistant. Generate early revenue (target: 10k+ users, $100k+ ARR).
Long Term (2-5 Years)
Integrate global grants/collaboration network. Develop robust community features. Sophisticated predictive AI. Achieve financial sustainability & international expansion.
Technical Scalability
Built on cloud-native, microservices architecture for seamless scaling. Focus on robust infrastructure, data security, and performance.
Exit/Expansion Potential
Strong acquisition potential (academic publishers, EdTech, professional networks). Aiming for profitable growth or strategic acquisition.
Our Impact Vision
Empower thousands of research projects with funding and collaboration, channeling billions towards innovation. Scaling our business and positive impact on the global scientific community.
Investment Opportunity
Join us in revolutionizing research funding – a high-growth, high-impact venture.
Why Invest Now?
MVP stage with traction, poised for growth. Untapped market at AI/EdTech intersection. Capture market lead.
Use of Funds
Product Dev (AI, features), Marketing & Partnerships, Team Expansion (Sales, CS, Dev).
Round Details
Raising Seed round of $[X] million. 18-month runway to reach [e.g., 10k users, $100k ARR].
Ideal Investor Fit
ROI Potential
Capture % of millions of researchers/students. Potential for 10x+ return via high growth, strategic value (like LinkedIn for research).
Risk Mitigation
MVP traction de-risks concept. Freemium model aids adoption. Broad applicability beyond academia (startup grants, scholarships).
Why We Will Win
We're solving a critical problem in a huge market with innovative AI, strong traction, perfect timing, and a passionate, expert team.
This isn't just about profit; it's about enabling scientific progress and contributing to future breakthroughs.
Join Us in Funding the Future
Let's shape the future of research together and unlock innovation at a global scale.
Contact Us to Invest