Aptos Foundation’s Ecosystem Grants support founders and teams building applications, infrastructure, tools, and new user experiences that strengthen and expand the Aptos network. Designed for projects with a live product and demonstrated traction, the program typically provides $5,000 to $50,000 in milestone-based funding to help promising teams achieve measurable growth within the Aptos ecosystem.
Program Overview
• Purpose: Support builders creating lasting utility and strengthening the Aptos ecosystem.
• Supported work: Applications, developer tools, infrastructure, public goods, and novel user experiences built for or contributing to Aptos.
• Funding range: Grants typically range from $5,000 to $50,000.
• Funding structure: Milestone-based funding released as agreed milestones are completed.
• Target applicants: Founders and teams with a live product, demonstrated early traction, and the potential to scale.
Who Should Apply
• Team: Aptos Foundation looks for strong founders and teams capable of executing effectively and building exceptional products.
• Traction: Applicants must have a live product with evidence of real user adoption, early market demand, or community growth that demonstrates potential to scale.
• Focus: Projects should be Aptos-native or open-source, or have a clear plan to become open-source over time.
• Fit: Proposals should strengthen the Aptos ecosystem by advancing applications, developer tools, infrastructure, public goods, or novel user experiences.
• Execution: Applicants should have a clear roadmap, defined milestones, and a budget showing how grant funding will translate into measurable progress.
Application Process
• Apply: Submit your project roadmap, proposed milestones, budget, and an explanation of how the grant will support your growth.
• Review: Applications are evaluated on an ongoing basis, and some applicants may be invited to a short call as part of the review process.
• Approval & Agreement: Selected applicants complete identity verification and enter into a grant agreement with Aptos Foundation.
• Funding & Growth: Approved funding is released in stages as agreed milestones are achieved.
Frequently Asked Questions
• Who can apply? Applications are accepted from small teams, enterprises, academic and research groups, and non-profit organizations.
• What projects are not eligible? Projects involving illicit trade, money laundering, pornography, or other illegal activity are not eligible. Restricted persons, as defined by Aptos Foundation’s Terms of Use, are also ineligible.
• Do I need a live product? Yes. Ecosystem Grants are intended for teams that already have a live product and can demonstrate early traction through user adoption, market demand, or community growth.
• Does my project need to be open-source? Open-source projects are preferred, but applicants may also present a clear plan to open-source their project over time. Aptos Foundation may require specific components connected to the grant, such as smart contracts, to be open-sourced.
• How are grants funded? Funding is milestone-based. Applicants propose milestones as part of their application, and approved funds are released in stages as those milestones are completed.
• Do I receive the full grant immediately? No. Funding is tied to agreed milestones. If tokens form part of a grant, they may also be subject to a lock-up period ranging from 40 days to as long as 12 months from vesting.
• What if my project focuses on payments? Aptos Foundation has a separate Payment Grants track for projects involving areas such as wallets, payment APIs, compliance infrastructure, stablecoin payments, and related payment technology. However, the Payment Grants program is currently not accepting applications, so applicants should check its official page for future availability.
• What if my project is too early for an Ecosystem Grant? Ecosystem Grants are designed for teams that already have traction. Aptos directs earlier-stage founders toward builder programs such as hackathons and Aptos Assembly, which are intended to help projects develop products, gain traction, and become more mature. Program availability may vary by cohort.
Aptos Foundation’s Ecosystem Grants provide milestone-based funding for founders and teams that already have a live product, demonstrated momentum, and a clear opportunity to grow within the Aptos ecosystem. Applicants should prepare evidence of traction alongside a detailed roadmap, measurable milestones, and a clear budget showing how grant support will accelerate their progress.