What We Look for in Startup Grant Applications

Introduction

Since launching the Fixl Startup Grant program, we've reviewed over 500 applications and funded 30+ startups with engineering resources worth $50K-$150K each. Through this process, we've developed a clear picture of what separates funded applications from the rest.

This isn't about having the most polished pitch deck. It's about demonstrating that you understand the problem, have a viable technical approach, and can execute.

Technical Vision

The strongest applications demonstrate clear technical thinking:

• Problem-solution clarity: Can you explain the technical challenge in one paragraph?
• Architecture awareness: You don't need a perfect design, but show you've thought about scale, security, and data flow
• Technology choices: Explain why you chose your stack — "because I know it" is a valid answer for MVPs
• Technical risks: Acknowledging what's hard is more impressive than pretending everything is easy

We're not looking for overengineered designs. We're looking for evidence that you can make good technical decisions.

Team Assessment

We evaluate the team's ability to execute:

• Technical co-founder: Having someone who can build is almost non-negotiable for our program
• Domain expertise: Do you deeply understand the problem space?
• Complementary skills: The best teams combine technical and business acumen
• Commitment level: Full-time founders get priority, but we've funded strong part-time teams too

Market Fit & Traction

We look for evidence that someone wants what you're building:

• Customer conversations: Have you talked to potential users? What did they say?
• Early traction: Waitlists, LOIs, beta users, or revenue — any signal counts
• Market size: We don't need a $1B TAM slide, but show the opportunity is meaningful
• Competitive awareness: Know your landscape and articulate your differentiation

Common Mistakes

These red flags consistently appear in rejected applications:

• Solution looking for a problem: Building cool technology without a clear user need
• No technical detail: "We'll use AI" without explaining how
• Unrealistic timelines: Promising a full platform in 4 weeks
• Ignoring competition: "No one else is doing this" is almost never true
• Feature overload: Trying to build everything at once instead of a focused MVP

Tips for Applicants

1. Be specific: "We'll reduce hospital readmission rates by 15% through predictive discharge planning" beats "We're disrupting healthcare"
2. Show, don't tell: Include mockups, prototypes, or technical diagrams
3. Be honest about stage: We fund pre-revenue startups — no need to inflate metrics
4. Explain what you'll build with the grant: Be specific about deliverables and milestones
5. Follow up: If we have questions, respond promptly. Responsiveness signals commitment

Applications are open year-round. We review in monthly batches. Apply at fixl.com/startups/grant/apply.