How Black Entrepreneurs Can Win Startup Grants: 10 Insider Tips

For many Black founders, raising capital remains one of the toughest barriers to growth. Venture capital still overwhelmingly flows to white-owned businesses, and traditional bank loans often come with hurdles that disproportionately affect minority entrepreneurs.

Grants, however, offer a unique pathway: they provide funding without debt or equity loss.

But competition for these opportunities is intense. To succeed, Black entrepreneurs must be strategic, intentional, and authentic in their applications. Here’s what grant-makers say can make all the difference.

1. Target the Right Grants

Not all grants are created equal, many are specifically designed for women, Black, or other underrepresented founders. Applying to the wrong program is a wasted opportunity.

“Read the guidelines carefully and make sure you actually fit,” says Kristi Stoll, founder of YippityDoo, which offers monthly grants for women entrepreneurs.

2. Avoid Copy-Paste Applications

Applying for multiple grants is smart, but recycling the same answers can backfire. “Generic responses are easy to spot,” warns Stoll. Tailor your story to each grant to show you’ve done the homework.

3. Own Your Story

As a Black entrepreneur, your journey often carries layers of resilience, community impact, and cultural influence. Don’t shy away from sharing that. “A clear and compelling story is what makes an application stand out,” says Ross Buhrdorf, CEO of ZenBusiness.

Be specific: how will the money push your business to its next milestone?

4. Use Video as a Tool

If a grant requires a video, show up authentically. “Brands prefer authenticity over polish,” says Karen Cahn, founder of IFW by Honeycomb Credit. A phone, good lighting, and your authentic voice are often enough.

5. Be Honest and Bold

Accuracy matters. False numbers or broken links can get you disqualified. But honesty doesn’t mean downplaying your strengths. “This is not the time for humility,” Cahn says. Confidence is key.

6. Let Your Digital Footprint Match Your Vision

Your website and social media are extensions of your application. If you say you’re innovating for your community, let your online presence reflect that. Consistency between your story and your brand image matters.

7. Get Specific

Clarity wins. “We’re more likely to fund someone who says, ‘This $10,000 will buy a commercial freezer dryer so I can scale production,’ than someone who just says, ‘I’ll grow my business,’” explains Cindy Krautwurst of WomensNet.

8. Match Plans With Grant Size

Don’t present a $20,000 plan for a $10,000 grant. Instead, break down exactly how you’ll use the funds—equipment, hiring, or expansion—and tie each item to measurable impact.

8. Match Plans With Grant Size

Don’t present a $20,000 plan for a $10,000 grant. Instead, break down exactly how you’ll use the funds, equipment, hiring, or expansion—and tie each item to measurable impact.

9. Use AI Carefully

AI tools can help refine your application, but your voice and vision must shine through. “AI can help organize your ideas,” says Stoll, “but it can’t replace your authentic voice.”

10. Keep Applying

Rejection doesn’t mean the end. Many grant winners succeed only after multiple attempts, using each round to show growth. For Black founders especially, persistence can open doors that might seem closed at first.