funding programs
funding that follows the work.
we distribute donated funds to builders based on productivity — meaning what you've actually shipped. no pitch deck. no equity. no investor relationship. just fuel for people who are already moving.
how it works
simple criteria. real money.
apply
tell us what you're building and show us the work so far. a github repo, a demo, a changelog. something real. no deck required.
ship
keep building. document your progress openly. the distribution criteria are simple: active builders who are visibly shipping get funded. stalled projects don't.
get funded
funds are distributed as short grants — not a salary, not an investment. no equity taken, no strings attached. the only expectation is that you keep building.
who this is for
builders at any stage
solo engineers
working on a project in your spare time. you've got the skills, you're making progress, but the money pressure is real. this is designed for you.
early founders
zero revenue, pre-validation, but the idea is solid and you're already building. we fund the work, not the pitch.
open source maintainers
you're shipping useful software that people actually use but there's no business model attached yet. we support that kind of work.
student builders
you're in college or recently out. you have time and skills but not capital. no credentials required here — just show the work.
questions
funding FAQ
where does the money come from?
entirely from donations. curious engine is a non-profit. we don't raise VC funds or make returns. donors support the mission and the funds go directly to builders.
do you take equity?
no. this is a grant, not an investment. we take nothing back. no equity, no revenue share, no future obligation.
how much can i get?
amounts vary based on available funds and where you are in your build. we're transparent about what's in the pool. this is fuel money, not a salary — enough to reduce the pressure while you're building.
what counts as 'productivity'?
shipping things. commits with substance, deployed builds, documented progress, demos. we're not counting vanity metrics. we want to see real forward movement on the thing you said you'd build.
get involved
if you're building, you belong here.
no application. no gatekeepers. no permission required. show up, build things, meet people who are doing the same. the community is free and the funding follows the work.