San Francisco startup funding programs and grants: complete 2025 guide

San Francisco raised $112.7 billion across 14,539 startups in 2024, maintaining its position as the world's top startup ecosystem. For founders launching in 2025, the funding landscape offers unprecedented variety—from $5,000 microgrants to $500,000 accelerator investments. This guide reveals every active program, application deadline, and funding amount available to Bay Area startups right now.

Whether you're building AI software, hardware tech, or social impact ventures, understanding which programs match your stage and sector can mean the difference between bootstrapping and scaling rapidly. Beyond capital, these programs deliver mentorship, customer introductions, and the credibility that unlocks future funding rounds.

1. Y Combinator: $500,000 for 7% equity

Y Combinator remains the gold standard for startup acceleration. The program now provides $500,000 total funding—$125,000 for 7% equity plus $375,000 via uncapped SAFE with MFN.

Key details:

• Funding amount: $500,000 total
• Program length: 3 months
• Application deadlines: Fall 2025 (August 4), Winter 2026 (November 10)
• Acceptance rate: 1-2%
• Alumni network: 5,000+ companies including Airbnb, Stripe, DoorDash

YC runs four batches annually with decisions made within days of interviews. The program culminates in Demo Day, where 400+ investors attend to meet portfolio companies.

How Heygen helps YC applicants:

Your YC application requires a one-minute video introduction. Instead of recording dozens of takes or hiring videographers, founders use Heygen's AI video platform to create professional pitch videos in minutes. You can instantly update your script as your product evolves, translate your pitch into multiple languages for international co-founders, and maintain consistent quality without being camera-ready. One YC founder reported creating 12 different video versions testing different hooks—something impossible with traditional video production.

2. Techstars San Francisco: $220,000 for deep tech and enterprise AI

Techstars San Francisco focuses exclusively on deep tech and enterprise AI startups. The restructured 2025 model offers $20,000 cash for 5% equity plus $200,000 via uncapped SAFE.

Key details:

• Funding amount: $220,000 total ($20,000 cash + $200,000 SAFE)
• Program length: 13 weeks
• Application deadlines: Spring 2026 batch opens August 25, final deadline November 19, 2025
• Focus areas: Enterprise AI, B2B SaaS, deep tech
• Mentor network: 100+ mentors

Located in downtown San Francisco, proximity to enterprise customers and investors creates organic networking opportunities that remote programs cannot replicate.

How Heygen supports enterprise startups:

Enterprise sales require professional product demos, customer testimonials, and training videos. Using Heygen's AI avatar technology, Techstars companies create personalized sales videos for each prospect, localize product demos for international markets in 175+ languages and dialects, and produce training content at scale without video crews. This dramatically shortens enterprise sales cycles where procurement teams need to see polished demos before approving pilots.

3. 500 Global: $150,000 with international focus

500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) provides $150,000 for 6% equity through its four-month flagship accelerator. With applications accepted from 77 countries, this program brings global-first perspective valuable for international expansion.

Key details:

• Funding amount: $150,000 (net $112,500 after $37,500 program fee)
• Program length: 4 months
• Application deadlines: Batch 36 priority deadline October 11, 2025 (rolling acceptance year-round)
• Mentor network: 400+ mentors globally
• Alumni: 5,000+ companies across 77 countries

The program includes 500 FounderHub with exclusive credits for AI tools, hosting, banking, and cap table management worth tens of thousands.

How Heygen enables global expansion:

Entering international markets requires localized marketing content. With Heygen's video translation featuring perfect lip-sync, 500 Global companies translate their pitch videos, product demos, and marketing content into any of 175+ languages and dialects in minutes. One portfolio company localized their entire sales funnel into 12 languages in under two weeks—what would have cost $100,000+ in traditional dubbing.

4. Berkeley SkyDeck: $200,000 plus UC Berkeley resources

Berkeley SkyDeck invests $200,000 for 7.5% equity with unmatched academic resources. Applications for Batch 18 opened July 10 and close August 28, 2025.

Key details:

• Funding amount: $200,000 (can invest up to 10% of first institutional round)
• Program length: November 2025 through April 2026
• Program fee: $5,000
• Focus: 80% AI and deep tech (Bio, Chips, Fintech, Climate Tech tracks)
• Resources: UC Berkeley's 500,000+ alumni network, QB3 and LBNL research facilities

Demo Day attracts 900+ investors, making it the largest in the Bay Area.

How Heygen supports academic spinouts:

University spinouts often struggle translating complex research into accessible content. Using Heygen's AI video generator, SkyDeck companies turn technical papers into engaging explainer videos, create founder introduction videos for recruiting advisors, and produce investor updates without leaving the lab. The text-based editor makes video creation as easy as writing documents—perfect for technical founders who prefer coding to video production.

5. Alchemist Accelerator: $36,000 for enterprise-only startups

Alchemist Accelerator exclusively accepts B2B startups monetizing from enterprise customers. If you're not selling to enterprises, don't apply.

Key details:

• Funding amount: $36,000 for 5% equity
• Program length: 6 months
• Application deadline: October 17, 2025 (for next cohort)
• Format: Virtual participation with optional in-person hubs in SF, Chicago, Munich
• Mentor access: 3,000+ enterprise mentors

Alumni have raised $3.9 billion in total funding, with notable successes including LaunchDarkly (unicorn) and Rigetti Quantum Computing.

How Heygen accelerates enterprise sales:

Enterprise customers need extensive training and onboarding content. With Heygen's avatar videos, Alchemist companies create customized training for each client, produce executive briefings for C-suite stakeholders, and scale sales enablement content without hiring production teams. One company created 50 personalized demo videos for different verticals in a single afternoon.

6. Plug and Play Tech Center: No-equity investment model

Plug and Play Tech Center offers variable investments without mandatory equity requirements. Running two major batches annually, the Fall 2025 Summit on November 18-20 showcases 112+ startups.

Key details:

• Funding amount: Variable (no mandatory equity)
• Program length: 3 months
• Industry programs: 17+ verticals including AI, Fintech, Digital Health, Supply Chain, Mobility
• Corporate partners: 550+ globally
• Recent focus: 95% of portfolio focused on AI-driven solutions

Unlike traditional accelerators, Plug and Play operates as a corporate venture platform connecting startups with enterprise pilot opportunities.

How Heygen supports corporate pilots:

Securing corporate pilots requires professional materials. Using Heygen's brand kit integration, Plug and Play companies create on-brand pitch videos, product demonstrations, and case study videos that meet enterprise marketing standards. The platform's collaborative features let teams iterate on videos together, ensuring alignment on messaging before presenting to Fortune 500 decision-makers.

7. First Round Capital: Seed investment through warm introductions

First Round Capital pioneered the seed-stage VC model, investing at the earliest stages—often when founders only have an "imagine if" concept. While there's no formal application, their portfolio companies have raised $18 billion in follow-on funding.

Key details:

• Application process: Warm introductions preferred, direct outreach possible
• Portfolio: 300+ companies including Uber, Notion, Roblox, Square
• Support: PMF Method program for B2B SaaS, Pitch Assist for Series A

First Round focuses on compelling and contrarian market insights. Reaching out directly through their website with a strong narrative can work for exceptional founders.

How Heygen helps First Round pitches:

First Round evaluates founder vision and storytelling ability. With Heygen's video creation tools, founders craft compelling narrative videos showcasing their insight, create founder introduction videos that stand out in inboxes, and produce product vision videos demonstrating future potential. The AI-powered platform ensures professional quality even for first-time video creators.

8. Initialized Capital: $4.5M average checks, fast decisions

Initialized Capital moves quickly with average check size of $4.5 million targeting 15% ownership. The firm operates at pre-product-market-fit through Series A with $3.2 billion under management.

Key Details:

• Check size: $4.5 million average
• Target ownership: 15%
• Portfolio value: $200 billion combined (27 unicorns including Coinbase, Instacart, Cruise, Rippling)
• Contact: Email preferred for direct outreach

Initialized prides itself on moving "through our process as quickly as possible."

How Heygen speeds up fundraising:

Investors want to see traction and product demos quickly. Using Heygen's video platform, founders create product demo videos showing key features, customer testimonial videos highlighting results, and monthly update videos for investors—all without coordinating filming schedules. One founder reported cutting their demo preparation time from 2 days to 30 minutes per pitch.

9. NFX FAST: 9-14 day decisions on $150,000-$3M

NFX operates the fastest formal application process through their FAST program, with decisions in 9-14 days. As the largest pre-seed and seed fund globally ($450 million Fund VI), NFX specializes in network effects businesses.

Key details:

• Funding options: $150,000 discovery checks OR $1-3 million seed rounds for 15% equity
• Decision timeline: 9-14 days
• Application: Software-enabled through BriefLink technology
• Portfolio: 28+ unicorns including Trulia, Lyft, DoorDash, Patreon

Apply at fast.nfx.com with pitch deck, video presentation, and answers to 12 questions. NFX does not invest in semiconductors, pure medical devices, pure pharma, pure hardware, or network devices.

How Heygen enhances NFX applications:

NFX applications require video presentations. With Heygen's AI video capabilities, founders create engaging pitch videos with AI avatars, add professional voiceovers using voice cloning, and iterate on messaging instantly. The platform's gesture control and emotion features make videos feel authentic - critical when you have minutes to capture investor attention.

10. Band of Angels: $300,000-$1.5M from Silicon Valley's oldest angel group

Band of Angels is Silicon Valley's oldest angel group, founded in 1994. Individual Band investments range from $300,000 to $750,000, with syndicated deals reaching $1-1.5 million.

Key details:

• Funding range: $300,000 to $1.5 million
• Members: 150+ former executives from Symantec, Logitech, National Semiconductor, Sun Microsystems
• Application: Submit to [email protected]
• Timeline: 2-3 months from Deal Dinner to closing
• Track Record: 400+ companies funded, 97 M&A exits, 17 IPOs

Band of Angels has invested $208 million total. Notable portfolio companies include Shazam, Life360, Practice Fusion, and ShotSpotter.

How Heygen supports angel pitches:

Angel investors want to know the founder personally. Using Heygen's avatar creation, founders create authentic video introductions showcasing personality and passion, produce behind-the-scenes videos showing team dynamics, and craft investor update videos maintaining relationships between funding stages. The platform makes it easy for non-technical founders to maintain professional video presence.

11. Keiretsu Forum: $1-2M through global angel network

Keiretsu Forum operates the world's most active early-stage angel network with 53 global chapters and 2,500+ members. The Northern California region includes 300+ investors who have deployed $317 million.

Key details:

• Typical Raise: $1-2 million
• Members: 2,500+ globally, 300+ in Northern California
• Track Record: 1,495 total investments, 69 exits
• Meetings: Monthly chapter meetings in East Bay, San Francisco/North Bay, Silicon Valley
• Location: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Four Embarcadero Center, SF

Contact Lauren Anderson at [email protected] or register online. Note: Keiretsu charges entrepreneurs fees to pitch.

How Heygen helps monthly presentations:

Keiretsu requires pitching at monthly meetings. With Heygen's video platform, founders create backup videos for absent members, produce follow-up videos answering investor questions, and create compelling teasers encouraging attendance. The ability to translate videos helps when pitching international chapters.

12. SBIR/STTR grants: Up to $2.1M non-dilutive federal funding

Small Business Innovation Research provides up to $2.1 million in non-dilutive funding across three phases. Phase I awards $50,000-$275,000 for feasibility research, Phase II grants $750,000-$2.1 million for R&D.

Key details:

• Phase I: $50,000-$275,000 over 6-12 months
• Phase II: $750,000-$2.1 million over 24 months
• Participating agencies: NSF, NIH, DOE, DoD, NASA, DHS, DOT, USDA, EPA, others
• Application: Grants.gov after registering for UEI at SAM.gov
• NSF Deadline: Rolling Project Pitch submissions accepted

STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) offers identical funding but requires formal research partnerships with universities or research institutions.

How Heygen supports grant applications:

SBIR applications require clear explanation of technical innovation and commercial potential. Using Heygen's video tools, researchers create explainer videos showing their technology, produce founder videos demonstrating commercialization understanding, and develop product vision videos for program managers. The platform makes it easy for technical founders to communicate complex ideas visually without video production expertise.

13. San Francisco city grant programs: $5,000-$100,000 local support

San Francisco offers multiple grant programs specifically for local small businesses:

SF Downtown Vibrancy loan & grant fund

Downtown Vibrancy Program offers $25,000 grants plus up to $100,000 loans at 4% interest for businesses in vacant Downtown storefronts.

Key details:

• Grant amount: $25,000
• Loan amount: Up to $100,000 at 4% interest
• Application: Rolling through Main Street Launch
• Additional support: Lease negotiation assistance

Check the eligibility map to confirm your location qualifies.

Vacant to Vibrant

Vacant to Vibrant provides grants plus comprehensive technical assistance for entrepreneurs filling vacant storefronts citywide.

Key details:

• Application: Rolling basis through Vibrant SF
• Support: Lease negotiations, permit navigation, insurance, marketing
• Coverage: All SF neighborhoods

Additional SF grants

• Accessible Barrier Removal Grant: Up to $10,000 for accessibility improvements
• Storefront Vandalism Relief Grant: Up to $2,000 for vandalism repairs

How Heygen supports local businesses:

Retail startups need engaging social media content, product showcases, and customer-facing videos. With Heygen's AI video creation, businesses produce professional marketing videos without expensive crews, create multilingual content for SF's diverse neighborhoods, and generate social media videos at the pace social algorithms demand.

14. California Innovation Hubs: Grants plus technical assistance

California Innovation Hubs (Accelerate CA) operate 10 designated hubs statewide providing innovation grants and technical assistance.

Key details:

• Services: 1:1 business advising, workshops, product development support, R&D collaboration
• Focus: Diverse founders (women, people of color), technology/science-based firms
• Find Your Hub: Interactive map

Beyond grants, hubs provide SBIR/STTR application support and angel/VC investor introductions.

California Dream Fund: $10,000 microgrants

California Dream Fund offers $10,000 microgrants for underserved entrepreneurs who complete business training through State Board-funded TAEP centers.

Key details:

• Grant amount: $10,000
• Eligibility: Women, minorities, low-income founders
• Requirements: Complete TAEP training, California business registered after July 1, 2019
• Allowed uses: Employee expenses, certifications, permits, working capital, rent, utilities

How Heygen helps social enterprises:

Underserved founders often lack video marketing resources. With Heygen's free plan, anyone can create professional brand videos, founder story videos building authenticity, and customer testimonial videos proving impact—all without video production budgets that typically exclude early-stage founders.

15. Echoing Green Fellowship: $80,000-$90,000 for social entrepreneurs

Echoing Green Fellowship provides $80,000-$90,000 unrestricted funding over 18 months plus health insurance for social entrepreneurs addressing systemic inequality.

Key details:

• Funding: $80,000-$90,000 over 18 months
• Additional support: Health insurance, professional development stipends
• Application deadline: October 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM EDT (for 2026 Fellowship)
• Eligibility: 18+ by June 1, 2026, original founder with full-time commitment
• Focus areas: Education, health, human rights, economic justice, climate, Black male achievement

Application includes short answers, collaborative analysis, resume, and 60-second video answering "Why do you do what you do?"

How Heygen amplifies social impact:

Social entrepreneurs need compelling storytelling. Using Heygen's video platform, Fellows create impact videos showing community transformation, donor update videos maintaining funder relationships, and awareness campaign videos scaling their message—all critical for resource-constrained nonprofits building movements.

16. Fast Forward Accelerator: $25,000+ for tech nonprofits

Fast Forward invests $25,000+ unrestricted seed funding for early-stage tech nonprofits with minimum viable products.

Key Details:

• Funding: $25,000+ unrestricted
• Program length: 3 months (February/March kickoff in SF, Demo Day May/June)
• Acceptance rate: 2.5%
• Requirements: 501(c)(3) status, MVP built
• Focus: 44% of cohort uses AI for social good
• Track record: Portfolio impacted 262 million lives, raised $1 billion follow-on funding

Program includes expert mentorship from Bloomberg, Google, Salesforce, GitHub, Okta, and Twilio executives.

How Heygen supports tech nonprofits:

Tech nonprofits need fundraising videos, impact reporting videos, and educational content. With Heygen's AI avatars, organizations create donor pitch videos, produce educational content scaled across communities, and generate program explanation videos—all without video production costs that drain nonprofit budgets.

17. Microsoft for Startups: Up to $150,000 Azure credits

Microsoft for Startups provides up to $150,000 in Azure credits for investor-backed startups through its restructured 2025 program.

Key Details:

• Azure credits: $100,000-$150,000 (investor-backed path) OR up to $5,000 (open path)
• Additional benefits: Azure Standard Support 24/7, Microsoft 365, GitHub Enterprise, Visual Studio
• Partner offers: OpenAI, LinkedIn (valued at $800,000+ total)
• Eligibility: Pre-Series C, fewer than $350,000 lifetime Azure credits received
• Decision timeline: Two weeks

Apply at startups.microsoft.com. For AI startups building on Azure, this program is essential for GPU VMs and infrastructure.

How Heygen complements cloud credits:

While Microsoft provides infrastructure, Heygen delivers the content. AI startups use Heygen to create product demo videos, technical tutorial videos, and customer onboarding videos—all running on Azure infrastructure. The combination of compute power and content creation tools accelerates go-to-market.

18. Google for Startups: Up to $350,000 cloud credits

Google for Startups Accelerator delivers up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits with specialized programs for AI, Climate, Energy, and Cybersecurity.

Key details:

• Cloud credits: $200,000 standard ($350,000 for AI-first startups)
• Program length: 10 weeks hybrid (in-person kickoff/Demo Day + virtual training)
• TPU access: 30 days free Cloud TPU for ML research
• Eligibility: Seed to Series B, scalable product with technical capabilities
• Application: startup.google.com

CTO or technical co-founder must commit to participation.

How Heygen supports global reach:

Google startups serve global markets. With Heygen's 175+ language translation, companies localize developer documentation, create multilingual product tutorials, and produce regional marketing videos—all essential for Google-scale distribution.

19. AWS Activate: Up to $100,000 for investor-backed startups

AWS Activate offers the most flexible cloud credit program with up to $100,000 for investor-backed startups.

Key details:

• Credits: $1,000 (Founders Package) OR up to $100,000 (Portfolio Package)
• Requirements: Portfolio Package requires investor affiliation (YC, Techstars, etc.)
• Decision Timeline: 10 business days
• Additional Programs: Generative AI Accelerator (8 weeks), Build Accelerator (10 weeks)

AWS Startup Lofts provide virtual and physical co-working spaces in San Francisco at no cost.

How Heygen enables AWS startups:

AWS startups need technical documentation and sales materials. Using Heygen's video tools, companies create architecture explanation videos, API tutorial videos, and customer success story videos—all critical for developer-focused products built on AWS.

20. HAX: $500,000 for hardware and deep tech

HAX (SOSV) remains the premier hardware and deep tech accelerator with $500,000 pre-seed funding packages for 10% equity.

Key details:

• Funding: $500,000 for 10% equity
• Program length: 6 months collaborative residency
• Facilities: 35,000 sq ft fabrication in Newark, offices in SF, Shenzhen, Pune, Tokyo
• Application: Rolling at hax.co
• Focus: Sustainability, climate, industrial automation, healthcare, robotics, semiconductors

Portfolio companies (348+ graduated) have raised $2.5 billion with $8.6 billion cumulative value.

How Heygen helps hardware startups:

Hardware companies need product demonstration videos and crowdfunding campaign videos. With Heygen's video platform, hardware startups create professional product videos showing features, produce how-to videos for assembly/use, and generate crowdfunding pitch videos—all essential for Kickstarter campaigns and retail partnerships.

21. Cisco LaunchPad: Deep tech B2B grants plus technology access

Cisco for Startups offers deep tech B2B startups grants plus access to Cisco technologies including networking hardware, security appliances, and infrastructure.

Key details:

• Program Length: 6-12 months cohort-based
• Funding: Nominal grants at start + performance-based grants at completion
• Access: Cisco campus co-working, technology integration training
• Focus: Networking, security, IoT, AI, image processing, video analytics, healthcare tech
• Track Record: 70+ startups accelerated, 30+ Cisco solution partners, $300M in follow-on funding

Apply at startups.cisco.com.

How Heygen complements Cisco integration:

Enterprise tech companies need customer training videos and technical documentation. Using Heygen's video capabilities, Cisco LaunchPad companies create integration guide videos, customer training videos for IT teams, and product explainer videos—all essential when selling complex enterprise infrastructure.

How to maximize your funding strategy for 2025

The most successful founders stack multiple funding sources strategically:

Software/AI startups:

• Apply to accelerators (YC, Techstars, 500 Global) simultaneously with SBIR/STTR Phase I grants (non-dilutive)
• Stack cloud credits (Microsoft $150K + Google $350K + AWS $100K = $600K in infrastructure)
• Combined runway extension: 12-18 months

Hardware/deep tech:

• Prioritize HAX ($500K investment + facilities) then leverage SBIR Phase II ($750K-$2.1M) for manufacturing scale
• Use Berkeley SkyDeck for research facility access while raising

Social enterprises:

• Target Echoing Green ($80-90K) or Fast Forward ($25K+) for unrestricted funding
• Stack with foundation grants and SF city grants ($25K-50K non-dilutive)

All founders:

• Start video content creation immediately using Heygen's free plan
• Create pitch videos, product demos, and founder intros before accelerator deadlines

Critical 2025 deadlines:

• YC Fall 2025: August 4
• Berkeley SkyDeck Batch 18: August 28
• Techstars SF Spring 2026: November 19
• Echoing Green 2026 Fellowship: October 8
• SBIR/STTR: NSF rolling submissions, NIH April-May/June-August/September-November cycles

Why video content matters more than ever in 2025 fundraising

Every program in this guide requires video content at some stage—pitch videos for applications, product demos for investors, customer testimonials for traction, or training content for enterprise pilots.

Traditional video production costs $1,000-$5,000 per minute and takes weeks. Heygen's AI video platform reduces costs by 80% and production time by 10x:

• Create pitch videos in minutes instead of days without cameras or crews
• Translate content into 175+ languages and dialects for global investors and customers
• Generate product demos that update instantly as features evolve
• Produce training videos at scale without expensive production teams
• Personalize sales videos for each enterprise prospect

Founders using Heygen report creating 50+ video variations for A/B testing—impossible with traditional production. One YC company created personalized demo videos for 200 investors in a single afternoon.

Start creating professional video content today at heygen.com with a free plan that includes AI avatars, video translation, and professional editing tools.

Take action on your San Francisco funding strategy

San Francisco's 2025 funding ecosystem offers options for every stage, sector, and founder background. The capital is available—success depends on strategic application.

Next steps:

1. Identify your stage: Pre-seed (microgrants, SBIR, angel networks), Seed (accelerators, VC programs), Growth (SBIR Phase II, corporate programs)
2. Match programs to your profile: AI/software (YC, Techstars, NFX), Hardware (HAX, Berkeley SkyDeck), Social impact (Echoing Green, Fast Forward), Enterprise (Alchemist, Cisco)
3. Mark critical deadlines: Set calendar reminders for August 4 (YC), August 28 (SkyDeck), October 8 (Echoing Green), November 19 (Techstars)
4. Create video assets now: Don't wait until applications open. Use Heygen to build your video library: pitch videos, product demos, founder intros, customer testimonials
5. Stack non-dilutive funding: Apply for SBIR/STTR, SF city grants, and California programs while pursuing accelerators

The San Francisco ecosystem rewards preparation, persistence, and strategic thinking. With this complete guide to 2025 funding programs and the right video tools, you now have the roadmap to secure capital that transforms your startup from concept to category leader.

Start your journey at Heygen.com and begin creating the video content that wins funding.

Written byNick Warner

About

Nick Warner is Head of Creator Growth at HeyGen, where he helps creators and brands scale their content with AI video tools. He writes about AI, video technology, and how creators can use these tools to tell better stories and reach wider audiences.