Stacy L ChinFounder, KeepYourEquity · I get the government to write you checks

What are corporate grants? || Kat Weaver (Power to Pitch)

11 Jun 2026 · 1 min

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In this segment Kat Weaver explains corporate grants, describing how large companies such as Amazon, Progressive, FedEx, and Verizon run short written‑application grant programs (typically 1–25 questions). Winners receive either direct cash checks or in‑kind services (e.g., legal, PR credits). Weaver advises founders not to dismiss these opportunities, emphasizing that in‑kind credits—like a $5,000 legal credit for trademark and patent work or a $10,000 PR credit—can provide strategic value even if they are not cash in the bank.

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I call them a corporate grant where organizations like, you know, even Amazon, Progressive, FedEx, Verizon, they give away free cash from a written application that's anywhere between 1 to 25 questions on average. And then they announce a grant winner and send you a check in the mail a couple weeks later. Of that last kind, it's not necessarily cash, but they're in-kind services. So I tell founders not to knock those opportunities because for example, I got a $5,000 free legal credit. I got to use that for trademark and patent support. We had a founder get $10,000 in PR credit. So it might not be direct cash in the bank, but it's a service that you would spend that value of towards something that should end up being really strategic for the business.