Building a Web3 startup is hard. Early-stage funding can be the difference between scaling successfully and running out of runway.

This guide is for founders and developers building in TON's ecosystem. It covers all major funding paths that support your growth from initial idea to scaling: hackathons, grants, partner perks, high-touch support, and direct investor connections.

TON Foundation doesn't offer a traditional grant program. Instead, you'll find targeted support through ecosystem support programs that match your specific stage and needs.

Quick Start: Find Your Path

• New to TON? → Join hackathons + local TON Hubs

• Gaining traction? → Ecosystem partners' grants

• Found product-market fit? → VC Club application

Join Hackathons and TON Hubs

TON Hackathons

TON Foundation regularly hosts large-scale hackathons that offer cash prizes, user acquisition support, and exposure to VCs and ecosystem leaders. Recent examples include Summer and Winter Hacker Leagues 2024.

Key benefits:

• Validate your ideas with real feedback

• Access $100K+ prize pools and perks

• Get discovered by TON's ecosystem team

Stay updated in the TON Builders channel

TON Hubs

TON Hubs are regional builder communities active across East Asia (EA), South and Southeast Asia (SSEA), Europe, CIS, and soon, the U.S. These communities provide hands-on support for local builders.

What you'll get:

• Local meetups, workshops, and team-matching events

• Technical and product guidance

• Builder calls, live streams, and partner introductions

• Access to IdeaTONs, contests, mini hackathons, and bootcamps

Some formats, like IdeaTON and developer challenges, offer financial rewards of up to $5K to support further development. Recent examples include The Open Hack and IdeaTON #2.

Join your local TON Hub

Reduce Costs with Partner Grants

Get access to infrastructure, audits, marketing, legal services, and more at lower cost through TON Foundation's ecosystem partners.

New partners are added regularly to expand the available support.

Explore ecosystem partner grants

Unlock High-Touch Support With Champion Grants

Launched in May 2025, TON Foundation introduced Champion Grants focused on high-impact teams with real traction, experienced leadership, and potential to drive meaningful user adoption.

What you get:

• Developer funding to accelerate product development

• Smart contract audits to ensure trust and security

• User incentives to boost traction and engagement

• Traffic support via ecosystem partners

Note: Champion teams are identified through active ecosystem engagement and demonstrated results. No open applications.

Apply for ecosystem support

Access Investors Through TON Channels

TON Foundation helps active projects raise capital through curated channels and introductions.

TON Demo Days

TON Foundation organizes exclusive pitch events for top-tier TON projects. Each edition features up to 10 selected teams presenting live to investors, partners, and ecosystem leaders.

Projects are selected based on demonstrated traction, product-market fit, and alignment with TON's strategic focus.

The June 2025 Demo Day facilitated more than 20 investor connections. Featured projects are also shared in the TON VC Club Telegram channel for additional visibility.

How to apply: Wait for announcements in the TON Builders channel and submit through TON Builders Portal when applications open.

TON VC Club

We manage a private Telegram group of 100+ active investors focused on TON's ecosystem. Each week, standout fundraising projects are featured in the channel based on ecosystem fit, team strength, traction, and funding stage.

When investors express interest, they can reach out directly or the Ecosystem Support team will facilitate introductions.

Apply to be featured

1:1 Investor Introductions

Champion teams may receive tailored introductions to investors that match their stage, vertical, and fundraising goals through the Ecosystem Support team.

Apply for Ecosystem Project Grants

Several leading projects on TON offer their own grant programs to support builders.

STON.fi Grant Program

STON.fi runs one of the most active ecosystem grant programs, offering up to $10K in USDT per DeFi project.

Benefits include:

• Funding for technical development

• Access to technical guidance

• Integration support for STON.fi's SDK

• Visibility through joint AMAs and ecosystem promotions

The program operates on a rolling basis - proposals are evaluated based on clarity, alignment with their DeFi vision, and potential ecosystem impact. Notable recipients include TONYield, Olivia AI, and Moki.

Apply for STON.fi grants

Other Ecosystem Programs

We are continuously working with ecosystem partners to launch grant programs.

Next Steps

Identify your current stage. Got an idea or early MVP? Join a hackathon and your regional TON Hub. Building traction? Apply for ecosystem projects' grants. Scaling users or raising funds? Take part in TON Demo Days and register for VC Club visibility.

Register your project on the TON Builders Portal. This is where your journey begins.

Stay connected through TON Builders Telegram channel for real-time opportunities including hackathons, Demo Days, new partner programs, and more.

Getting funding on TON requires active ecosystem participation, demonstrated traction, and building something valuable for users. Success comes from matching your approach to your current stage and maintaining active engagement with the community.

Your next funding milestone is one step away.

Disclaimer: The Open Network (TON) is an open and decentralized network where third-party applications build and operate independently. While their integration contributes to the ecosystem's growth, The Open Network does not control, formally endorse, or guarantee the performance of these projects. We strongly encourage all users to conduct their own thorough research (DYOR) and understand the associated risks before interacting with any application. Users assume full responsibility for the outcomes of their on-chain decisions.