5 Startup Funding Opportunities Open Now (2026)

Founders working in the climate, carbon, agriculture, and education spaces have an unusually rich set of options on the table right now. From modest stipends of a few thousand dollars to equity cheques running into the hundreds of thousands, there's a live pathway for almost every stage — whether you're a global carbontech pioneer or an Africa-focused climate, agri, or edtech startup.

I've pulled together five credible programmes currently accepting applications, what each actually offers, and how to get in. A quick note on timing before we dive in: two of these close soonest — Carbon to Value (28 August) and Greentown Go Make 2027 (9 October) — while Katapult, Catalyst Fund, and timbuktoo run on longer or rolling windows. If any of the first two fit you, move on them first.

1. Carbon to Value (C2V) Initiative — Carbontech Accelerator

Now in its sixth year, the C2V Initiative is a collaboration between NYU Tandon's Urban Future Lab, Greentown Labs, and Fraunhofer USA — and it's one of the most established names in carbontech acceleration. The six-month programme supports startups working on carbon capture, conversion, sequestration, and removal at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4–7.

What you get: Up to a $10,000 discretionary stipend, customised commercialisation support, and — arguably the real prize — access to the invitation-only Carbontech Leadership Council, whose members span major corporates and institutions across the carbontech value chain. The programme's track record speaks for itself: since 2020, its 45 alumni startups have collectively raised over $700 million.

Eligibility: Open to applicants worldwide, though in-person events in Boston, New York, and Houston are mandatory, so factor in the travel.

Deadline: 28 August 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET). The six-month programme begins in December 2026.

Apply: c2vinitiative.com

2. Greentown Go Make 2027 — Advanced Carbon Materials

A companion opportunity from Greentown Labs, Go Make 2027 is an open-innovation programme aimed at startups building novel carbon-based materials — think applications across energy storage, transportation, aerospace, and industrial systems.

What you get: Desk space at Greentown Labs, a needs-based stipend, mentorship, and the chance to pursue joint development, licensing, or investment with a major energy and chemicals corporate partner. It's less about a cheque and more about corporate partnership and physical presence in a serious climatetech hub.

Eligibility: Open worldwide.

Deadline: 9 October 2026.

Apply: greentownlabs.com/greentown-go/ (the Go Make 2027 link sits on the programme hub page)

3. Katapult Africa Accelerator — Climate Tech, Agritech & Food Systems

For African founders, this pan-African accelerator is one to watch closely. Katapult backs early- and growth-stage startups working on climate resilience, agritech, and sustainable food systems through a 90-day intensive combining workshops, mentorship, and investor access.

What you get: This one comes with real money — direct equity investment of $150,000 to $500,000, on top of the programme support.

Eligibility: Startups must be Africa-based, ideally with an MVP or early traction and a scalable, impact-driven model.

Deadline: Applications run on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadline announced yet. As always with rolling programmes, early applicants tend to be favoured — so don't sit on it.

Apply: via Katapult's official application form (linked from katapult.vc)

4. Catalyst Fund — Africa Climate Resilience Investment

Catalyst Fund is a different beast from the fixed-cohort accelerators on this list. It's a Nairobi-based venture capital fund and venture builder that invests continuously — from pre-seed through Series A — rather than in timed cohorts.

What it backs: African startups across climate fintech, agriculture and food systems, and climate-smart essential services like water, energy, and mobility. The fund recently closed $30 million in fresh commitments from investors including the IFC, Shell Foundation, and Trafigura Foundation, and it pairs equity investment with embedded, hands-on venture-building support.

Eligibility & timing: Because it runs an ongoing pipeline rather than a single intake, there's no application deadline — founders can reach out at any time.

Apply: thecatalystfund.com

5. UNDP timbuktoo EdTech Hub — Pan-African Incubation Programme

Rounding out the list is a programme from the UNDP's flagship timbuktoo initiative, this one focused on education. The EdTech Hub supports African startups and digital solution providers building edtech, training, and skills-development solutions.

What you get: Selected startups join the timbuktoo Pan-African Incubation Network for structured incubation, mentorship, investment-readiness support, and ecosystem connections. No specific funding figure has been disclosed for this track, but it sits within the broader timbuktoo initiative, which aims to mobilise $1 billion over ten years to support 10,000 startups across the continent — so the ecosystem behind it is substantial.

Eligibility: Applicants need at least a testable prototype.

Deadline: 31 December 2026.

Apply: via the official UNDP call-for-applications page (undp.org/africa/waca/news/call-applications), where the application platform link is listed.

How to Prioritise

If you're eligible for more than one of these, let the calendar and your stage make the call. The two hard deadlines — C2V on 28 August and Go Make 2027 on 9 October — should top your list simply because the window is closing. Katapult, Catalyst Fund, and timbuktoo give you more breathing room, but "more time" is not the same as "no rush," especially for the rolling programmes where early applicants have an edge.

Beyond timing, match the opportunity to what you actually need. If you want a substantial equity cheque and you're Africa-based in climate or agri, Katapult and Catalyst Fund are your strongest bets. If corporate partnerships and validation matter more than immediate cash, the two Greentown/C2V carbontech programmes deliver exactly that. And if you're an early edtech builder with a prototype, timbuktoo offers a structured on-ramp into a well-resourced continental network.

The Bottom Line

Climate, carbon, agriculture, and education continue to attract some of the most consistent startup funding around — and this cluster of open programmes reflects that. Whatever your sector or stage, the common thread is the same: the founders who win these are the ones who prepare properly and apply early. Take an honest look at where your business stands, pick the programmes that genuinely fit, and get your materials moving now — the soonest deadlines are only weeks away.