Grants
Money you never pay back
Remy finds a page called "Fund for new games". Free money? Almost.
A grant is money for a project that you never pay back and that costs no ownership of the studio. Business people call it non-dilutive: the owners' slice of the studio doesn't shrink.
Compare: an investor gives money for equity (part of the studio). A publisher gives an advance that it earns back from the game's sales before splitting the rest. A grant does neither. The price is different: you compete to win it, and you must follow its rules.
Quick check
Which kind of funding is non-dilutive and never paid back, from sales or anything else?
- A grant from a game fund
- An investor buying 20% of the studio
- A publisher advance, earned back from sales
Show the answer
A grant from a game fund
A grant costs no ownership and isn't repaid. An investor takes part of the studio, and a publisher earns its advance back from sales before the studio sees more.
Who gives grants?
- Arts and culture fundsMany governments run arts councils and culture funds that support creative work, and some now include games.
- Game fundsRegional or national funds just for games, like the UK Games Fund for young UK studios, or Creative Europe MEDIA, the EU program with support for video games.
- Game company programsSome game companies give grants too. Epic MegaGrants, from Epic Games, mainly backs projects built with its Unreal Engine.
Grant programs open, close and change their rules often, and every country is different. Always check what is open right now on the fund's official website.
Can we even apply?
Every grant has eligibility rules: who is allowed to apply. Common ones:
- Country: the company must be registered and based in the fund's country or region.
- Company type: often a registered company, not a person.
- Company age: some funds only back young studios, others want a game already released.
- Project stage: many want a playable demo, not just an idea.
- Tools: Epic MegaGrants is aimed at Unreal Engine projects, so a PixiJS game like Hyper Shards may not fit.
Read the guidelines first. One missed rule means a rejection, however good the game.
Can we apply?
1New Games Fund (made-up example)2 3Who can apply:4- A registered company in this country5- Company less than 5 years old6- A playable demo of the game7 8Award: up to $25,0009Deadline: 30 November
The studio is a registered company here and 2 years old, but Hyper Shards 2 is only a design document so far. What should it do?
- Build a playable demo before the deadline, then apply
- Apply now, because judges ignore rules for good ideas
- Have Kai apply as a person instead of the company
Show the answer
Build a playable demo before the deadline, then apply
The rules ask for a playable demo, so applying without one gets rejected. Kai applying alone breaks the "registered company" rule. A small demo of the fun is the fix.
A strong application
A strong application answers six things clearly:
- The project: what the game is, in one clear paragraph.
- Why it matters: what is new, and who it is for.
- Budget: every cost, tied to real work.
- Timeline: milestones with dates.
- Team: who does what, and what they made before.
- Demo or video: proof the game is fun.
Grants are very competitive, and most applications are rejected. That is normal. Ask for feedback if the fund gives it, improve the application, and keep applying.
Budget pick
1Hyper Shards 2 grant budget, sound section2 3A) Sound: about $5,000, maybe more4B) Music: 12 tracks by a freelance composer,5 $250 each = $3,000, delivered by March6C) Extras: $8,000 for whatever comes up
Which budget line would a grant judge trust most?
- B, because it says what, how many, the cost and when
- A, because a bigger number shows ambition
- C, because it leaves room for surprises
Show the answer
B, because it says what, how many, the cost and when
Judges fund clear plans. Line B shows the work, the maths and the date. Vague guesses and big "extras" lines look like the money has no real plan.
After you win
Winning is the start of a deal. A grant agreement usually says:
- Milestones: money arrives in parts as you finish agreed steps.
- Reporting: you show what you made and keep receipts for what you spent.
- Spend it as promised: changing the plan needs the fund's permission. Breaking the terms can mean paying money back.
Some grants require matching funding: you find part of the money yourself. Example: a $40,000 project with a 50% match means the grant pays $20,000 and the studio finds $20,000. Grants can also count as taxable income, so ask an accountant.
Quick check
A grant paid for a composer. Because grants are never paid back, the studio can spend it on ads instead without asking.
- True
- False
Show the answer
False
Grant money must be spent on what you promised. Changing the plan needs the fund's permission, and breaking the agreement can mean paying the money back.
Who applies and signs
Most grants go to a registered company, and the grant agreement is a legal contract. So an adult, usually a parent acting for the company, applies and signs. The law requires someone of legal age, usually 18, to sign contracts.
You still do real work: describe the game, plan the milestones, check the budget maths and build the demo. Judges love seeing what a young team made.
Bolt says: Numbers, people and funding: the studio now knows how to grow. Next: what the studio could build next.
Fact-checked 9 October 2026
- UK Games Fund ukgamesfund.com
- Creative Europe MEDIA: Video games and immersive content development culture.ec.europa.eu
- Epic MegaGrants unrealengine.com