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Fund your Project on Cardano

Cardano offers one of the most comprehensive and decentralized funding ecosystems in blockchain. From grassroots innovation to large-scale infrastructure, find the right funding path for your project.

Funding Options​

Project Catalyst​

Project Catalyst is one of the world's largest decentralized grant programs, having distributed over +$150M across +2000 funded proposals through community voting.

Visit the official Project Catalyst website to explore current funding opportunities and active campaigns.

How It Works​

Project Catalyst operates in three phases:

  1. Community responds to challenges with ideas. Brainstorming leads to conceptualization, feedback, and finalized proposals.

  2. Participants vote on proposals they wish to see funded.

  3. Selected projects receive milestone-based funding with community reviewer feedback loop and progress reports.

How to Participate​

RoleWhat You DoHow to Get Started
ProposersSubmit innovative ideas for community fundingCreate account on Project Catalyst platform during active campaigns
Community ReviewersEvaluate and provide feedback on proposalsJoin as incentivized reviewer to ensure proposal quality
Voters (Ada Holders)Decide which proposals receive fundingDownload Catalyst app (iOS | Android)
Milestone ReviewersTrack funded project progress and deliverablesReview Statement of Milestones and Proof of Achievement as incentivized role

Why Participate?​

  • Build better, faster, and cheaper through community empowerment
  • Connect with collaborators and form impactful project teams
  • Improve proposals through constructive community feedback
  • Access ada grants for your innovative ideas

Resources​

Cardano Builder DAO​

Cardano Builder DAO is a smart contract-governed funding mechanism that supports high-potential projects with demonstrated traction and measurable impact.

  • More than 50 established Cardano projects vote on funding decisions
  • Projects must track KPIs like on-chain activity, users, and TVL
  • Predictable 6-month funding rounds for project planning
  • Funded through Cardano Treasury withdrawals with full transparency

When to Consider:

  • Functional dApp with existing user base seeking growth funding
  • Project with measurable on-chain activity and metrics
  • Team ready for accountability through KPI reporting
  • Need for structured funding between Catalyst grants and large Treasury proposals

Learn more at Cardano Builder DAO.

Treasury Withdrawals​

For mature projects with proven impact, Cardano's on-chain governance enables Treasury withdrawals. Ada funding proposals voted on by the community.

When to Consider:

  • Established project with proven product-market fit
  • Significant ecosystem impact and utilization
  • Large-scale infrastructure or protocol improvements
  • Community-wide benefit and long-term value

Anyone can submit treasury withdrawal proposals, which require approval from DReps (Delegated Representatives) and the Constitutional Committee through Cardano's governance system. Organizations like Intersect and PRAGMA can serve as administrators to help coordinate due diligence, contracting, and disbursements for approved proposals.

Learn more about Treasury withdrawals.

Your Funding Journey​

Cardano's funding ecosystem creates a natural progression for projects. Here's how to navigate it:

For: New ideas, MVPs, proof-of-concepts
Funding: $5K-$500K through community voting

Your next steps:

  • Check when the next fund is accepting proposals
  • Browse successful proposals in your category for inspiration
  • Draft your idea in few clear sentences
  • Connect with the community on Discord for feedback
Need Help?

Join the Cardano Developer Community for support, feedback, and collaboration opportunities.