Mission
What are Shift Grants
Shift Grants are designed to support scientific and technological breakthrough
projects that align with d/acc philosophy: decentralized, democratic, differential, defensive acceleration.
Shift grants aim to bridge funding gaps for d/acc.
The current paradigm prioritizes short-term returns, leaving defensive and decentralized innovations underfunded. We want to address this.
We aim to direct philanthropic funding through small and development grants in six domains: Biosecurity, Cyber Defense, Info Resilience, Infrastructure, NeuroTech, Social Tech/Governance.
Shift supports projects within six tracks:
Projects may range from speculative to applied.
1
Biosecurity & Pandemic Defense
2
Cyber Defense & Cryptography
3
Information Resilience
4
Infrastructure & Physical Defense
5
NeuroTech & Augmented Cognition
6
Social Technology & Governance
Funding Structure
Grant Types
Shift grants offers two tiers of funding:
Micro Grants ($5,000–$15,000)
For exploratory ideas, early-stage experiments, and prototype development.
Applicants should clearly articulate their concept, d/acc alignment, and preliminary plan. Deliverables can be simple but must be concrete.
Development Grants ($20,000–$40,000)
For teams with the capacity to execute and deliver measurable milestones.
Applicants must provide a roadmap, define technical and execution risks, and commit to iterative reporting and engagement.
Follow-on funding may be considered for outstanding projects.
Selection Guidelines
Alignment with d/acc Principles
Proposals must clearly engage with at least three of the four “d”s.
If one d is absent, applicants must explain why this is consistent with the spirit of d/acc.
If a proposal conflicts with a pillar (e.g., private biosecurity R&D), justification must be compelling.
Openness and Ethics
Open-source dissemination is the default.
Security-sensitive work must include mitigation strategies and a justification for any elements of the project that are not open-sourced.
Ethical implications should be considered explicitly.
Transformative Potential
Proposals should go beyond incremental improvements.
Strong preference for ideas that could shift paradigms or form the basis of new fields.
Feasibility and Execution
Clear plans and realistic milestones are required.
Development proposals must show technical depth and real-world applicability.
Confidence in the Team
Track record is less important than clarity of vision and fit.
When to Apply
Shift Grants are organized into funding rounds.
Funding Round 001
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Call opens: April 2025
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Application deadline: April 20, 2025
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Shortlisting: April 21–28, 2025
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Final review: April 29–May 3, 2025
Grant award announcements during the d/acc week at Edge Esmeralda: June 2 to June 6, 2025 (California)
Voting Mechanism
The Shift decision making process may evolve over time.
For the 001 round of funding, the process is:
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The totality of the applications are triaged and shortlisted by the Shift core team and advisors
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Final fund distribution is decided by the advisory board.
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Evaluation methods may differ in future rounds based on community feedback and performance
REACH OUT
Grant Administration
Shift grants aim to bridge funding gaps for d/acc.
The current paradigm prioritizes short-term returns, leaving defensive and decentralized innovations underfunded. We want to address this.
We aim to direct philanthropic funding through small and development grants in six domains: Biosecurity, Cyber Defense, Info Resilience, Infrastructure, NeuroTech, Social Tech/Governance.
Ressources
Food for thought and latest news
