Visual: Amanrissya Maharani
Copy: Eilene Napitupulu
We turn setbacks into strategy refinement and growth. After applying for the same Innovate UK call twice, second time with an improved application, where we addressed all the feedback received from the previous one, and still receiving a much lower score, it was time for a review and refinement of our strategy.
We are tremendously grateful to Practera, who are becoming an increasingly important part of this strategy and have brokered yet another project for us, this time with the University of Westminster. Our team of student consultants, Haresa Habibur, Gurneet Virdi, Nikita Mistry, Nathaly Olmedo, Hitarth U., and Alexandru Iurea, analysed our past grant funding applications and future opportunities for us in 2025. Their Grant Funding Analysis report is a practical guide to navigating this fast-changing space with confidence and clarity.
While investment in future-facing Web 3.0 technologies continues to grow, early-stage innovations still face tremendous challenges when applying for grants. Oftentimes, brilliant ideas can be lost in translation or misunderstood by reviewers unfamiliar with the field. Securing funding is therefore much more than just having a great idea.
One of the key takeaways from the analysis was just how important it is to tailor each proposal to the specific values, language, and goals of the funding body. Moreover, the analysis showed that very specific early-stage incubators like the BNB Incubation Alliance, which offers up to $300,000 in technical services, can be perfect for building a foundation for a specific innovation like ours. Furthermore, larger grants like the H&M Global Change Award can also push us to think even further long-term when considering broader important issues like sustainability, further aligning us with our goal to become leaders in immersive tech innovation.
While the path in the world of grants is anything but straightforward, we are optimistic. We have the tools, the team, and now the insights to move forward with an even more refined strategy. The future holds big challenges, but also big possibilities. And we’re ready – one way or another.
