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FORGE Product Development Grant for Startups and Existing Businesses with Underrepresented Leadership - Supported by the Eastern Bank Foundation

This funding opportunity is designed to support hardtech startups and existing businesses as they navigate the challenges of developing and commercializing physical products, and growing their organizations. Intended to help companies overcome the “Hardware Valley of Death,” this grant provides critical non-dilutive funding to address product development and manufacturing challenges that often present barriers to growth. This opportunity is for underrepresented businesses in Massachusetts or select regions of New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

To meet the eligibility requirements for this FORGE Product Development Grant, companies must have underrepresented leadership encompassing founders, president or c-suite executives.

For full details on eligibility requirements, please see our FAQ here.

Recognizing manufacturing as an engine of growth, this program is designed to accelerate the advancement of promising hardtech innovations by providing resources to solve specific technical, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, regulatory, or commercialization challenges that are essential to a company’s ability to scale and successfully enter the marketplace.

Through this initiative, FORGE seeks to increase access to capital for both startups and existing businesses with leaders from underrepresented backgrounds, strengthen pathways to manufacturing readiness, and support the growth of innovative companies that contribute to a more inclusive and resilient innovation ecosystem. Thank you to the Eastern Bank Foundation for its support.

Awards will range from $3,000 to $50,000 and must be used by the winning companies to address a specific product development challenge.

The goal of the grant is to remove barriers to scale and manufacturing, providing the necessary funds to solve for a specific product development challenge critical to the company’s ability to scale and/or reach the marketplace. Successful applications will pinpoint that challenge and articulate how the grant funds will be used to overcome the roadblock, and what opportunities that will open for the company.

If you have any questions, please reach out to david@forgeimpact.org.

This application will open July 31st, 2026 and close September 14th, 2026 at 11:59PM EST.

Payment Authorization Process

If awarded, once the startup and manufacturing partner finalize the scope, timeline, deliverables, and total cost, the partner must issue a formal invoice reflecting the approved scope of work. The startup submits the invoice to FORGE with written confirmation that it aligns with the approved project, and FORGE reviews and authorizes the payment. Upon approval, FORGE pays the manufacturing partner the full amount upfront in a single payment, which serves as authorization to begin the work; the startup remains responsible for coordinating the project and overseeing execution. For more information, please see the FORGE Product Development Grant payment process here.

Initial Screening and Eligibility:

Do you have a physical prototype?

In order to be considered, you must have at least a basic prototype - both “looks like” and “works like” prototypes are eligible. Any product beyond the prototype stage is eligible to receive funding.

Yes

I confirm that my company has underrepresented leadership in one or more of the following positions: founder/co-founder, president, or C-suite executives (see FAQ for more information)

Yes

I confirm that my company is headquartered in Massachusetts or one of the select regions of New Hampshire and Rhode Island (see FAQ for more information)

Yes

By checking this box you acknowledge the fund disbursement will go directly to the supplier after you indicate their invoice is due.

I acknowledge

If selected as a finalist, a representative of your company would be able to present your project at a FORGE event on October 15th, 2026, and you are willing to provide FORGE with a success story for public use

Yes

By checking this box, I confirm that my company has not received more than $10,000 in FORGE Product Development Grant in the last twelve months.

I acknowledge

By checking this box, I confirm that my company is not currently in any outstanding legal disputes

I acknowledge

Questions About Your Company:

Please answer the following questions so that FORGE can understand your company background and mission.

Company Name

Please briefly describe your company mission.

Company Sector

Contact Name

Contact Title

Contact Email

Contact Phone Number

Company Website (If Applicable)

Name of Underrepresented Leader:

Title of Underrepresented Leader:

This grant is intended to support businesses led by individuals from backgrounds and identities that have historically been underrepresented in entrepreneurship. Please select all of the following grant-eligible groups with which the business leader self-identifies.(Select all that apply):

Company Location (City & State)

Number of Employees (Full-time + Part-time)

Approximate Amount of Capital Raised

This helps us to understand the demographic lifestage of your company; your response will not work against you for the purpose of this application.

Which method(s) of funding make up your raised capital?

Approximate Amount of Revenue Earned

This helps us to understand the demographic lifestage of your company. Your response will not work against you for the purposes of this application.

Number of Products Launched.

The number of product lines your company has made available for purchase historically.

Have you worked with FORGE before?

Your response will not work against you for the purposes of this application. If you have worked with FORGE in the past, please still respond to the questions in full detail.

Questions About Your Company, Product, Current Development State, and Specific Challenge:

Please briefly describe your business model and target market in 350 words or less.

Please briefly describe your product

Please describe your company's current level of market validation.

Please select your build stage.

Please describe the physical product development roadblock/s you are facing, i.e. the reason that led to this project, in 400 words or less.

Please describe the specific project you wish to pursue and how this funding will accelerate your physical product development timeline and/or build stage, in 400 words or less.

Explain why the opportunity has not yet been realized and why now is the right time to address it.

Please list your timeline up to this point. Include any future milestones and deliverables this project would help to achieve.

How will this funding serve as a catalyst for your company’s growth and impact? Please explain the impact on your development, and how this support will enable you to achieve broader success and contribute to the innovation ecosystem.

Please describe how you will leverage additional opportunities outside of this grant to continue advancing your innovation to improve beyond its current status.

Please attach an accompanying quote, budget, and/or work order.

In order to be eligible for this grant, these funds must be directed towards a US-based firm.

Size limit: 10 MB

Please attach any letters of intent from pilot sites or potential customers.

Optional

Size limit: 10 MB

Please confirm the award amount you are requesting.

The requested amount should reflect the quote/work order/s submitted.

Demographic Questions:

These optional questions will help FORGE understand who we’re currently reaching, and set goals for diversity and inclusion.

What gender do you identify as?

What ethnicity do you identify as?

Additional Questions:

If you found out about FORGE and/or this opportunity through a referral, please indicate the name or organization.

Would you like to receive periodic updates from FORGE regarding upcoming events and opportunities?

Yes