Protostar Grant Program

🪙 Quick Facts

• Grant Type: 100% Non-Dilutive Microgrants
• Funding Amount: $1,000
• Eligibility: Young people 18-25 in AU/NZ
• Process: Written application + 90s video pitch
• Contact: community@blackbird.vc

👀 Mission

Protostar provides microgrants to unlock young people's creativity and raise ambition through four key pillars: cash, community, belief, and accountability. The program funds Australian and New Zealand youth to pursue ambitious passion projects.

💰 Funding Details

The program distributes $1,000 in non-dilutive funding to each recipient, combined with an 8-week community program.

What Gets Funded

1. Novel passion projects across any domain
2. Creative initiatives demonstrating clear vision
3. Experimental and boundary-pushing ideas

What Doesn't Get Funded

1. Commercial business ventures
2. Projects without clear creative direction
3. Applications from outside Australia/New Zealand

📜 Example Recipients

Funded projects include:

• Community gardens and sustainability initiatives
• Metaverse art exhibitions
• Battle bot construction
• Theatre productions
• Space drone development
• Underground arts zines
• Travelling STEM roadshows
• Haptic feedback VR gloves
• Sustainable go-kart engineering

See Abi Humanoid’s Protostar Grant Application

📝 Application Guide

Written Application

Candidates submit details about their:

• Background and experience
• Technical and creative skills
• Project vision and goals

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Courage in approach
• Intellectual curiosity
• Community mindset
• Project ambition

Video Pitch

90-second presentation covering:

• Project concept
• Implementation approach
• Expected impact

🗓️ Program Structure

Selected recipients participate in:

• 8-week structured program
• Weekly virtual cohort meetings
• Build-in-public sessions
• Community dinners
• Final showcase event

🤝 Community Benefits

Recipients gain access to:

• Follow-on funding opportunities
• Blackbird network events
• Regional meetups in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne
• Software and event benefits
• Post-program support network

📻 Additional Resources

• Program FAQ
• Twitter
• LFG Community
• Blackbird Twitter
• Blackbird Substack
• Joel Connoly Twitter
• Blackbird Introduction Post
• Blackbird Instagram