Introducing the Autonomys Ecosystem Grants Program
The next chapter of innovation starts with you.
As we activate token transfers and step into Mainnet Phase-2, Autonomys enters a new era - one where the infrastructure is live, and the tools are in your hands.
To mark this transition, the Subspace Foundation is proud to introduce the Ecosystem Grants Program, a new initiative designed to support builders, researchers, creators, and contributors who want to help push the Autonomys Network forward.
This is your invitation to create, explore, and build the future of decentralized infrastructure with us.
Why Now?
Over the past few years, we’ve focused on delivering core infrastructure:
- A globally distributed, high-throughput decentralized storage network (DSN)
- Auto Drive for seamless storage access
- The Auto SDK for programmatic interaction
- Modular domains for execution and compute
- And now with Mainnet Phase-2: native $AI3 token transfers and economic utility
With these foundations in place, it’s time to turn outward - to the builders and thinkers who will shape the ecosystem’s growth. The Grants Program is our way of helping you do exactly that.
What Are We Funding?
The Ecosystem Grants Program will provide milestone-based funding, mentorship, and visibility to community-led projects across five broad categories:
1. Infrastructure
- Alternate clients, encryption layers, DSN tools, or new interfaces for Auto Drive.
2. AI-powered dApps & Agents
- Super dApps, co-pilots, or autonomous DeFi agents that leverage on-chain AI using the Autonomys stack.
3. Integrations
- Cross-chain bridges, oracles, relayers, and plugins that connect Autonomys to the broader multichain world.
4. Research
- Work on consensus innovation, ZK or FHE-based privacy, DSN scaling, or governance design.
5. Community & Growth
- Developer onboarding, docs, bootcamps, video tutorials, hackathons - anything that expands our ecosystem.
If your idea doesn’t neatly fit these boxes but still supports Autonomys’ mission, we still want to hear it.
Example Project Ideas
To get you inspired, here are just a few types of projects we’d love to see:
- A third-party Auto Drive interface with a custom UI or performance enhancements
- A DAO governance dApp using Auto EVM and DSN-backed encrypted proposal storage
- An AI data labeling agent that creates decentralized training datasets on the DSN
- A cross-chain bridge between Autonomys and networks like Base or Solana
- A developer toolkit that makes Auto SDK integration dead-simple for newcomers
You can find more inspiration in the example projects linked on the Grants page.
What’s in It for You?
Selected projects will receive:
- Funding: Milestone-based grants, issued directly by the Subspace Foundation
- Mentorship: Technical and product support from Autonomys Labs contributors
- Visibility: Promotion via Autonomys social and media channels
- Support: Ongoing guidance from early idea to live deployment
This program is about building with you - not just funding you. We’re looking for long-term collaborators who want to make real contributions to the network’s evolution.
How to Apply
The application portal is now open.
Visit subspace.foundation/grants
There, you’ll find:
- Full program overview
- Application guidelines
- FAQs and example projects
- Submission form
No working prototype is required to apply, but we do expect thoughtful proposals with clear goals and alignment with Autonomys values.
Let’s Build the Future Together
This is a soft launch - we’re opening the doors before our broader PR push because we want you, the Autonomys community, to be first in line. You’ve helped us test, refine, and grow from day one - and now it’s your turn to define what comes next.
Whether you’re a developer, researcher, designer, or community builder:
Your ideas matter. And we’re here to fund them.
Questions? Drop them below, message us in Discord, or reach out directly through the grants site.
Let’s get building.
Show us what you’ve got.