STRIDE Ventures: AI Efficiency Challenge
Funds practical AI and machine learning software translation toward efficient deployment and societal use.
The STRIDE Ventures AI Efficiency Challenge is the second competition under the STRIDE Ventures initiative, launched in May 2026 by NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) and operated by Start2 Group under an NSF cooperative agreement. The challenge seeks translation-ready, primarily software-based solutions that deliver measurable efficiency improvements across AI and…
Funds primarily software-based solutions that measurably improve AI and ML efficiency — including MLOps, edge computing, energy-aware data center management, and agentic orchestration — reducing training and inference costs.
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Guides for this application
All guides →NSF Biosketch Guide: SciENcv, Format, and Examples
Learn how the NSF biosketch works, what SciENcv is used for, how it differs from current and pending support, and what startup teams should prepare.
DocumentsNSF Data Management Plan Example and Writing Guide
Learn how to write an NSF data management plan, what the plan should include, how it differs from NIH data sharing plans, and how startup applicants should handle data.
Submit & reportGrant Reporting Requirements: Post-Award Reports and Compliance
Learn what grant reporting requirements cover, how financial and performance reports work, what to track after an award, and how to avoid post-award compliance mistakes.
DocumentsGrant Pitch Deck Example: Slides, Storyline, and Video Script
See a grant pitch deck example with slide outline, EIC-style pitch logic, demo-video script, and grant-vs-investor deck differences.
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