Built-On Databricks Startup Challenge

The Built-On Databricks Startup Challenge sits under Databricks Inc. as an annual competition for current customers. The 2026 cycle offered more than $1 million in support, including up to $600,000 in potential Databricks Ventures investment and up to $500,000 in Databricks product credits across finalists. Eligible companies had to use Databricks as core architecture for B2B applications, be founded within the last five years, sit at pre-seed through Series B, and be incorporated in one of 15 listed countries. The 2026 deadline closed on May 22, 2026, and the program's in-kind portion is credits while the cash portion is equity investment, not a grant. The judging logic favors teams that can show strong use of Databricks, a credible market, and a founding team with enough depth to turn the platform into a commercial product. System integrators, Databricks employees, and companies already backed by Databricks Ventures are excluded, so the best fit is a current customer with clear product traction and a concrete go-to-market story.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.