$100,000 to Build Something New

The Chicago VentureStaking® Arena supports serious young builders with non-dilutive grant capital, a real network, and a community that follows your progress.

$100,000 in non-dilutive grant capital.

No equity. No repayment. No forced curriculum.

Build full-time without early dilution.
Launch with a community that wants you to win.
Access the Chicago network — founders, operators, and investors.

Apply to the Doriot Foundation View Eligibility

How It Works

Apply to the Doriot Foundation
Complete verification (background + references)
Demonstrate capital literacy (Qualified Accredited Investor Exam)
Apply to the Chicago Arena
Deliver a live or recorded pitch
Launch with the Chicago VentureStaking community
If community conviction is sufficient, the $100,000 grant is unlocked

Important

This is not a competition against other founders. Applications are open year-round. Each founder is evaluated and supported on their own trajectory.

Foundation Qualification

Integrity Verification

Background check, credit review, and identity verification to establish trust and stewardship.

Reference Review

Three letters of recommendation and education verification to confirm seriousness and follow-through.

Capital Literacy

A short exam to demonstrate you understand how private capital works before receiving it.

We screen for builders with high agency, strong integrity, and the capacity to ship.

Chicago Arena Eligibility

Must be under 32
Must not have raised outside equity for the project
Must be building something new (not consulting)
Must be thinking at venture scale
Must be Chicago-based or committed to building in Chicago

What You Receive

Non-Dilutive Capital

$100,000 in grant funding to buy time, focus, and iteration speed — without giving up ownership.

Weekly Accountability

Short weekly updates shared with the community — designed to drive momentum, discipline, and capital efficiency.

Chicago Network Access

Introductions to founders, operators, and investors across the Chicago ecosystem as your work takes shape.

Doriot Fellow Status

Access to the broader Doriot network and the Fellowship community of founders across all Arenas.

Beyond the Grant

If your work reveals a venture-scale opportunity and you raise a Seed round, the Arena hopes you will strongly consider including the community that discovered you.

Participation in future financing, if any, depends on availability, terms, and compliance requirements.

This page describes a prototype founder grant pathway.