Who Should Apply?

Polkadot-focused BD teams working on deals that involve projects meeting the following criteria:

  • Project Type – The project is an end-user-facing Web3 application, delivering a B2B or B2C use case on Polkadot in the form of a DApp or Chain.

  • Project Quality & Value – The project demonstrates strong fundamentals, strategic relevance, and long-term ecosystem value.

  • Deal Stage & Commitment – The deal has reached an advanced stage where the project is convinced of Polkadot’s value proposition and is ready to explore funding support.

  • Funding Fit & Requirements – The requested funding is a minimum of $50K, with no outstanding capital gaps preventing deal closure.

  • Shared Commitment – Both the BD entity and the Project team should demonstrate tangible “skin in the game.” This can include in-kind contributions, such as technical support, business development resources, or co-marketing efforts, all aimed at driving the project’s success.

  • Due Diligence & Information Completeness – Sufficient due diligence has been conducted to qualify the project, and the BD entity can provide all required details in W3DD’s application form.

Who Should not Apply?

W3DD is not the appropriate funding channel for:

  • Developer-Centric Grants – Funding for developer tooling or other technical infrastructure designed primarily for builders rather than end-user adoption.

  • PR or Marketing-Centric Grants – Support for team sponsorships, event sponsorships, or general marketing initiatives.

  • Infrastructure-Centric Grants – Funding for core infrastructure projects such as indexers, oracles, or other backend services.

Teams seeking support for these areas should explore alternative funding sources within the Polkadot ecosystem. For example, infrastructure projects may be better suited for Treasury funding via OpenGov or the Infrastructure Bounty from Velocity Labs.

Why Should you Apply?

Successful applicants may receive the following benefits:

  • Deal Guidance & Negotiation Support – Expert assistance in structuring and negotiating deals to maximize success and ROI for Polkadot (if applicable).

  • Milestone-Based Grant Funding – Access to non-dilutive capital ranging from US$50K to US$250K to support project deployment and growth on Polkadot.

  • Ecosystem Visibility & PR – Public recognition through official Polkadot channels, amplifying your project's visibility across major industry and community platforms.

What Can Applicants Expect from the Application Process?

Once an Initial Qualification Form is submitted, it enters W3DD’s Qualification Stage:

Qualification Stage (7 Days)

An initial review to assess the proposal’s quality, completeness, and alignment with W3DD’s funding criteria. The outcome of this stage is binary: "Yes" (proceed to the Evaluation Stage) or "No" (rejection). If an application is incomplete, applicants may be given a final opportunity to resubmit with the missing information on a case-by-case basis.

If the Initial Qualification Form is deemed a potential fit for consideration by the Deal Desk, you would be invited to complete the extended W3DD Application. Once the W3DD Application is submitted it would enter W3DD's Evaluation Stage.

Evaluation Stage (14–21 Days)

A deeper assessment of the deal’s quality, business fundamentals, and strategic value to the Polkadot ecosystem. This stage determines whether the project has the potential for significant and lasting impact. For high-potential deals, W3DD may offer additional support, including:

  • Grant milestone design

  • Negotiation guidance

  • Strategic BD advice

This is the longest stage and may involve multiple iterations between parties.

Deal Review Board (1 Day)

Final funding decisions are made by W3DD’s independent committee of BD experts. This stage provides a final check to ensure deal viability and strategic alignment before approval.

W3DD aims to issue funding decisions within one month of application submission. However, this timeline depends on timely responses and complete information from BD teams throughout the process.

Additional Considerations

For W3DD’s initial phase, grant capital will be held and transferred by the Web3 Foundation (W3F). As a result, projects should anticipate a contracting process with W3F’s legal team before funds are disbursed.

What Criteria will Applications be Evaluated on?

  • Application Quality – Completeness, clarity, and conciseness of the submission.

  • Deal Origination & Status – The project’s current stage, deal maturity, and level of commitment to Polkadot.

  • Market Opportunity & Competitive Landscape – The project's size and relevance within the Web3 market and its differentiation from competitors.

  • Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy & Traction – The project's adoption strategy, user acquisition plans, and traction to date.

  • Ecosystem & Token Model (if applicable) – Level of partnerships achieved with key ecosystem participants and any tokenomics considerations.

  • Financial Sustainability & Institutional Backing – The project’s funding history, financial health, and backing from reputable investors or partners.

  • Strategic Alignment & Long-Term Impact – The project's alignment with Polkadot’s strategic goals and its potential to drive adoption.

  • Funding Request & Milestones (if applicable) – The rationale for requested funding, milestone structure, and expected outcomes.

  • Execution & Risk Management – The team’s ability to execute effectively and mitigate potential risks.

  • Security, Governance & Compliance – The project's approach to security best practices, governance frameworks, and regulatory compliance.