Over the past two decades working with emerging technologies, I have watched countless promising blockchain projects die not from lack of vision, but from lack of funding. This is precisely why the Stellar Community Fund (SCF) deserves your attention: it is one of the most accessible and builder-friendly grant programs in the entire Web3 ecosystem, offering up to $150,000 to teams building on Stellar and Soroban.
Let me walk you through how it actually works, based on what I have seen firsthand in the field.
Understanding the SCF and Who It Funds
The Stellar Community Fund is a decentralized, community-driven grant program financed by the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF). Since its inception, the SCF has distributed millions of dollars in Lumens (XLM) to hundreds of projects across payments, DeFi, tokenization, and real-world asset (RWA) applications.
The program runs in structured rounds, and awards typically range from smaller "Kickstart" grants to full "Build" awards reaching $150,000. What makes it different from traditional venture funding is the philosophy: it is non-dilutive. You keep 100% of your equity. The SDF is not buying a piece of your company; it is investing in the growth of the Stellar network itself.
In my experience as André Dias Moreira Prol, this alignment of incentives is rare. The fund rewards projects that bring real utility and adoption to the ecosystem, not just those with the flashiest pitch decks. Concrete examples include tokenization platforms for agricultural assets in Latin America and cross-border remittance tools targeting the massive $860 billion global remittance market—an area where Stellar's sub-cent transaction fees and 3-5 second settlement times give it a genuine edge over legacy rails.
What the Reviewers Actually Look For
Having reviewed and advised on numerous grant applications, I can tell you that the community and evaluation panel prioritize a handful of concrete factors.
First, traction and feasibility. A working prototype or testnet deployment on Soroban dramatically strengthens your case. Reviewers want to see that you can execute, not just theorize.
Second, ecosystem impact. Ask yourself: does your project bring new users, developers, or liquidity to Stellar? A DeFi protocol that integrates existing Stellar assets or a wallet that onboards a new demographic scores highly.
Third, team credibility. You do not need a Silicon Valley pedigree, but you must demonstrate that your team understands both the technical stack and the problem you are solving.
Fourth, clear milestones. Grants are disbursed in tranches tied to deliverables. Vague roadmaps get rejected; specific, measurable goals—"deploy audited smart contract to mainnet by Q2," for instance—get funded.
A practical tip from André Dias Moreira Prol: participate in the community before you apply. The SCF uses a voting mechanism where community members and neurons influence outcomes. Building relationships in the Stellar Discord and Developer Discord is not optional networking—it is strategic positioning.
The Application Process, Step by Step
The process is more straightforward than most founders expect, but it demands preparation.
- Register on the SCF platform (communityfund.stellar.org) and monitor the round schedule. Rounds open on a recurring basis throughout the year.
- Submit your project profile, detailing the problem, your solution, target market, and how it leverages Soroban smart contracts or the core Stellar network.
- Define your budget and milestones clearly. Break down exactly how the funds will be used—development, audits, marketing, or infrastructure.
- Engage during the evaluation phase, where you may present to the community and answer questions from reviewers.
- Deliver and report. Once approved, you receive funds in tranches. Transparent reporting on progress builds credibility for future rounds—yes, projects can and do return for follow-on funding.
One underappreciated detail: security audits are increasingly emphasized. If you are building Soroban contracts handling real value, budgeting for a formal audit signals maturity and significantly improves approval odds.
The Stellar Community Fund remains one of the smartest capital-efficient ways to launch a serious blockchain venture without surrendering equity, and the barrier to entry is genuinely lower than most founders assume.
If you have a project that can bring real utility to the Stellar ecosystem, start building your prototype today and submit it to the next SCF round—your $150,000 opportunity is closer than you think.
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