AI for Economic Opportunity

Catalyzing transformative economic opportunities through advanced AI technologies.

Building on the momentum of the past two years, the GitLab Foundation is excited to announce that the third round of the AI for Economic Opportunity Fund is now open.

This initiative, powered by a partnership between the GitLab Foundation and OpenAI, continues our shared commitment to advancing income growth and economic opportunity through innovative uses of AI.

We’re seeking bold projects that use AI to expand economic mobility — from unlocking data for impact, to making services more affordable, to helping workers navigate education and job pathways. (Read the FAQs)

Selected grantees will receive:

$250,000 seed funding to prototype and demonstrate progress
Six months of technical support from OpenAI engineers and advisors
API credits and peer learning with a network of leading practitioners and funders
Eligibility for additional scaling capital from partner funders
Opportunity to showcase work at a Demo Day in August/September 2026.

Timeline

September 22, 2025 – Public announcement and applications open

October 31, 2025 (5 p.m. PT) – Concept note deadline
November 14, 2025 - Selected Finalists Notified
December 12, 2025 - Finalist Applications Due
December 2025 – January 2026 – Final selection of Cohort 3 grantees
March 2026 – Cohort orientation begins
August/September 2026 – Demo Day for grantees at OpenAI’s HQ

2025 FAQs

Submit a proposal

Our progress

To date, the GitLab Foundation has awarded over $5.5 million to 27 grantees. In August 2024, the second round of the AI for Economic Opportunity Demonstration and Scaling Fund launched through a matching fund partnership with the Ballmer Group.

The GitLab Foundation awarded over $3.5 million to 14 projects developing AI-driven prototypes and gathering early evidence of impact. The Ballmer Group committed additional funding to scale up to six high-potential projects, with 1- to 2-year grants ranging from $500K to $1.5M annually.

Total awards are expected to exceed $10 million, with the potential to unlock over $1 billion in additional lifetime earnings for the communities served. Additional funders are invited to help source, review, and support these innovative solutions.

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