Announcing Ikigai Grants: Microgrants give early-stage, bootstrapped talent capital. But that’s not enough. I’ve watched too many grantees become perpetual microgrant chasers, wasting time applying to one $5k grant after another. Worse, most programs encourage this by funding the blanket “smart people doing cool things,” with no real conviction behind it. I wouldn’t be here without patronage from @tylercowen & @jposhaughnessy. But looking back, the mentors & community were worth much more than the money. So I built the program I always wished existed: - $50k total, avg. $5k check - Matched with mentors & community across @RenPhilanthropy , Fulcrum Science, and my personal network of founders, fund leads, investors & scientists. Cohort 1 backs emerging talent in areas I believe are deeply underfunded and undervalued. Every application is reviewed by me. Ikigai Grants is a program of @RenPhilanthropy, with support from Fulcrum Science. Advised by many wonderful friends & colleagues including: @AshleyNAbel @RaianyRomanni @NeuroStats Bonnie EJ Maven @idatin @ashleyz413 @JackScannell13 Apply by Nov 9th, 9a PST: alexaraki.xyz/ikigai