Pick where you want to go. Every route starts with a move you can make within the hour.
In a doc, write four short sections: problem, who has it (people who own a useful API, dataset, or prompt), what Toll Booth does onchain on Base, and one number from your own usage. Keep it under one page.
Look for: a builder grant from the chain you deploy on (Base ecosystem grants or retro funding rounds), a Gitcoin grants round in a matching category (developer tooling or open data), and an accelerator in the Alliance or a16z CSX style. Note each deadline and what it asks for. None of these is guaranteed money.
Find someone who received a grant in the same ecosystem (their projects are usually listed on the program page) and ask one specific question.
Hi, I saw your project got funded in the last round, congrats. I am applying with a small onchain app. One question: what did reviewers ask you about most? Thanks either way.
Use your brief, demo link, and contract address. Submit to the program with the nearest deadline. Pressing submit on something imperfect is the hard part.
Share what you applied for and what you learned. Programs notice builders who ship in public.
Applied to my first builder grant this week with Toll Booth, an app I own on Base. It wraps any API or prompt in x402 so AI agents can pay per call in USDC. Demo here. Feedback welcome, especially the harsh kind.
Leave an email and we nudge you at 24 and 72 hours with your next move. Optional.
Or to keep this voyage on your profile.
LIVE DEMOTake pay-what-you-want USDC tips on Base, with a live supporters feed read straight from chain. No Circle account, no backend.
LIVE DEMOGive your AI agent a verifiable identity and reputation tied to you, its human.