For many startups and small businesses, securing public funding can be just as challenging as developing the product or service they want to bring to market. Complicated application procedures, extensive paperwork and strict eligibility requirements often prevent promising businesses from accessing financial support. Portuguese startup Granter is looking to change this by using artificial intelligence to simplify the entire funding process. The company has raised €1.6 million to expand its AI powered platform, strengthen its team and bring its technology to businesses across Europe.
3XP Global Leads €1.6 Million Funding Round
Granter has secured €1.6 million in a funding round led by 3XP Global through its Impact Innovation Fund. The investment was made under Portugal’s Venture Capital Programme of the Capitalisation and Resilience Fund, managed by Banco Português de Fomento.
Other participants included Celtis Venture Partners, Gateway Ventures, backed by investors from Austria and Germany, and US based HR technology company Deel.
The latest investment brings Granter’s total funding to €2 million. The company intends to use the capital to accelerate product development, expand its workforce and strengthen its international presence.
Making Public Funding Easier With AI
Founded to simplify access to public financing, Granter develops an artificial intelligence platform that helps businesses discover funding programmes, prepare applications and manage projects after receiving financial support.
European funding programmes offer opportunities for startups and small and medium sized enterprises across sectors such as technology, manufacturing, sustainability and innovation. However, identifying suitable programmes and understanding their requirements can involve considerable research and administrative work.
Smaller organisations frequently lack dedicated funding specialists or the resources required to manage lengthy application procedures. As a result, businesses with promising projects may miss opportunities simply because they cannot navigate the process.
Granter aims to address this challenge by bringing funding discovery, application preparation and project management together through a single AI powered platform.
AI Grant Consultant Simplifies Applications
The company recently relaunched its AI Grant Consultant with a conversational interface that allows users to interact directly with an artificial intelligence agent.
Businesses can use the platform to identify relevant funding opportunities, understand eligibility requirements, prepare application documents and manage approved projects. Instead of navigating multiple resources manually, users can communicate with the AI consultant through a chat based experience.
According to Granter, tasks that previously required weeks of preparation and often involved specialist consultants can now be completed in less than an hour.
The company has also introduced a free trial period, allowing businesses to start preparing applications and explore the platform before committing to its services.
More Than 140 Businesses Supported
Granter gained wider recognition after winning PITCH, the startup competition at Web Summit, in November 2025.
Since then, the company says it has supported more than 140 businesses with applications seeking over €30 million in funding.
Its customer portfolio includes organisations such as ANA Airports, MC Sonae, Galp, the Portuguese Navy and Fidelidade. These businesses operate across different industries, demonstrating the platform’s potential applications beyond early stage startups.
Bernardo Seixas, CEO and co founder of Granter, said many businesses with strong projects fail to access public funding because they lack the time, personnel or expertise needed to handle complex administrative procedures.
He explained that the company’s mission is to remove these barriers and make funding more accessible to organisations generating employment, innovation and economic impact.
European Expansion and Future Growth
With the new investment, Granter plans to more than double its workforce by the end of the year while expanding its commercial operations beyond Portugal.
The company has identified Spain, Germany and Italy as its next European markets, supported by existing investor relationships and initial commercial connections in these countries.
The United States is also part of its longer term expansion strategy.
By combining AI powered automation with access to public funding intelligence, Granter aims to make financial support programmes easier to navigate for businesses of different sizes. Its broader ambition is to reduce administrative barriers and help more companies turn promising ideas into funded projects.
