Are you working on a high-impact deal that aligns with Polkadot’s strategic growth? Apply for W3DD funding and unlock expert deal support, milestone-based grants, and ecosystem visibility.
Eligibility Check – Review the application criteria to ensure your deal is a strong fit.
Submit Your Application – Complete the W3DD application form with all required details.
Assessment & Feedback – Your submission will be evaluated through W3DD’s structured review process.
Ready to apply? Web3 Deal Desk Application.
Note: The application window for W3DD v1.0 closes in May 2025. Don’t wait—apply now! For questions or additional guidance, contact dd@web3dealdesk.com.
What is the Web3 Deal Desk?
The Web3 Deal Desk (W3DD) is an expert-led initiative designed to support growth and adoption within the Polkadot ecosystem. It helps make business development (BD) funding more effective by ensuring resources are used efficiently, transparently, and with real impact.
W3DD gives BD teams access to milestone-based grants to fund important deals and bring high-quality projects to Polkadot. In addition to funding, W3DD offers guidance on deal structuring, negotiation support, and impact reporting—helping teams close deals more successfully and grow the ecosystem.
By simplifying funding processes, applying clear evaluation criteria, and offering expert deal support, W3DD improves funding utilization, strategic return on investment, and the success rate of BD deals. While W3DD facilitates funding, all deal execution and relationship management remain with the business development teams leading the deals.
Why is Web3 Deal Desk Needed?
Grants have become a crucial tool for Web3 ecosystems to compete and drive growth. To secure high-value, strategically significant deals, Polkadot’s BD teams need a dedicated funding mechanism that goes beyond existing options like the Treasury and Web3 Foundation grants.
This mechanism must be both agile and robust—ensuring transparency while maintaining the confidentiality required for commercially sensitive negotiations. W3DD fills this gap by providing BD teams with access to milestone-based funding for high-impact deals, offering expert guidance on commercial structuring, and ensuring funding decisions are rigorous, data-driven, and strategically aligned.
What Does the Web3 Deal Desk Do?
As an impartial, expert-led steward of grant funding for strategic deals, the W3DD focuses on four key pillars:
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Strategic Fund Allocation: Deploying grant capital efficiently into high-value deals to maximize ecosystem impact in a sustainable, structured manner;
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Strategic Deal Evaluation: Conducting comprehensive assessments of funding applications using both on-chain and off-chain criteria to ensure alignment with ecosystem priorities;
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Expert Deal Advisory: Providing professional guidance on commercial structuring, including milestone-based funding models and negotiations, to optimize ROI while mitigating risk.
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Transparent Impact Reporting: Publishing periodic Deal Impact Reports to track outcomes, promote transparency, and deliver key insights on expected ecosystem growth.
Who Should Apply?
Polkadot-focused BD teams working on deals that involve projects meeting the following criteria:
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Project Type – The project is an end-user-facing Web3 application, delivering a B2B or B2C use case on Polkadot in the form of a DApp or Chain.
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Project Quality & Value – The project demonstrates strong fundamentals, strategic relevance, and long-term ecosystem value.
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Deal Stage & Commitment – The deal has reached an advanced stage where the project is convinced of Polkadot’s value proposition and is ready to explore funding support.
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Funding Fit & Requirements – The requested funding is a minimum of $50K, with no outstanding capital gaps preventing deal closure.
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Shared Commitment – Both the BD entity and the Project team should demonstrate tangible “skin in the game.” This can include in-kind contributions, such as technical support, business development resources, or co-marketing efforts, all aimed at driving the project’s success.
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Due Diligence & Information Completeness – Sufficient due diligence has been conducted to qualify the project, and the BD entity can provide all required details in W3DD’s application form.
Who Should not Apply?
W3DD is not the appropriate funding channel for:
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Developer-Centric Grants – Funding for developer tooling or other technical infrastructure designed primarily for builders rather than end-user adoption.
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PR or Marketing-Centric Grants – Support for team sponsorships, event sponsorships, or general marketing initiatives.
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Infrastructure-Centric Grants – Funding for core infrastructure projects such as indexers, oracles, or other backend services.
Teams seeking support for these areas should explore alternative funding sources within the Polkadot ecosystem. For example, infrastructure projects may be better suited for Treasury funding via OpenGov or the Infrastructure Bounty from Velocity Labs.
Why Should you Apply?
Successful applicants may receive the following benefits:
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Deal Guidance & Negotiation Support – Expert assistance in structuring and negotiating deals to maximize success and ROI for Polkadot (if applicable).
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Milestone-Based Grant Funding – Access to non-dilutive capital ranging from US$50K to US$250K to support project deployment and growth on Polkadot.
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Ecosystem Visibility & PR – Public recognition through official Polkadot channels, amplifying your project’s visibility across major industry and community platforms.
What Can Applicants Expect from the Application Process?
Once an application is submitted, it enters W3DD’s deal assessment pipeline, progressing through the following stages:
- Qualification Stage (7 Days)
An initial review to assess the proposal’s quality, completeness, and alignment with W3DD’s funding criteria. The outcome of this stage is binary: “Yes” (proceed to the Evaluation Stage) or “No” (rejection). If an application is incomplete, applicants may be given a final opportunity to resubmit with the missing information on a case-by-case basis.
- Evaluation Stage (14–21 Days)
A deeper assessment of the deal’s quality, business fundamentals, and strategic value to the Polkadot ecosystem. This stage determines whether the project has the potential for significant and lasting impact. For high-potential deals, W3DD may offer additional support, including:
- Grant milestone design
- Negotiation guidance
- Strategic BD advice
This is the longest stage and may involve multiple iterations between parties.
- Deal Review Board (1 Day)
Final funding decisions are made by W3DD’s independent committee of BD experts. This stage provides a final check to ensure deal viability and strategic alignment before approval.
W3DD aims to issue funding decisions within one month of application submission. However, this timeline depends on timely responses and complete information from BD teams throughout the process.
Additional Considerations (Version 1.0)
For W3DD’s initial phase, grant capital will be held and transferred by the Web3 Foundation (W3F). As a result, projects should anticipate a contracting process with W3F’s legal team before funds are disbursed.
What Criteria will Applications be Evaluated on?
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Application Quality – Completeness, clarity, and conciseness of the submission.
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Deal Origination & Status – The project’s current stage, deal maturity, and level of commitment to Polkadot.
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Market Opportunity & Competitive Landscape – The project’s size and relevance within the Web3 market and its differentiation from competitors.
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Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy & Traction – The project’s adoption strategy, user acquisition plans, and traction to date.
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Ecosystem & Token Model (if applicable) – Level of partnerships achieved with key ecosystem participants and any tokenomics considerations.
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Financial Sustainability & Institutional Backing – The project’s funding history, financial health, and backing from reputable investors or partners.
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Strategic Alignment & Long-Term Impact – The project’s alignment with Polkadot’s strategic goals and its potential to drive adoption.
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Funding Request & Milestones (if applicable) – The rationale for requested funding, milestone structure, and expected outcomes.
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Execution & Risk Management – The team’s ability to execute effectively and mitigate potential risks.
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Security, Governance & Compliance – The project’s approach to security best practices, governance frameworks, and regulatory compliance.
Ecosystem Partners & Dependences
The success of W3DD depends on close collaboration with key partners across the Polkadot ecosystem. These partners play essential roles in ensuring high-quality deal flow, milestone validation, and ecosystem visibility:
- Ecosystem BD teams – Responsible for sourcing, structuring, and driving high-quality deal flow.
- Marketing & PR Partners – Amplify successful projects and funding decisions through strategic communication across Polkadot’s channels.
- Technical & On-Chain Validation Entities – Assess milestone completion, validate project deliverables, and ensure accountability in funded initiatives.
By working together, these partners help maximize W3DD’s impact, ensuring funding is deployed effectively and transparently.
Funding Structure
W3DD operates as part of Web3 Foundation’s Decentralized Futures initiative, with initial funding for both operational expenses and grant capital provided by W3F. However, W3DD’s long-term vision is to transition its grant capital to full Treasury funding, ensuring a sustainable, community-driven approach to deal financing.
This structure reinforces W3DD’s role as a public utility dedicated to driving ecosystem growth rather than profit generation.
Looking Ahead Beyond W3DD Version 1.0
W3DD v1.0 marks the first phase of our journey, focused on building a solid foundation, refining operational processes, and collecting valuable feedback to shape future enhancements. Over time, W3DD will reduce its reliance on the Web3 Foundation for funding, contracting, and milestone validation. As the volume of applications grows, we plan to transition from rolling admissions to set application cycles, and we will introduce specialized focus areas, each with its own targeted application process.
To stay competitive, we also recognize the need to increase grant sizes and offer more compelling funding packages. Other ecosystems are investing heavily to secure major partnerships, and for Polkadot to attract the most innovative projects, our funding must scale in tandem with these opportunities.
Ultimately, by evolving W3DD’s scope and funding model, we aim to create a vibrant, self-sustaining platform that drives meaningful growth across the Polkadot ecosystem—ensuring top-tier projects continue to find a home where they can thrive.
FAQs
- Does the W3DD undertake Business Development efforts itself?
No, W3DD does not create or manage deals itself, nor does it engage in business development on behalf of Polkadot. W3DD functions as a utility to support BD teams by providing streamlined access to grant funding for deals.
- Is funding available for BD teams?
No. W3DD funds are exclusively allocated to projects to help secure deals. There is no direct funding available for BD teams.
- Are there any restrictions on the types of projects W3DD will invest in, aside from being connected to Polkadot?
W3DD’s primary focus is driving on-chain activity in the Polkadot ecosystem. While there are no strict industry or vertical restrictions at this time, projects must demonstrate a clear link to increasing Polkadot usage, adoption, or ecosystem growth.
- Are Substrate-based chains eligible?
Deals are eligible for funding if they demonstrate a direct link to increased on-chain activity within Polkadot. Substrate-based solo chains may qualify if their project includes integration with the Polkadot ecosystem.
- Will preference be given to specific types of projects?
W3DD V1.0 will initially deploy capital on an opportunistic basis to better understand the ecosystem’s needs. In time, we plan to define strategic verticals for more targeted allocations. For now, we generally prioritize investing in new opportunities rather than supporting existing projects.
- Does W3DD require equity, tokens, or other forms of ownership in funded projects?
No. W3DD grants are non-dilutive, meaning the Deal Desk does not take equity or tokens in exchange for funding. The goal is to accelerate ecosystem growth, not accumulate ownership stakes.
- Can a project that received W3DD funding also seek additional funding from other sources?
Yes. W3DD grants are not mutually exclusive. Projects may secure additional funding from VCs, partner organizations, or other grant programs, provided that it does not conflict with any obligations under the W3DD agreement.
- How does W3DD handle simultaneous high-value proposals?
If multiple deals are under consideration at the same time, W3DD will review each proposal on its merits, focusing on potential impact to the Polkadot ecosystem, feasibility, and alignment with strategic goals. The most compelling deals, based on the funding criteria, will receive priority.
- How long does the evaluation process take from submission to funding decision?
Timelines vary depending on the complexity of the proposal and the extent of due diligence required. Generally, applicants can expect an initial evaluation and feedback within a few weeks. If the deal progresses, W3DD aims to move as quickly as possible, but timelines ultimately depend on both the BD team’s input and the project’s responsiveness.
- Who is responsible for due diligence?
W3DD may conduct a light due diligence review of the project, but the primary responsibility lies with the BD team managing the relationship. BD teams must ensure, to the best of their ability, that the information provided in the application is accurate and that proper confirmatory due diligence has been conducted.
- Do all Deal Desk applications receive deal guidance and milestone design support?
No. Deal guidance and milestone design support are exclusively provided to applications that successfully pass the Evaluation Stage of the Deal Desk application assessment process.
- Can I appeal a funding decision?
No, funding decisions are final. However, if there are material changes to the deal, you may amend your proposal and resubmit it.
- How is the grant funding paid out?
All funds go directly to the project’s wallet. In W3DD version 1.0, this funding will be distributed by the Web3 Foundation (W3F).
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