Automata Developer Grant

Pushing the TEE frontier forward for the people building at the edge of it.

The Grant

Automata is the machine attestation layer for Web3, useful for anyone building projects or applications enabled by TEEs (Trusted Execution Environments). This grant provides milestone-based funding, supplemented by marketing and ecosystem support to foster growth and help builders reach their goals.

Measuring your impact

While we are not looking to fund any domain-specific projects, the below is a great place to start:

TEE-enabled applications

We typically find a project's use of TEEs to be meaningful when it's evident why they've chosen TEEs over other cryptographic primitives. We're also excited by projects that push the boundaries of TEE technology by combining it with ZK, MPC, or FHE to unlock new use cases.

Infrastructure or tooling

We are on the lookout for SDKs, testing frameworks, or middleware that simplify or improve the integration of TEEs with blockchain infrastructure. This should benefit the community at large by making TEE development more accessible, transparent, or efficient.

Applied research

The industry is an active, constantly changing space, and we're excited to fund applied research that brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of TEEs and blockchain. You'll be a great fit if your work centres on turning those ideas into practical solutions that tackle Web3's most pressing challenges.

Grant Incentives

Funding

Funding is milestone-based and distributed upon achieving each goal. Successful applicants are eligible for grants of up to $50,000 in ATA. We prioritize short to medium-term projects, particularly those that can be completed within six months or less.

What support will I receive?

Alongside funding, the grant program offers marketing resources and increased visibility within the ecosystem. We are also open to providing technical assistance on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific needs of your project.

How to Apply

Application

Provide a brief project overview. Keeping it clear and concise will help us better understand your goals.

Apply Now

Review

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and you can expect to hear from us within a month. If your proposal passes the initial screening, we'll schedule a few calls to get to know you better and explore the details of your project.

Decision

Once everything aligns, we'll work with you to finalize the grant agreement. We also conduct standard KYC checks as part of the process to ensure transparency and compliance.

As the machine attestation layer built on the Superchain, developers and teams building in the Automata ecosystem are also eligible to apply for Optimism Collective Grants. Contribute to the growth and resilience of the Superchain with Optimism's Retro Funding and Mission Grants here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have tips for submitting a strong application?

Applications that clearly define the problem being solved and that provide achievable outcomes tend to stand out. A strong rationale for choosing TEEs over other cryptographic solutions will also strengthen your application.

Will I get feedback if my application wasn't approved?

While we'd love to offer feedback to every applicant, we simply don't have the capacity to do so. A rejection doesn't reflect on the value of your work - our decision is often based on fitting within the scope of our current initiatives.

I have an ambitious idea that will take longer to complete. Can I still apply for the grant?

Yes! We suggest breaking down your project into smaller, self-contained proposals. However, if your project is best tackled as a long-term initiative, we're open to discussing how we can support your vision.

Can I reapply if my application isn't selected?

Absolutely. If your application isn't selected this time, we encourage you to reapply in the future, especially if your project scope or goals have evolved.

I have more questions.

Send us a gm at grants@ata.network.

Resources

Automata Mainnet (built on the Superchain)

The machine attestation layer built by humans, designed for machines. Proof of Machinehood allows the authenticity of machines to be verified onchain.

TEEs on the blockchain

Automata's work on TEEs in blockchain infrastructure/applications include Multi-Prover AVS on EigenLayer with support Scroll and Linea, among other projects.

Automata SGX SDK

Simplifies Intel SGX application development with a Rust-based build system. Includes cargo-sgx tool and an integrated workflow for DCAP remote attestation.

Automata DCAP v4 Library

TEEs undergo remote attestation to prove their authenticity. Automata's DCAP v4 Library enables the verification of Intel SGX and TDX attestations directly onchain.