eBay Up & Running Grants
eBay (in partnership with Hello Alice)
$10,000 + equipment kit
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 3 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Annual grants for eBay sellers
eBay's recurring Up & Running Grants program — for 2026 reframed as 'eBay Live x Up & Running' — awards $10,000 cash grants to 10 eBay sellers ($100,000 total pool), with a renewed focus on eBay Live / live commerce. Recipients also receive a pro-level live-selling equipment kit and 1-on-1 eBay Live Team mentorship and onboarding. Now in its 7th year, the program is administered through the Hello Alice platform. Applicants must be active eBay sellers in good standing (a seller rating of 'Above Standard' or 'Top Rated') located in the United States, DC, or Puerto Rico. Since launching in 2020, eBay has distributed over $3 million to small businesses, making this one of the most reliable recurring marketplace-sponsored grants for online sellers.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $10,000 – $10,000
- Realistic amount
- Recipients receive a flat $10,000 cash grant plus a pro-level live-selling equipment kit. There is no tiered amount — every one of the 10 winners gets the same $10,000.
- Deadline
- Annual — applications open in late spring (2026 window: May 28 – June 25, 2026); recipients notified early October
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump-sum
Who qualifies
- Be the leading executive (Founder, President, CEO, CFO, COO, or similar) of a small business
- Be a legal resident of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, aged 18 or older (19 in AL and NE)
- Be an active seller on the eBay platform on or before December 1, 2025 (for the 2026 cycle)
- Maintain a seller rating of 'Above Standard' or 'Top Rated' in good standing
- Maintain an active selling status with listings within the past six months
- Not be a recipient of any previous round of the eBay Up & Running Grants program
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Working capital and operating expenses
- Inventory and raw materials
- Marketing and advertising
- Equipment and technology
- Business growth and scaling activities
Ineligible expenses
- No detailed published ineligible-expense list; funds are intended for legitimate business growth use
How to apply
-
1
Create or log into a Hello Alice account
Applications are submitted through the Hello Alice platform. Create a free account (or log in) and locate the eBay Up & Running Grant program page during the open application window.
~0.5 hrs
-
2
Confirm eBay seller eligibility
Verify you are an active eBay seller with an 'Above Standard' or 'Top Rated' rating and active listings within the past six months. Have your eBay store/username details ready to link your account.
~0.5 hrs
-
3
Complete the written application
Answer the application questions describing your business, your eBay selling journey, and how you would use the $10,000 grant to grow. Authentic, specific growth plans tied to your eBay business perform best.
~2.5 hrs
-
4
Submit before the deadline
Submit your application before the close date (June 25, 2026 for the current cycle). Recipients are notified in early October. Only one application per cycle is permitted.
~0.25 hrs
The gating requirement is being an active eBay seller in good standing ('Above Standard' or 'Top Rated') — this self-selects the applicant pool down to established sellers, which is a meaningful advantage if you already meet the rating bar. Tie your funding narrative directly to your eBay business (e.g., expanding inventory categories, refurbished sourcing, shipping efficiency) rather than generic small-business goals; eBay rewards sellers who will reinvest on-platform.
Deadline & timing
Recurring annual cycle. The 2026 window ran from Thursday, May 28, 2026 (3:30 PM EST) through Thursday, June 25, 2026 (7:00 PM EST) and is now closed, with recipients notified in early October 2026. The 2027 window has not yet been announced. The 2025 cycle ran through June 6, 2025. Cadence is a single annual intake each spring/early summer.
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