# Excalibur Grant Program

The **Excalibur Grant Program** is Project Merlin DAO’s most **exclusive and high-value funding track**, designed for startups that are strategically important for the ecosystem and have the potential for large-scale impact.

Unlike the monthly Camelot grants, the Excalibur Grant is **not open to every startup**—only to those that meet stricter criteria, demonstrate exceptional readiness, and align closely with the DAO’s long-term vision.

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### 🎯 Purpose

To provide **exclusive, high-value support** to standout startups that can significantly grow the Project Merlin ecosystem and create sustainable value for the community.

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### 🔹 Key Benefits for Startups

1. **Access to the Merlin Grant Pool**
   * Funding comes directly from the **Merlin Grant Pool**, separate from the regular Camelot budget.
   * This allows for **larger funding amounts** and more flexible use of resources.
2. **Exclusive for Selected Startups**
   * Only startups that pass **Core Team strategic review** and gain community approval are admitted.
   * This exclusivity increases credibility and visibility across the Web3 space.
3. **Deeper Community Engagement**
   * Winning projects get priority exposure to the Project Merlin DAO community.
   * Special AMA sessions, dedicated promotion campaigns, and cross-platform visibility.
4. **Airdrop & Presale Whitelists**
   * DAO members who vote for the winning Excalibur Grant project may get **whitelisted for the project’s token presale** or **receive airdrops** from that project.
5. **High-Value Investment Opportunities**
   * Funding packages can exceed **$500,000 USD** in combined grants, sponsorships, and investment commitments.
   * Access to early-stage private investment rounds facilitated through Funddex.
6. **Corporate Sponsorships & Credits**
   * Partnerships with leading tech companies enable winning projects to receive:
     * **Google Cloud Credits**
     * **AWS Activate Program Credits**
     * **MongoDB Atlas Credits**
     * Other ecosystem partner benefits
   * These credits can save startups **tens of thousands of dollars** in infrastructure costs.

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### 🔹 Key Benefits for the Community

* **Direct Influence:** Members decide which startups deserve high-value strategic funding.
* **Special Access:** Voters for winning projects may receive presale allocations, airdrops, or early-access privileges.
* **Reward Boost:** Participation earns Vote2Earn points, contributing to quarterly MRLN rewards.
* **Exclusive Opportunities:** Be part of early investment rounds alongside institutional backers.

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### 📅 Frequency & Selection

* **Maximum of one Excalibur Grant per quarter**
* Selection process:
  1. **Application** via Excalibur Grant Submission Form
  2. **Core Team Review** for strategic alignment
  3. **Community Voting** by NFT holders
  4. **Funding Award** from the Merlin Grant Pool and potential sponsor contributions

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💡 **In short:**\
The Excalibur Grant Program is **the elite tier** of Project Merlin’s funding ecosystem—designed to give exceptional startups the resources, visibility, and partnerships they need to scale globally while keeping the DAO community deeply involved in their journey.