ASI Private Grant FAQ
Welcome to the ASI Alignment Private Grant Program FAQ. This document addresses common questions regarding our non-dilutive funding mechanism for AI safety research. We are taking interest applications ahead of our launch in 2026.
1. Grant Program Overview
1.1 What is the ASI Alignment Grant Program?
The ASI Alignment Grant Program provides non-dilutive funding (no equity taken) for AI safety research via a Swiss-based governance structure. Researchers receive SAT tokens (pegged at $150 USD) convertible to fiat, ensuring full autonomy over their work.
- No Equity: You keep 100% ownership.
- Patient Capital: 36-month cycles.
- Open Source: Funded research must remain public.
- Fast Decisions: 60-day timeline.
1.2 What are the grant tiers, KPIs, and funding amounts?
Grant tiers are chosen by the research project and approved or modified by the governance board. KPIs/milestones are chosen by individual projects, and approved or modified by the same governance board.
Tier 1: Targeted Projects ($50k+)
For tools, datasets, and pilots. Duration: 6-12 months.
Tier 2: Applied Research ($250k+)
For research with commercial/real-world application. Duration: 12-24 months.
Tier 3: Transformational Research ($1M+)
For high-reward, foundational breakthroughs. Duration: 24-36 months.
NOTE: No vesting is allowed for Tier 1 grants; Tiers 2 and 3 are milestone-based releases only.
1.3 How does selection work?
- Admin Review (2 weeks): Eligibility and budget check.
- Committee Review (3 weeks): Expert scoring on merit, feasibility, and impact. Top 30-40% proceed.
- Token Holder Vote (7 days): Community finalizes winners.
- Award (48 hours): Board confirmation and disbursement.
1.4 Can individual researchers apply directly?
Yes. You do not need a university affiliation. We do not discriminate on types of recipients be they individual researchers, research teams, or organizational types.
- Direct-to-Researcher: Grants paid to you personally. No overhead fees.
- Institutional: Grants paid to your university (overhead may apply).
1.5 What costs are eligible?
Funds can cover personnel (salaries, stipends), compute (GPUs, cloud), equipment, data acquisition, and travel/conferences. We expect a realistic budget breakdown in your proposal.
1.6 What counts as “AI Safety”?
We fund work in Alignment which is broad. It can mean Governance, Interoperability, Model Training, Oversight, Personal Safety, Infrastructure security, and even AI related neuroscience. Your proposal must articulate the pathway to a safer AI ecosystem.
2. Operations & Logistics
2.1 What is the legal entity?
Currently a US LLC; transitioning to a Swiss Foundation structure in 2026 for neutrality and regulatory clarity (modeled after Ethereum Foundation).
2.2 How do payments work?
In 2026 Grants will be paid in stablecoins. In the future grants will be paid in SAT tokens (an ASI treasury coin pegged to $150). You can convert these to USD/EUR/CHF/etc via services like Ramp, MoonPay, and Coinbase. Anyone with a blockchain wallet or major exchange account can receive them & exchange to their own currency & liquidate to their bank account or use a 3rd party.
2.3 Is there KYC/AML verification?
Yes. As a Swiss compliant entity, we require identity verification (Passport/ID + Proof of Address) via Sumsub. Data is encrypted and GDPR compliant.
2.4 What if I miss a milestone?
Communication is key. If you are behind, notify your Grant Lead early. We allow 30-60 day remediation periods. Persistent failures may result in scope adjustment or termination.
2.5 Can I hire team members/subcontract?
Yes. You can hire RAs, engineers, or consultants. Subcontracts >$50k require pre-approval. You remain responsible for deliverables and open-source compliance.
3. Strategic Positioning
3.1 How is ASI Grants different from OpenPhil or FLI?
ASI focuses on neutrality and speed. We use tokenized governance for transparency, offer patient 3-year timelines, and fund individuals directly without the “friends of the board” bias common in traditional philanthropy.
3.2 Can I raise VC funding later?
Yes, encouraged. We fund the risky research phase. If you build a product, you own the IP and company 100%. We take no equity.
3.3 How do you prevent conflicts of interest?
Committees must recuse themselves for personal/financial conflicts. Initial scoring is blind/anonymized. Final winners are chosen by distributed token holder voting, preventing insider favoritism.
4. Legal & Regulatory
4.1 Are grants taxable?
Yes, usually. US researchers receive a 1099 form. International tax treatment varies; consult a local professional. We provide Swiss tax certificates to assist.
4.2 What is the IP policy?
You own your IP. ASI takes zero rights. However, you must publish results open-source (arXiv, GitHub) within 6 months of completion. You are free to file patents.
4.3 Can sanctioned countries apply?
We follow Swiss regulations (SECO). Residents of UN-sanctioned countries (e.g., North Korea) are ineligible. Most others are eligible, subject to compliance checks.
4.4 What if my university demands IP ownership?
If applying through the university, their policy applies. If applying directly, you retain ownership, but check your employment contract regarding use of university resources.