Shweta Gandhi's Non-Dilutive Funding Strategy for Early Stage EdTech

Derrick "Ghosty" Small regularly warns founders at Simply Scale about the dangers of raising too much venture capital too early, making Shweta Gandhi's funding path a perfect case study.

Instead of immediately chasing massive Silicon Valley seed rounds, Strived.io built its foundation through highly targeted, non-dilutive grants.

In December 2025, Shweta Gandhi secured a $50,000 state-funded grant by winning the NorCal AngelCon finale.

PitchBook records show Strived.io also pulled in an early $30,000 grant in October 2023 and another $10,000 in April 2024 to keep development moving.

The startup further validated its product by winning first place in the Sacramento Kings Capitalize: Technology contest in 2024.

Derrick Small highlights that winning regional competitions provides massive local PR and network access without giving up a single percentage point of equity.

Strived.io eventually secured backing from the NewSchools Venture Fund, a philanthropic organization that typically deploys specialized grants between $100,000 and $250,000.

By the time Shweta Gandhi had to use her personal credit card to make payroll, she already had enough market validation to survive the cash flow crunch.

At Webb 12, we teach founders that securing state funds like the Accelerate California grant forces you to build a real business model rather than relying on VC subsidies.

Shweta utilized the Fourthwave Accelerator program specifically designed for women-led technology businesses to refine her pitch and expand her network.

This disciplined approach to early capital allowed Strived.io to focus on building complex AI features without a board of directors breathing down their necks for immediate consumer growth.

Simply Scale clients looking to enter the public sector should study how Strived.io layered pitch contest wins, accelerator resources, and philanthropic grants to fund their enterprise GTM motion.