Forge Program Track 

The future isn’t written. It’s waiting to be inked.

What is Forge? 

If Spark is where ideas begin, Forge is where builders scale.

Forge is Ink’s flagship builder track designed for serious teams shipping real products that push the ecosystem forward.

Whether you’re launching the next great dApp, building protocol infrastructure, or creating tools that make Ink easier to use, Forge backs you with meaningful funding, strategic guidance, and long-term support.

This is where prototypes become products.

Why We Built Forge 

Every builder hits that familiar turning point where the idea is real, the product works, and the path ahead is both exciting and uncertain.

Forge exists for that moment. 

It’s for founders ready to scale, teams turning experiments into ecosystems, and individuals transforming creative energy into structure.

Forge is rooted in our conviction that:

• Great products deserve committed backing and care. 
• Builders thrive when they’re connected, guided, and empowered.
• Ink evolves when its best ideas are built to endure. 

You bring the vision. We’ll help you forge it into reality.

Who is Forge For? 

Forge is for teams serious about scaling, refining, and delivering value to the Ink ecosystem.

Ideal Applicants

• Production-stage offerings or operational MVPs. 
• Defined roadmap with deliverables achievable in 30–60 days.
• Strong and proven expertise in engineering or product delivery. 
• Building for users, creators, or infrastructure within Ink.
• Steadfast commitment to long-term growth and iteration. 

Common Verticals

• Developer tools and infrastructure. 
• DeFi and liquidity protocols.
• Consumer and social apps.
• Governance, coordination, or networking services.
• Public goods and open-source infrastructure.

How It Works

1. Preliminary Evaluation

We assess:

• Ecosystem Alignment: Does it unlock new use cases for Ink?
• Clarity of Vision: Is the roadmap coherent and compelling?
• Technical Readiness: Can it ship meaningful updates in 30–60 days?
• Team Strength: Can the team execute independently?

2. Final Plan & Grant Confirmation

Promising teams are invited to a follow-up for:

• Grant size and milestone confirmation. 
• Roadmap validation. 
• Technical or strategic support planning. 

This may include async review or Q&A with Ink core contributors and advisors.

3. Minimum Requirements

• Live MVP or demo-ready build (on or ready for Ink mainnet).
• Team capable of autonomous execution
• Clear milestones and realistic timelines
• Willingness to collaborate with Ink ecosystem teams

This may include async review or Q&A with Ink core contributors and advisors.

What You Can Build

We’re open to anything that brings utility, usability, or culture to Ink – from core protocols to creative experiments.

Examples:

• DeFi protocols & liquidity infrastructure.
• Wallets, onboarding UX, or account abstraction.
• SDKs, APIs, and developer tools. 
• Consumer & social primitives. 
• Onchain games & creative apps.
• Governance tools & public goods.

If it strengthens Ink, we want to support you.

What You Receive

Forge offers you more than funding. It provides structure, connections, and a launchpad for scaling. 

Support Includes:

• Milestone-based grants up to 200,000 USDC.
• Advisory support from Ink contributors and ecosystem mentors.
• Technical integration with Ink infrastructure and tooling.
• Exposure through Ink’s official channels and partner networks.
• Warm intros to investors, partners, and ecosystem collaborators.
• Potential follow-on investment via Kraken Ventures.

What We Prioritize 

We evaluate projects based on:

• Clarity: What you’re building and why it matters.
• Credibility: Can your team deliver?
• Ecosystem Fit: Does it expand Ink’s value?
• Scalability: Can it grow into a core Ink-native experience?
• Roadmap: Is there a clear, achievable plan?

How to Join Forge

• Submit your project → Detail your prototype, squad, and strategy.
• Connect with evaluators → Shortlisted teams refine checkpoints and resources.
• Lock it in → Approved teams receive grant and support access.
• Build and scale → Ship fast, grow smart, and become a pillar of the Ink ecosystem.

Ready to build and scale something real? Apply to Forge.