Meter Grant

Quick Facts

• ·Type: discretionary, merit-based grant — up to $2,000 USD, paid against a line-item budget
• ·Eligibility: U.S. residents, 18+ (and the age of majority in your state), applying as individuals
• ·Cap: $2,000
• ·Process: applications reviewed periodically, ten-minute video call
• ·Inquiries: grants@meter.com
• ·Launched: October 14, 2026

Mission

The internet runs on networks, and networks run on people who know how to build them. That talent is dwindling. A quarter of today's network engineers are expected to retire within five years, while demand for the network is expected to grow faster than it has in history.

Meter builds and operates networks. It sees the shortage up close, and would rather help fix it than wait for someone else to — so it's funding the next generation who want to learn this craft.

Grants are discretionary and merit-based, not a sweepstakes, lottery, raffle, contest, or game of chance. There is nothing to repay, and applying, interviewing, or receiving a grant creates no employment relationship with Meter and no promise of a job.

What it funds

You tell Meter exactly what you'd buy, and they fund it up to $2,000, including but not limited to:

• ·Certifications and exam vouchers
• ·Courses
• ·Study materials
• ·Lab equipment

The recipient agrees to use it only for the items in that budget.

Who it's for

• ·Technologists early in their networking journey and serious about pursuing it
• ·Students, career switchers, self-taught learners, and people working toward a first certification
• ·No degree, tech job, or prior experience required — you're the one physically connecting things at home or wiring your car on the weekends
• ·You do need curiosity about how networks work and the drive to put in the hours

Application Guide

About you

Name, email, phone, and your location.

Screening questions

1. 01Why networking? What pulled you toward it specifically, rather than software or another part of tech?
2. 02What have you already done to learn on your own? Courses, labs, videos, certs in progress, equipment you've tinkered with.
3. 03Your line-item budget.
4. 04Where do you want this to lead in two years?

Budget breakdown

The form totals it live and rejects anything over the cap: "Your itemized total cannot exceed $2,000." The form's prefilled sample is the only format guidance Meter publishes.

Itemize it properly — per the terms, Meter selects on "the quality and specificity of the line-item budget, evidence of self-directed learning, clarity of direction, and genuine need."

Logistics

Whether you're available for a ten-minute video call in the next month and how you heard about the grant.

Application Process

1. 01Apply — short form, about ten minutes.
2. 02Review — Meter reviews applications periodically.
3. 03Interview — if your application stands out, a ten-minute video call about what you're learning and where you want your career to go.
4. 04Get funded — "Selected applicants receive up to $2,000 to spend on their learning." Grants are paid in U.S. dollars through a channel Meter designates, which may be a third-party payment provider whose terms you have to accept. Before any payment you must provide bank account information, verify that you own that account, and submit a completed tax form (Form W-9 or W-8BEN, as applicable). Meter may also require you to verify your identity with a government-issued ID and date of birth.

Frequently asked questions

Who's running this? Meter, Inc., a San Francisco company that builds and operates networks. Meter is vertically integrated: it builds its own hardware and its own software, and delivers networks all the way through the install — on the premise that networks should just work, more like a modern utility. Meter has funded efforts like this before. It's something the founders care about and intend to continue as the company grows.

Is there a deadline? There is no deadline.

Do I need a degree or a job in tech? No. Neither is required.

Can I apply if I already work in networking? Yes, but the focus is on people trying to break in.

Can I apply more than once? One application per program cycle, and no more than $2,000 total in any rolling twelve-month period.

Can I apply from outside the U.S.? No. The program is open only to individuals residing in the United States.

Is the grant taxable? Yes. Grants are taxable income, paid gross with no withholding, and reported on a Form 1099-MISC where required.

Do I have to pay it back? No — unless a grant was obtained through fraud or material misrepresentation.

Will my name be published? Meter may name you as a recipient along with the general nature of what the grant funded (for example, "Recipient, City — funded a CCNA exam and study materials"). Anything beyond that — photos, your story, interview recordings — is opt-in and declining doesn't affect your grant.

Who do I contact? grants@meter.com. Full terms are at meter.com/grants/terms-and-conditions.