Tyk, the API and service management platform, has announced a new initiative to provide engineers and developers grants for exciting side projects. With a quarter of people believed to run a side hustle, contributing £72 billion to the UK economy, it’s a huge area of entrepreneurship – but many are struggling to get great ideas off the ground.

Tyk’s own history is rooted in starting as a side project out of necessity. Martin Buhr, CEO and Founder of Tyk needed a simple, flexible and low-cost solution for API management. After facing the challenges of getting a technology that worked in the way he needed for his role, Martin set about creating his own platform. And so Tyk was born. Tyk’s Open Source API Gateway, and subsequent Management Platform, has now been installed by thousands of hobbyists, tinkerers and non-profits alike.

The company now wants to provide support to those who have ideas for their own exciting side projects, but are struggling to get started or can’t afford a necessary element for it to work. Applications are being accepted now – budding side hustlers just need to answer a few questions about themselves and the project they need funding support with. As part of the programme, the Tyk team will also be providing mentorship and guidance to the winners to help them achieve their goals.

Martin Buhr, CEO and Founder at Tyk said: “Side projects will always be a passion of mine. Tyk was founded because I knew there was a better solution and I could build it. We’re supportive of side projects internally at Tyk and now want to extend this to the wider open source community. We’re excited to see the cool projects and ideas that our community needs support with. We know it can be difficult to get the ball rolling and hope these grants will help amazing ideas become real.”

Closing dates: 31st March 2020 

To find out more and sign up visit: https://tyk.io/fund/