Today the Knight Foundation announced the latest round of winners of Knight Prototype Fund grants -- a program that supports "media makers, technologists and tinkerers take ideas from concept to demo."

The list of 24 winning projects includes:

• Artefact, a web-based deliberation tool for helping diverse civic groups work together to make decisions.
• !nstant, a mobile app that provides the public with critical context and verification for breaking news found on social media.
• One Degree, a web and mobile platform for sharing your experience with and reviews of local social services.

Winners receive $35,000 and six months to seed their project with research, experimentation, and tweaks. With the cost of this initial stage well below that of the development process, teams are offered assistance and training throughout this time. These efforts culminate in a Demo Day, where each group can share their discoveries and how they plan to implement them.

The next quarterly deadline for prototype applications is fast approaching. If you have a hot media, data, or information idea, now is the time to apply. Open to to nonprofits, for-profits organization and individuals working on charitable activity (open source development, public education, etc.).

Learn more and apply now.

Next deadline: Jan. 31. (Offered quarterly)