Every sponsor starts the same; what sets each apart is one applicant or colonist trait, a unique vehicle, a unique building, and one perk.
Shared by every sponsor: 4,000 M Funding, 100 Research per Sol, 25 M Rare Metals price, a 50-applicant pool, and no free starting technology.
| Sponsor | Applicant trait | Vehicle | Building | Perk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Mars Mission | Colonists never get Earthsick | Zeus Rocket (70,000 kg payload) | Advanced Stirling Generator (generates power and can protect from Cold Waves) | Rockets synthesize Fuel (20% per day) |
| USA | Celebrity applicants are 2 times more likely | Advanced Orbital Probe (scans five sectors at once) | Mega Mall (one service building that covers most interests) | Every revealed tech lowers tech cost in the same group by 1% |
| Blue Sun Corporation | Can buy 50 Applicants for 500 M | RC Harvester (rover that harvests Concrete from surface deposits) | Corporate Office (employs workers and generates Funding) | 20% cheaper advanced resources |
| China | 30% more applicants, generated 30% faster | RC Generator (RC Commander that generates power like a solar panel) | Tai Chi Garden (small garden; visitors regain some Health and may turn Fit) | Passenger Rockets carry 10 more Colonists |
| India | Birthrate increased by 50% | RC Constructor (rover that constructs buildings) | Metals Refinery (slowly turns Waste Rock into Metals) | Residential buildings house 50% more Colonists |
| Europe | Scientist applicants are 50% more likely | RC Seeker (RC Commander that acts as a sensor tower when parked) | Low-G Lab (outside-dome research building that cuts Biotech and Physics tech cost) | 100 M Funding per researched technology |
| SpaceY | Colonists become Martianborn after 10 Sols on Mars (except Founders) | Dragon Rocket (40,000 kg payload; faster and needs less Fuel) | Solar Array (large solar cluster with low upkeep) | Additional Rockets cost 1,500 M |
| Brazil | Colonists suffer no penalties using passages | Large Supply Pod (supply pod that carries more cargo) | Rare Metals Refinery (turns Waste Rock into Rare Metals) | Generate 50% more Food |
| Terraforming Initiative | All Colonists have the Hippie trait | RC Dozer (importable from the start at half cost and half weight) | Forestation Plant (plants vegetation and does not require Power) | All Terraforming techs are 30% cheaper to research |
| Church of the New Ark | All Colonists have the Religious trait | Ark Pod (supply pod that can carry passengers) | Temple Spire (service spire; covers Social interests and restores Sanity) | Get warned about disasters 1 Sol earlier |
| Paradox Interactive | Researching a Breakthrough Tech grants 30 Applicants | Jumper Shuttle (faster shuttles on parabolic hops) | Game Developer (makes games that pay Funding based on how well they do) | Map has 2 to 4 more Breakthrough Anomalies |
| Japan | All specialists gain +10 Performance | Wasp Drone (faster, flying drone) | Automatic Metals Extractor (Metal Extractor that needs no workers) | Sector scan grants 250 research, additional 250 for a deep scan |
Russia is not in the lineup.
Every sponsor but China draws from a pool of 50 that tops up by one new applicant per Sol, of which a flat 10% are Tourists. China alone starts with 65 and generates them 30% faster. Full detail: Applicant generation.
A resupply Rocket's maximum payload is set by the sponsor, not the rocket, and is fixed for the whole game. The standard is 50,000 kg. International Mars Mission and USA carry 70,000 kg. SpaceY's Dragon Rocket carries 40,000 kg, so a SpaceY resupply order must fit inside 40,000 kg.
Part of the Survive the Storm mod.