Opportunities
Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.
Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.
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$50K – $15M (staged: Innovate, Test, Transition, Scale)
Global Innovation Fund provides patient, flexible capital for early-stage innovations in emerging markets, using grants, equity, and debt. Typical funding ranges from $50,000 to $15 million across staged investment levels, alongside technical, financial, and advisory support. The fund focuses on innovations in Africa and Asia working on climate resilience, inclusive economic opportunity, agriculture, education, health, gender equality, and social and financial inclusion.
Flexible capital
Provides patient and flexible capital using grants, equity, and debt to support early-stage innovations with proven potential to transform lives and progress toward scale.
Post-investment support
Provides deep technical, financial, and advisory support to de-risk and nurture high-potential innovations.
Network access
Provides connections to a network of peer innovators and follow-on funders to ignite scaling opportunities.
Building climate resilience
Supporting enterprises that help vulnerable populations adapt and build resilience to the effects of climate change.
Unlocking inclusive economic opportunities
Accelerating the scale up of innovations that increase economic opportunities for underserved groups including women and girls.
Agriculture and food security
Listed as a key sector in the investment portfolio.
Education and skills development
Listed as a key sector in the investment portfolio.
Health and well-being
Listed as a key sector in the investment portfolio.
Gender equality
Listed as a key sector in the investment portfolio.
Financial, economic, and social inclusion
Listed as a key sector in the investment portfolio.
Backed by DFID, USAID, SIDA, Omidyar. $200M+ deployed. Staged funding from $50K (Innovate) to $15M (Scale). Evidence-based approach — use randomized trials to prove impact. Unique for blending grant and investment with rigorous evidence requirements.
Evidence-based methodology, staged funding, DFI connections, impact measurement
Evidence requirements rigorous (RCT preferred). Long process for larger stages.
Applicants should show clear evidence that their innovation has proven potential to improve lives and can progress toward scale. It helps to frame the application around one of GIF’s stated focus areas and explain why grant, debt, or equity is the right fit for the venture’s stage.
2014
Active Since
Yes
Deploying
200+ innovations across developing countries