Global Innovation Fund

(Updated 5 May 2025) The Global Innovation Fund invests in social innovations that aim to improve the lives and opportunities of millions of people in the developing world.

Through their grants and risk capital, they support breakthrough solutions to global development challenges from social enterprises, for-profit firms, non-profit organisations, international organisations, researchers, and government agencies.

APPLICATION WINDOW

CLOSED

DEADLINE

15 Jan 2025

PRIZES

The fund is implemented using a flexible funding structure: they can provide anywhere from $50,000 - $15 million and can use any form of capital - grants, equity, debt, hybrid capital, etc.

Pilot: Your innovation is still in an early phase. You are testing core assumptions around operational, social and financial viability. The maximum fund per pilot is $230,000 USD.
Test and Transition: Your innovation has completed initial testing and is now transitioning to larger scale. You have some information on your operational, social and financial viability. You want to solidify this before you scale. The maximum fund per intervention is $2.3 million, although the average investment size is smaller.
Scale: Your innovation has solid operational, social and financial viability. You have strong evidence that my innovation improves the lives of those living on less than $5 PPP per day. Now you want to replicate your innovation in new countries and context, reaching millions of people. The maximum fund per innovation is $15 million, although the average investment size is much smaller.

HOST COUNTRIES

United Kingdom United States Kenya

Note that while some organisers may accept applications from all around the world, you may still be required to travel to the host country in order to take part in the later stages of a competition for instance, or you may be required to live there for a period of time to take part in a funded programme (e.g. scholarship, incubator, accelerator).

Multiple host countries may mean that no travel is required.

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Credit: Global Innovation Fund

Date Added: 20 Jun 2016