March 5, 2025: Funding, Competitions, Accelerators, & Courses for Global Innovators
NextBillion
NextBillion covers social enterprise and business solutions to global development challenges in emerging markets.
NextBillion’s BizDev page publishes business development opportunities available to enterprises working in low- and middle-income countries. These may include accelerators, competitions, funding opportunities, incubators, requests for proposals and training courses. Our editors source most of these items, but readers are also welcome to submit items for consideration on the page.
We’ve highlighted the most recent BizDev opportunities below. Visit our BizDev page to see all the opportunities.
Renewable Energy Funding Opportunities
THEA Inclusive Investment Pilots support the development of clean,?affordable?and sustainable energy delivery models in displacement settings. Ashden Climate Solutions in Action has up to 12 grants available for up to ￡10,000 (local currency equivalent) – 6 in Uganda, 3 in Ethiopia and 3 in Kenya. Learn more
GET.invest is a European programme that mobilises investment in renewable energy in developing countries. We support project developers and companies towards investment readiness and link them with financiers. Learn more
Food Waste Challenge
This program will support ten startups across Latin America to reduce food waste and enhance food security. It will focus on startups that empower consumers, improve food center efficiency, and address food loss in regional production and distribution. Learn more
Social Enterprise Innovations
The winners are assessed on a case-by-case basis and placed in a tailored programme with a suitable business mentor and coach. Learn more
Take your impact to scale and get ready for next-level investment. We connect social enterprise leaders with the expertise, resources, and networks to overcome barriers to growth.?Learn more
This is a six-week online, facilitated, and interactive course, focused on changemaker talent development, skill-building, and real-life application. The training is free of charge, but requires a time commitment of two?hours minimum per week. Learn more
Sustainability-driven Solutions in Consumer Electronics
Present your sustainability-driven solutions to tackle engineering and process design challenges in consumer electronics. Learn more
FinTech Startup Accelerator in Africa
Visa is on the hunt for game-changing startups building the future of FinTech. Learn more
Internet Development Funding in Asia Pacific
Applications under this program can be submitted across three grant types supporting projects in different stages of development: Small grants (USD 30,000), scale-up grants (USD 85,000) and impact grants (USD 150,000). Learn more
Measurable Impact Innovations in Education and AI Sectors
In addition to financial rewards, selected impact enterprises will receive tailored technical assistance (TA) in the form of training and support for impact measurement and management. Learn more
The GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI will provide grants and venture-building support to small and growing enterprises that leverage AI and other emerging technologies, in conjunction with mobile technology, to have a positive impact on the lives of people in LMICs. Learn more
NextBillion's Most Recent Original Article:
In 2008, the failure of a single institution, Lehman Brothers, triggered a global financial crisis — not because of Lehman alone, but because of the unseen interdependencies that held the world’s financial system together. According to David Davies at AgUnity , a leader at Lehman Brothers during the 2008 crisis, America is in the process of making the same catastrophic mistake in global aid. He explains why the collapse of USAID threatens to bring down the deeply interconnected global aid system, impacting hundreds of millions of people — and urges private foundations, philanthropists and impact investors to step up.
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