We seed new organizations
distributing proven poverty solutions,
all aiming to scale.
Are you next?
How to Apply
We award startup grants of up to $20,000 to entrepreneurs launching new organizations. We believe the world needs more social impact organizations, and we seed for-profit ventures, NGOs, and charities. We support organizations in any low-or-middle income country where extreme poverty still exists.
We believe social impact organizations are uniquely positioned to distribute an existing product or service known to improve lives where need still exists. View the D-Prize Challenges below and select one of the high-impact products or services in need of greater global access.
Our seed support is meant to be the launching point for your organization that grows to large-scale. Follow our Application Process to design an initial test pilot of your larger vision. Submit your concept to our twice-annual competition. If selected, you will receive seed support to launch.
D-Prize Challenges
Expand the categories below to view high-impact products and services in need of greater global distribution.
+ Health
Self-Injectable Contraceptive Challenge:
Oxygen Challenge
Patient Identification Challenge:
Maternal Health Challenge:
Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Challenge:
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Challenge:
Child Immunization Challenge:
Sugar Daddy Awareness Challenge:
+ Water
Clean Access to water Challenge
+ AGRICULTURE
Quality Inputs Challenge:
Post-Harvest Support Challenge:
Propose Your Own Agriculture Challenge:
Propose Your Own Livestock Challenge:
+ Livelihoods
Reading Glasses Challenge:
Poverty Graduation Challenge:
Propose Your Own Financial Inclusion Challenge:
+ ENERGY
Solar Lamp Challenge:
+ Public Services
Government Transparency Challenge:
Road Safety Challenge:
+ Education
Teaching at the Right Level Challenge:
+ Custom
Propose your own challenge:
Application Process
ELIGIBILITY
D-Prize is for new organizations. Most of our awardees are first-time entrepreneurs. Most have not yet launched their organization, nor have they raised other funding. We especially encourage those from low-and-middle income countries to apply. See who we recently seeded.
We will consider applications from existing organizations only if your core focus is distributing an existing and evidence-based poverty intervention. We typically will not support organizations with more than 18 months of full time operations or that have raised more than $30,000 USD in outside funding.
TIMELINE
The Global Competition launches in Spring 2025.
Sign up for our email list and be the first to know the day we launch!
evaluation process
Round 1
Submit your two-page concept note and resume(s). We receive 2500+ submissions per competition.
Round 2
Top 5% of entrepreneurs are invited to answer short written questions. You will have two weeks to draft and submit.
Final round
Top entrepreneurs have phone and email interviews. The top 1% receive up to $20,000 to launch.
Award & Launch
Spend the next few months piloting your idea and building an organization that soon grows to a large scale.
Get Alerted when we launch the Next Global Competition
We only email when a competition goes live, about twice per year. We never share your data.