All USA USA Territories: American Samoa (USA); Guam (USA); Puerto Rico (USA); Virgin Islands (USA); Northern Mariana Islands (USA); USA Compact Free Associations:The Federated States of Micronesia (USA) Marshall Islands (USA) Republic of Palau (USA) Canada:Alberta; British Columbia; Manitoba; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Northwest Territories; Nova Scotia; Nunavut; Ontario; Prince Edward Island; Quebec; Saskatchewan; Yukon; International, Israel and Canada.
Important Dates
Deadline: 11/06/22 Midnight PT - Regular Submission Deadline
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Grant Description
Competition for USA, Canada, and International entrepreneurs representing any business model, including both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, for ventures that enhance the distribution of poverty interventions in developing countries. Prize winners will be awarded up to $20,000. Eligible focus areas include, but are not limited to, education, health access, energy, and agriculture.
D-Prize is exclusively interested in ventures that will scale distribution of an already proven poverty intervention in the developing world. They do not fund prototypes of promising new interventions. D-Prize will fund one of the following distribution challenges:
Health Access
Clean Water
Education
Agriculture
Livelihoods
Energy
Public Services
Custom
For further information and additional links to information documents for each of the above challenge areas, see the URL for Full Text below.
Contestants are evaluated based on:
Passion and potential for candidate’s success, as evident by their academic and professional background, relevant skills, and quick leadership trajectory.
Focus on distribution. Proposals must focus on distributing a proven poverty solution that needs greater access in the developing world.
Potential for scale, based on the organizational model proposed in the concept note and the entrepreneur’s desire to commit and grow.
Besides direct funding, D-Prize can assist in helping your venture attract future funding if the pilot proves successful. D-Prize will also provide you access to the D-Prize network of past winners, and will do their best to support you in other ways.
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)
Additional Eligibility Criteria
D-Prize is for aspiring entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world, of any age, and any background.
D-Prize challenges are open to anyone or any teams. The sole restriction is that individuals and their immediate family on the judging panel may not participate as a contestant.
D-Prize is also open to any business model (for-profit, non-profit, and everything in between).
D-Prize will consider funding existing organizations only if you are distributing an existing intervention and you have a need for high-risk capital that cannot be supported by your current donors or revenue.
Existing organizations applying to D-Prize should have operated for no more than 18 months and raised no more than $30,000 in outside funding.
D-Prize is only able to evaluate applications submitted in English. However, your English does not need to be perfect to apply, and grammar and vocabulary errors will not be penalized.
D-Prize does not fund prototypes of promising new interventions.
Pre-Application Information
Select a challenge above and be prepared for the following deadlines:
- The Global Competition launches on September 5, 2022.
- Early Submission Deadline: October 16, 2022 at midnight PT (pacific time)
- Regular Submission Deadline: November 6, 2022 at midnight PT (pacific time)
- Extension Deadline: November 27, 2022 at midnight PT (pacific time)
Evaluation Process:
- Round 1: Submit your concept note and resume(s). Generally, 1700 submissions are received 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 interview via phone and email. The top 1% will receive up to $20,000 to launch.
- Launch: You will spend the next three months using your talent to start a venture that can grow and help millions of people.
D-Prize strives to send decisions within four months of your submission. However, this timeline may extend based on the volume of submissions. Judges may request additional information via email before deciding.
Proposals must be written in English. However, your English does not need to be perfect to apply, and grammar and vocabulary errors will not be penalized.
The award is offered in the form of a convertible grant.
Only one proposal per person or partnership will be considered.
Number of Grants
At least 15 proposals per competition will typically be funded, regardless of which challenge track was selected.
Estimated Size of Grant
Depending on the promise and cost-effectiveness of a proposal, judges may award up to $20,000 in funding. The average D-Prize award size is $15,000.
Term of Contract
Applicants will spend three months to start a venture that can grow and help millions of people.
