The Big Why
Local innovators rarely receive flexible capital to test and grow solutions. Grant systems are too slow, rigid, and administratively heavy.
What will change?
Local actors move from recipients to originators of resilient solutions. The ecosystem becomes self-renewing, rather than imported.
What the idea involves
Seed Micro-Grants: $1k–$15k rapid funds for very early tests.
Growth & Transition Grants: $20k–$150k to scale promising solutions regionally.
Accompaniment Model: A roster of regional innovation guides providing coaching, business planning, procurement navigation, and partnership brokering.
Peer Learning Circles: Monthly, moderated shared learning space for founders.
Risk-Sharing Finance Instruments: Revenue-sharing agreements or pre-commercial procurement contracts instead of compliance-heavy grants.
Local Investment Committee: Decision-making authority sits with local actors, including affected communities.
What would it take to deliver it?
Delivery: Hybrid financing model and accompaniment service.
Structure: Embedded in a regional hub or local foundation.
Scope & timeline: Launch in 1–2 countries; scale globally after learning.
Staffing: Portfolio managers, mentors, financial innovation advisors.
Partners: Local accelerators, cooperatives, chambers of commerce, diaspora funds.
Key capacities: Trust-based funding, procurement simplification, local governance.
Where it stands and what's next?
Maturity: High momentum globally; no humanitarian-specific version at scale.
Next: Establish governance, recruit regional investment committees, open first funding round. Explore linkages with Idea #2.
Opportunities to get involved
Contribute capital; become an innovation guide; nominate local founders.