The Ecosystem Accelerator programme, supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Australian Government, the GSMA and its members, provides selected startups in Africa and Asia Pacific with equity-free funding, technical assistance, and the opportunity to partner with mobile operators in their markets. They do this in a bid to help startups scale their products and services into sustainable businesses with positive socio-economic impact.
In January, GSMA granted online agriculture platform, Farmcrowdy, a grant of about $300,000 and Prepclass just before that. Senegal’s Matontine and Kenya’s optimetrik have also been beneficiaries of this fund as well as other startups around the east and south of the continent.
This round, being the 3rd round of the Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund, opened on 12th March 2018. All applicants must send in their pitches by the 15th of April 2018 at 11.59pm GMT. For this third round, the fund will be supporting start-ups willing to work with mobile operators. As seen in previous rounds, the fund is sector-agnostic and very open to post-revenue start-ups using mobile to solve local challenges in Asia-Pacific and Africa.
The GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator programme has its focus on bridging the wide gap between mobile operators and start-ups. This is to enable strong partnerships that helps foster the growth of innovative mobile products and services. The ecosystem in respective continents would benefit immensely from such partnerships, as it’ll further lend credence.
Does all of these above seem like what you’re doing? Then, APPLY HERE. Deadline is set for 15th April, 2018. Hurry.
