Funding Friday
Happy Friday everyone,
Apologies for the unexpected two-week break—my wife and I just welcomed our fourth baby a bit earlier than expected, which explains the recent silence. But we’re back at it and excited to explore new opportunities together.
This week, we’re highlighting funding programs for entrepreneurs, researchers, and community leaders. You'll find support for women-led startups, youth-driven climate initiatives, environmental tech fellowships, and more—spanning both global and regional contexts.
Hope you find something helpful,
Jesse
Global
👩💻 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide
The TiE Women Program 2025 invites applications from women founders eager to showcase their innovative business ideas on a global platform. This prestigious competition offers participants the opportunity to gain visibility, network with industry leaders and investors, and access invaluable mentorship.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Global Networking: How can participating in international competitions like the TiE Women Global Pitch Competition enhance the growth prospects of women-led startups?
Mentorship Impact: In what ways does mentorship from successful entrepreneurs influence the trajectory of emerging women entrepreneurs?
Funding Accessibility: How does access to equity-free cash prizes and investor networks contribute to leveling the playing field for women in business?
🔗 TiE Women Global Pitch Competition 2025: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide
🧬 Environmental Justice in Technology Fellowship
The Rooted Futures Lab is inviting applications for the Environmental Justice in Technology (EJIT) Fellowship, a 12-week remote program running from June 15 to August 29, 2025. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for individuals passionate about environmental justice and technology to lead transformative projects, collaborate with experts, and contribute to meaningful change.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Interdisciplinary Approaches: How can the integration of environmental justice principles into technological development lead to more equitable and sustainable solutions?
Community Engagement: In what ways can fellows leverage their projects to empower marginalized communities affected by environmental and technological challenges?
Innovative Impact: What novel strategies can be employed to address digital climate misinformation and promote just data governance?
🌱 Resourcing Youth-Led Climate Campaigns in the Global South
📝 The Roots Micro-Grants Program supports youth-led, community-driven climate justice initiatives across the Global South. This 2025 open call offers grants of up to USD $10,000 to grassroots movements that center climate action through intersectional, equitable, and transformative approaches. In addition to funding, recipients gain access to mentorship and a supportive network of changemakers.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Youth Leadership in Climate Justice: How can empowering young people at the grassroots level reshape climate advocacy and systemic environmental change?
Community-Driven Impact: What are the long-term benefits of investing in hyper-local climate action led by and for communities most affected?
Intersectionality in Environmental Movements: How can climate justice campaigns better integrate issues of gender, race, and economic equity into their advocacy?
🔗 Roots Micro-Grants Program: Resourcing Youth-Led Climate Campaigns in the Global South
🌟 Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize
The Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize honors outstanding leaders who demonstrate innovation, courage, and ethical leadership in addressing complex global challenges. Each year, up to three individuals are recognized with an unrestricted grant of $50,000 USD and invited to join the Tällberg network of global leaders.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovative Leadership: How can recognizing and supporting innovative leaders contribute to solving pressing global issues?
Global Collaboration: In what ways does fostering a network of diverse leaders enhance cross-border solutions to worldwide challenges?
Ethical Impact: What role does ethical leadership play in creating sustainable and impactful change across various sectors?
🔗 Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize: Celebrating Visionary Leaders Worldwide
Asia Pacific
🏥 Health Research Grant Program- India
📝 The Azim Premji University has launched the Health Research Funding Programme, aiming to support methodologically robust and empirically grounded research focused on vulnerable communities in India. This initiative seeks to inform practice and contribute to meaningful discourse around health and its determinants.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Primary Healthcare: How can research into the current functioning of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in urban-poor clusters enhance equity, access, and quality of care?
Community Health Mechanisms: What insights can be gained from studying the status and effectiveness of local community health bodies like Mahila Arogya Samiti in rural regions?
Health Schemes Impact: How does the uptake and implementation of specific health schemes, such as Karnataka's Thayi Bhagya Scheme, affect health outcomes in underserved communities?
🔗 Health Research Grant Program: Advancing Healthcare in India
🙅♀️ Funding Program to Address Gender-Based Violence- India
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia has announced a funding opportunity to support individuals and organizations dedicated to combating sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) in India. This initiative seeks innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions, offering financial support for implementation and technical assistance in designing rigorous impact evaluations to understand effective strategies against GBV.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovative Solutions: What novel approaches can be developed to effectively prevent and respond to sexual harassment and GBV in diverse Indian communities?
Evidence-Based Interventions: How can rigorous impact evaluations enhance the effectiveness and scalability of GBV interventions?
Community Engagement: In what ways can local communities be empowered to take an active role in combating GBV and supporting survivors?
🔗 Funding Program to Address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in India
🌿 Biodiversity Information for Development Programme
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), with funding from the European Union, has launched the Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) Programme aimed at enhancing biodiversity data availability and use in the Pacific region. This initiative seeks to support projects that mobilize biodiversity data, improve data quality, and apply this information to support decision-making and research in the Pacific.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Data Mobilization: How can improved access to biodiversity data influence conservation strategies and policy decisions in the Pacific region?
Regional Collaboration: What are effective models for fostering collaboration among Pacific nations to share and utilize biodiversity information?
Capacity Building: How can capacity-building efforts ensure sustainable management and use of biodiversity data in the long term?
🔗 Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) Programme
Africa
📚 CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing
The CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa 2025, an initiative by the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with Narrative Landscape Press Limited, invites African publishers of trade books to showcase their work and gain recognition for their contributions to the literary world. This prestigious award aims to elevate the literary and publishing value chain across the continent.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Cultural Preservation: How can recognizing and rewarding excellence in African publishing contribute to the preservation and promotion of the continent's diverse literary heritage?
Industry Growth: In what ways can initiatives like the CANEX Book Factory Prize stimulate growth and innovation within the African publishing industry?
Global Influence: How does showcasing African literature on international platforms impact the global perception and appreciation of African narratives?
🔗 CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa 2025: Celebrating Excellence in African Publishing
🌾 AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge- Rwanda
The AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge is an initiative powered by the Rwanda Green Fund through Ireme Invest, in collaboration with the CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF) and the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP), with funding from the Gates Foundation. This challenge aims to enhance climate resilience in Rwanda's agricultural sector by supporting innovative agritech solutions.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovation in Agriculture: How can technological advancements be leveraged to address climate challenges specific to Rwanda's agricultural landscape?
Scalability: What strategies can ensure that agritech innovations are scalable and accessible to smallholder farmers across Rwanda?
Sustainability: How can agritech solutions balance productivity with environmental sustainability to promote long-term resilience?
🔗 AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge: Fostering Climate Resilience in Agriculture
👩🏽🔬 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant
The Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant supports early-career African scientists conducting impactful research that addresses pressing environmental challenges across the continent. The grant aims to advance environmental and allied sciences while fostering innovative solutions to Africa's most critical issues.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Advancing Knowledge: How can early-career scientists leverage this grant to contribute to the advancement of environmental sciences in Africa?
Scalable Solutions: What innovative methodologies can be employed to ensure research outcomes are scalable across multiple African regions?
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: How can interdisciplinary approaches enhance the impact of environmental research on the continent?