Funding Friday!
Hi everyone!
Even with so much uncertainty going in our work, I want to keep highlighting opportunities that could help you and your organizations navigate the road ahead. This week’s funding roundup includes grants for global health innovation, women entrepreneurs, and startup growth, each one a potential lifeline or chance to pivot. If something here is a good fit, I encourage you to go for it. And if you come across other resources, let’s keep sharing.
I also want to welcome all our new subscribers who joined from Wayan Vota’s newsletter! I’m excited to have you here. Every Tuesday, I share insights on innovation, technology, and international development, diving into trends, challenges, and opportunities in the sector. Then, every Friday, I send out Funding Friday, where I attempt to highlight local and smaller funding opportunities that might not be on your radar. Although currently, I’m sharing whatever I can find, since we are all looking.
We’re stronger when we support each other. Keep going.
Jesse
Global
🦠 Innovations for Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery Challenge 2025
📝 The Novo Nordisk Foundation, Wellcome, and the Gates Foundation have jointly launched the Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery Innovator (Gr-ADI) initiative to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by discovering new antibiotics targeting Gram-negative bacteria. This Grand Challenges request for proposals (RFP) seeks innovative projects focused on developing broad-spectrum antibiotics against Enterobacteriaceae, particularly using Klebsiella species as the initial target. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovative Approaches to Antibiotic Discovery: How can emerging biological, chemical, and AI tools be leveraged to identify novel targets and chemical leads for antibiotics effective against Gram-negative bacteria?
Collaborative Efforts in Combating AMR: In what ways can a consortium-based approach enhance data sharing and accelerate the development of new treatments for drug-resistant infections?
Balancing Innovation and Resistance Prevention: What strategies can be employed to ensure that newly discovered antibiotics have a high barrier to resistance, prolonging their clinical efficacy?
🔗 Innovations for Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery Challenge 2025
⚕️ Reducing the Burden of Preeclampsia Grand Challenge
📝 The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking innovative solutions for the early detection, prevention, and treatment of preeclampsia, especially in low- and middle-income countries with high maternal mortality rates. Collaborations with research institutions, healthcare providers, and global health organizations are encouraged to develop adaptable and practical solutions.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Early Detection Innovations: What novel biomarkers or diagnostic tools can be developed to predict preeclampsia risk early in pregnancy, enabling timely interventions?
Understanding Disease Mechanisms: How can research into the biological mechanisms and subtypes of preeclampsia inform the creation of targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies?
Affordable Interventions: What cost-effective preventive and therapeutic approaches can be designed to reduce the incidence and severity of preeclampsia in resource-limited settings?
🔗 Reducing the Burden of Preeclampsia Grand Challenge
📊 Innovative Data and Modeling Approaches to Measure Women's Health
📝 The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has launched a Grand Challenge seeking innovative approaches to measure women's health more comprehensively. This initiative encourages the development of new measurement models or the adaptation of existing ones to better capture the full scope of women's health burdens and progress. Proposals should leverage existing or developing data sources, ensuring sustainability and feasibility. Collaborations across disciplines such as economics, public health, and gender studies are encouraged, with a particular emphasis on projects led by women, early-career researchers, and institutions based in low- and middle-income countries.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Comprehensive Health Metrics: How can innovative data modeling provide a more nuanced understanding of women's health, moving beyond traditional metrics to include socio-economic and cultural factors?
Leveraging Existing Data: What existing data sources can be utilized or repurposed to develop sustainable and scalable models for monitoring women's health outcomes?
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: In what ways can partnerships between diverse fields enhance the development of holistic women's health measurement tools?
🔗 Grand Challenge: Innovative Data and Modeling Approaches to Measure Women's Health
✊ Mama Cash Solidarity Fund Program 2025
📝 Mama Cash has launched the fifth call for applications for its Solidarity Fund. This participatory grant-making fund is designed by women's funds for women's funds, aiming to strengthen the feminist funding ecosystem. The fund supports organizational needs identified by the women's funds themselves, such as leadership transitions, enhancing evaluation systems, staff collective care, financial resilience strategies, and digital security improvements.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Participatory Grant-making: How does involving grantees in the decision-making process enhance the effectiveness and equity of funding allocations?
Organizational Strengthening: What are the most critical areas where women's funds require support to amplify their impact on feminist movements?
Global Feminist Solidarity: In what ways can collaborative funding models foster stronger alliances among women's funds worldwide?
🔗 Mama Cash Solidarity Fund Program 2025
Asia Pacific
📈 Star Social Impact Grant Programme 2025 – Malaysia
📝 The Star Foundation has opened applications for the 2025 Star Social Impact Grant (SSIG) Programme, aiming to support impactful and sustainable projects that enhance the lives of local communities and protect the environment in Malaysia. Eligible non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social enterprises are invited to apply for grants of up to RM50,000 per project. Projects should align with the foundation's focus areas and be designed for completion within a 12-month timeframe.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Community Empowerment: How can NGOs and social enterprises develop innovative solutions that address the specific needs of marginalized communities in Malaysia?
Environmental Conservation: What strategies can be employed to create sustainable environmental protection initiatives that engage local communities and ensure long-term impact?
Educational Advancement: In what ways can grant-funded projects promote inclusive and equitable quality education, fostering lifelong learning opportunities for all segments of the population?
🔗 Star Social Impact Grant (SSIG) Programme 2025 – Malaysia
🤖 Transforming Agriculture with Innovation- India
📝 The Technology Development Board (TDB) of India is inviting proposals from Indian companies and start-ups engaged in developing cutting-edge sustainable Agri-Tech and Supply Chain technologies. This initiative aims to support projects that offer innovative solutions to transform the agricultural sector, enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Selected proposals will receive financial assistance to aid in the development and commercialization of their technologies.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovative Agri-Tech Solutions: How can emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, and blockchain be integrated into agriculture to address challenges like supply chain inefficiencies and resource management?
Sustainability in Agriculture: What sustainable practices can be adopted to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture while maintaining high productivity?
Scalability of Innovations: How can small-scale Agri-Tech innovations be scaled to benefit larger farming communities across diverse regions in India?
🔗 Request for Proposals: Transforming Agriculture with Innovation (India)
🧬 Precision Biotherapeutics-Cell and Gene Therapy for Fostering High-Performance Biomanufacturing- India
📝 The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have announced a joint call for proposals under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy. This initiative focuses on advancing high-performance biomanufacturing in the field of Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT), aiming to develop innovative and affordable CGT solutions for complex and previously untreatable diseases.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovative Therapeutic Development: How can advancements in gene editing and delivery systems revolutionize treatments for diseases currently deemed incurable?
Scalability Challenges: What are the primary obstacles in scaling up CGT solutions from laboratory research to widespread clinical application, and how can they be overcome?
Affordability and Accessibility: In what ways can the development of indigenous CGT products ensure that cutting-edge therapies are accessible and affordable to diverse populations?
🔗 DBT-BIRAC Call: Precision Biotherapeutics & CGT under BioE3 (India)
💡 Bharat Startup Grand Challenge with Stride Ventures- India
📝 The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in collaboration with Stride Ventures, has launched the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge to support high-growth potential startups across India. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance, strategic mentorship, and market access to startups, particularly those from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. The program focuses on sectors such as manufacturing, consumer goods, B2B, and cleantech, aligning with the Government of India's 'Make in India' and 'Make for the World' strategies. Selected startups will receive funding and guidance to scale their operations and expand globally.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Empowering Regional Entrepreneurs: How can targeted support to startups in tier-2 and tier-3 cities bridge the urban-rural entrepreneurial divide in India?
Sectoral Innovation: What innovative solutions can emerging startups offer in sectors like cleantech and manufacturing to contribute to sustainable development?
Global Market Integration: In what ways can Indian startups leverage this initiative to position themselves competitively in the global market?
🔗 Bharat Startup Grand Challenge with Stride Ventures (India)
💻 Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF Asia) 2025 Grants
📝 The Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF Asia) is accepting applications for its 2025 grants, aiming to support organizations across the Asia Pacific region in developing Internet-based solutions that address digital development challenges and foster community growth.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Enhancing Digital Inclusion: How can innovative Internet-based solutions be designed to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities?
Sustainable Infrastructure Development: What strategies can organizations employ to develop Internet infrastructure that is both reliable and environmentally friendly?
Capacity Building in Internet Technologies: In what ways can technical and non-technical audiences be engaged to enhance their understanding and utilization of Internet network operations?
🔗 Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF Asia) 2025 Grants
Africa
👩 Women in Digital Business Program – Africa
📝 The Women in Digital Business (WiDB) Program, an initiative by AM-Steve House in partnership with the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC/ILO) and Microsoft Philanthropies, aims to empower African women entrepreneurs to excel in the digital economy. The program offers comprehensive training in digital skills, business development, and formalization support, focusing on non-tech micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Over three years, WiDB plans to train 50,000 women entrepreneurs across Africa, starting with a pilot phase for 500 participants.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Digital Empowerment: How can equipping women entrepreneurs with digital skills transform the economic landscape in African communities?
Business Formalization: What are the key challenges faced by informal businesses in Africa, and how does formalization contribute to sustainable growth?
Scalable Training Models: In what ways can large-scale training programs be designed to effectively reach and impact thousands of entrepreneurs across diverse regions?
🔗 Women in Digital Business (WiDB) at AM-Steve House Program – Africa
🚀 Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship Programme – South Africa
📝 The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation is inviting applications for its Fellowship Programme, targeting young South African entrepreneurs transitioning into university. The programme offers comprehensive support, including needs-based university funding and access to mentorship, entrepreneurial development, and a community of like-minded individuals. Applicants must be under 21 years old, have a minimum 70% average in Grade 11 (excluding Life Orientation), and intend to pursue a degree in Commerce, Science, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Arts, or Health Science (excluding Medicine, Veterinary Science, and Dentistry) at one of the Foundation's partner universities.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Entrepreneurial Potential: How can early identification and support of entrepreneurial talent among youth contribute to economic growth and innovation in South Africa?
Holistic Development: In what ways does combining academic funding with mentorship and entrepreneurial training enhance the success rates of young entrepreneurs?
Community Impact: How can a network of like-minded individuals foster collaboration and drive collective impact in addressing societal challenges?
🔗 Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship Programme – South Africa
🌱 First-Time and Emerging Fund Managers – South Africa
📝 The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) invites applications from new and emerging Black or women-owned fund managers for its Innovation Fund program. This initiative aims to support the establishment of first-time venture capital (VC) funds, fostering wider participation and transformation in South Africa's VC market. Fund managers will be responsible for fundraising, deal sourcing, investment decisions, and portfolio management, with a focus on sectors such as sustainable energy, water security, climate resilience, bioeconomy, health innovation, high-tech industrialization, and ICTs.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Empowering Emerging Fund Managers: How can supporting first-time fund managers contribute to a more inclusive and dynamic venture capital ecosystem in South Africa?
Sectoral Focus: What innovative investment opportunities exist within the prioritized sectors, and how can they drive sustainable economic growth?
Challenges in Fundraising: What strategies can emerging fund managers employ to effectively raise capital and establish successful venture funds?
🔗 Innovation Fund: First-Time and Emerging Fund Managers – South Africa
♿ SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards 2025 – South Africa
📝 The SAB Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2025 Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards. These awards aim to identify and support entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and institutions that have developed innovative solutions addressing social challenges, particularly those benefiting women, youth, people with disabilities, and individuals in rural areas. Applicants should have prototypes or early-stage businesses that demonstrate a sustainable business model while solving a social problem.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Driving Social Impact: How can innovative solutions be designed to effectively address the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities in South Africa?
Sustainable Business Models: What strategies can social enterprises employ to balance profitability with social impact, ensuring long-term sustainability?
Empowering Persons with Disabilities: In what ways can technology and innovation be leveraged to create economic opportunities and improve accessibility for persons with disabilities?
🔗 SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards 2025 – South Africa