Global Innovation Fund

Agros is an ag-tech company focused on promoting sustainable farming practices that enhance both profitability and environmental responsibility. By aggregating various low-carbon technologies and solar-powered irrigation systems, Agros aims to address critical issues such as fuel dependency and soil degradation. The company offers a comprehensive suite of products and services, including affordable finance, insurance, advisory support, and market access, to help farmers improve their yields and reduce carbon emissions. Agros is dedicated to doubling the income of millions of farmers while contributing to a significant reduction in annual carbon emissions, thereby fostering a more sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

Komunidad is a provider of Climate Action Management Software that combines environmental intelligence, ESG and sustainability management, climate risk assessment, and social impact tools into one comprehensive platform. This system delivers critical environmental data to support climate resilience and sustainability efforts for governments and businesses. By offering visualizations, reports, and alerting features, Komunidad enables users to make informed decisions regarding safety, operational efficiency, business continuity, and preparedness for natural disasters. The company's focus is on empowering entities to effectively manage climate risks and transition towards a low-carbon future through the strategic use of data and analytics.

Mr. Green Africa Ltd is a Nairobi-based plastic recycling company established in 2014 that addresses waste management challenges in Kenya. The company specializes in the collection, conversion, and sale of post-consumer plastic waste, producing a range of recycled materials including rHDPE and rPP pellets in various colors, as well as rPET products. Mr. Green Africa aims to change perceptions of waste by demonstrating its value and incorporates the concept of shared value into its operations, creating economic benefits while tackling social and environmental issues. By integrating informal waste workers and micro-entrepreneurs into a formal value chain, the company enhances waste collection efficiency and promotes sustainability.

Mr. Green Africa Ltd is a Nairobi-based plastic recycling company established in 2014 that addresses waste management challenges in Kenya. The company specializes in the collection, conversion, and sale of post-consumer plastic waste, producing a range of recycled materials including rHDPE and rPP pellets in various colors, as well as rPET products. Mr. Green Africa aims to change perceptions of waste by demonstrating its value and incorporates the concept of shared value into its operations, creating economic benefits while tackling social and environmental issues. By integrating informal waste workers and micro-entrepreneurs into a formal value chain, the company enhances waste collection efficiency and promotes sustainability.

Kamatan Farm Tech, established in 2017 and headquartered in New Delhi, specializes in constructing efficient agri supply chains for fresh produce in India. The company supports farmers in adopting best practices for production, harvesting, packaging, and transportation, ensuring high-quality produce reaches markets. It manages the entire value chain, from farm gate to the buyer's doorstep, sourcing directly from farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Kamatan Farm Tech's technology-driven approach aims to reduce wastage and inefficiencies, fostering a transparent and value-driven relationship between producers and bulk buyers.

WhereIsMyTransport Ltd is a mobility technology company focused on providing comprehensive public transport data for megacities in emerging markets. Headquartered in London, with an additional office in Cape Town, the company specializes in digitalizing network information from various modes of public transport across Africa, Latin America, Southeast Europe, and South and Southeast Asia. By employing a data collection playbook, WhereIsMyTransport maps both formal and informal transport networks, ensuring data accuracy as these systems evolve. The company's platform serves businesses, municipalities, and citizens, enhancing the public transport experience and facilitating informed decision-making for infrastructure improvements and market entry.

Mr. Green Africa Ltd is a Nairobi-based plastic recycling company established in 2014 that addresses waste management challenges in Kenya. The company specializes in the collection, conversion, and sale of post-consumer plastic waste, producing a range of recycled materials including rHDPE and rPP pellets in various colors, as well as rPET products. Mr. Green Africa aims to change perceptions of waste by demonstrating its value and incorporates the concept of shared value into its operations, creating economic benefits while tackling social and environmental issues. By integrating informal waste workers and micro-entrepreneurs into a formal value chain, the company enhances waste collection efficiency and promotes sustainability.

Balloon Ventures bundles loans of ~$25,000 with tech-enabled business support to de-risk and profitably lend to SMEs in Kenya and Uganda. The approach is unlocking a $150bn segment in sub-Saharan Africa who are currently under-served by all existing financial institutions. Balloon has now made $10m+ loans and is profitable and scaling fast.

CityTaps has created an innovative solution to improve access to water for urban populations in developing countries. The company offers a prepayment service that includes a smart and prepaid water meter alongside billing software, designed to empower water utilities to achieve financial independence. This enables them to invest in infrastructure that provides at-home water service, particularly for the poorest residents who lack access to running water. Beneficiaries can conveniently use mobile money to prepay for water, allowing them to manage their household budgets more effectively. The availability of running water in homes is not only more affordable but also enhances health and quality of life. CityTaps' approach has the potential to significantly uplift the lives of millions who currently do not have access to essential water services.

A handheld, pocket-sized ultrasound system that empowers radiologists to accelerate treatment decisions at the point of care

OnlinePajak is a web-based platform that simplifies corporate tax management and administration. The service aims to enhance tax collection and alleviate the burdens associated with corporate taxation through a streamlined process that includes preparing, paying, and filing taxes online. By integrating various tax-related functions into a single application, OnlinePajak enables businesses to efficiently manage their tax obligations, perform calculations, process payments, and submit reports. This comprehensive approach not only facilitates compliance with tax regulations but also aims to improve overall performance and productivity for users.

Paga is a mobile payment company focused on creating a digital ecosystem for money transactions, primarily in Nigeria, where it is recognized as a leading provider in the sector. The company's application facilitates sending and receiving money through mobile devices, making financial services accessible to a broad audience. In addition to transferring funds, Paga's platform allows users to purchase airtime credits, pay bills, and make retail payments, addressing the growing demand for viable payment options. With an ambitious mission to simplify financial access for one billion people, Paga aims to overcome the challenges associated with traditional banking and enhance the overall financial inclusion in its target markets.

ideas42 is a design and research lab that uses behavioral economics to address complex social problems. ideas42 was established in 2008 by Sendhil Mullainathan of Harvard University, Antoinette Schoar of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Simeon Djankov, then of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, Eldar Shafir of Princeton University, Jeffrey Kling of the Brookings Institution, and Michael Kremer of Harvard University. At ideas42 we look at everything – including our own internal processes — through a behavioral lens. We approach our work with a spirit of generosity, but we retain a sense of playfulness that helps to drive our creativity. As individuals, we are tenacious and rigorous, and take shared responsibility for the organization’s success. Perhaps most importantly, we do good, striving every day to improve the lives of people all over the world.

EM3 AgriServices Pvt. Ltd., established in 2013 and headquartered in Noida, India, specializes in providing on-farm services aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity for Indian farmers. As one of the pioneering private sector initiatives in farm mechanization and technology services, EM3 addresses the entire cultivation cycle. The company is committed to developing a comprehensive range of service offerings with the long-term objective of becoming a full-stack marketplace, enabling small farmers to access a wide variety of necessary inputs and services efficiently.

WhereIsMyTransport Ltd is a mobility technology company focused on providing comprehensive public transport data for megacities in emerging markets. Headquartered in London, with an additional office in Cape Town, the company specializes in digitalizing network information from various modes of public transport across Africa, Latin America, Southeast Europe, and South and Southeast Asia. By employing a data collection playbook, WhereIsMyTransport maps both formal and informal transport networks, ensuring data accuracy as these systems evolve. The company's platform serves businesses, municipalities, and citizens, enhancing the public transport experience and facilitating informed decision-making for infrastructure improvements and market entry.

PayGo Energy is a company based in Kenya that specializes in developing metering systems for pre-paid cooking gas. Founded in 2014, the company aims to provide clean cooking fuel through a pay-as-you-go model, which allows customers to purchase gas gradually using mobile money. Its patented device connects a gas cylinder to a cloud service, enabling real-time monitoring of gas consumption and predicting when refills are needed. This innovative approach addresses the challenges associated with traditional cooking fuels, which often have detrimental environmental and health impacts, particularly in underserved communities. By offering an accessible and efficient energy solution, PayGo Energy seeks to improve the quality of life for millions who rely on inefficient biomass fuels.

SwipeRx is a digital platform designed to enhance the operations of pharmacies by connecting pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies, and patients. It offers a range of services, including specialized healthcare logistics, negotiated pricing, and financing solutions, creating a robust network for pharmacy purchasing. The platform generates insights that facilitate collaboration with pharmacies, improve pharmacist education, and strengthen market access. Additionally, it optimizes commercial strategies and enhances daily operational efficiencies. By providing real-time access to patient and sell-out data, SwipeRx enables its clients to improve patient affordability, access, and adherence to medications.

SparkMeter, Inc. designs electricity metering systems and grid management software aimed at enhancing electricity access in underserved markets, particularly rural areas. Founded in 2012 and based in Washington, D.C., with an office in Nairobi, Kenya, the company offers a range of metering products tailored to different customer needs, including residential and commercial users. Its solutions include the SM16R, SM60R, SM60RP, and SM200E models, which cater to various consumption levels. In addition to hardware, SparkMeter provides software solutions that facilitate prepaid billing, customer communication, and remote monitoring, thus improving grid efficiency and asset performance. By enabling utilities to automate operations, manage loads, and integrate renewable energy sources, SparkMeter helps communities access sustainable and reliable electricity.

Afrimarket is a pioneering money transfer company that facilitates remittances from African migrants to their families back home at significantly reduced costs compared to traditional methods. It operates a unique cash-to-goods model, allowing migrants to send dedicated funds to specific points of sale, where recipients can redeem the funds for essential items like food, medicine, or tuition fees. By leveraging mobile technology and eliminating intermediaries, Afrimarket lowers fees for senders and ensures more money reaches the intended recipients. Additionally, the company runs an e-commerce platform and last-mile delivery service, enabling African markets to access a wide range of products, including food, appliances, and building materials, even in areas with limited local delivery access.

Safeboda is a community-based urban transportation network operating primarily in Africa, focusing on providing a safe and convenient alternative to traditional urban transport. Founded in Kampala, Uganda, the platform leverages mobile technology to connect passengers with motorcycle taxi drivers, enhancing urban mobility for the continent's growing young population. Safeboda emphasizes safety and quality by offering training for drivers in areas such as road safety, first aid, and customer care. This approach aims to increase the number of safe trips while ensuring a stress-free travel experience for users, ultimately modernizing the informal transportation sector in Africa.

Valid Nutrition is an ambitious social enterprise that is aiming to unleash a disruptive change in how the problem of malnutrition is addressed. We design, manufacture and market nutritional pastes for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in developing countries. By regarding malnourished children as customers and by empowering mothers together with an innovative evidence based and business driven approach, we intend to be a catalyst for a sustainable solution.

Young 1ove is a grassroots, youth-led, evidence-based movement based in Gaborone, Botswana. We identify, adapt and scale-up health and education programs proven to work, by young people for young people. Since 2014, we have reached over 50,000 young people in Southern Africa.

PoaPower is a start-up focused on renewable energy, founded in 2013 by two experienced entrepreneurs. The company aims to provide clean and affordable electricity to off-grid, low-income consumers in Kenya. Utilizing a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) business model, PoaPower eliminates the need for large upfront fees and fixed monthly payments, making access to energy more manageable for its customers. The company leverages proprietary technology to facilitate simple and affordable mobile money transactions, ensuring that communities can easily obtain clean energy for their homes. The development and commercialization of renewable energy innovations are central to PoaPower's mission.

Educate! provides a proven mix of a leadership and social entrepreneurship course, long-term mentoring, and an alumni program to empower high school students to start businesses and community initiatives. Today, Educate! works with 1,000 youth across Uganda and is developing a model that can applied across Africa.

No Lean Season reduces the negative effects of seasonality on the poorest in rural agricultural areas by enabling labor mobility that increases incomes. It is a new program that they are testing in Evidence Action Beta's portfolio, based on rigorous experimental evidence. They give a travel subsidy of $20 to very poor rural laborers so they can send a family member to a nearby city to find a job during the period between planting and harvesting. This is the time in rural areas when there are no jobs, no income, and when families miss meals. This seasonal poverty affects 600 million people around the world. With a temporary job during this 'lean season,' households are are able to put an additional meal on the table for every member of the family each and every day. That’s 500 additional meals during the lean season.

Newborn Foundation develops and leverages technologies, policies, and on-the-ground education and training programs that support the adoption and sustainability of life-saving interventions. We consistently achieve our strategic imperative to support the development and implementation of new technologies that can improve access and health outcomes for newborns, programmatically deliver these solutions to those who need them most, and integrate with population health initiatives to provide sustainable impact - so every newborn has the same opportunity to survive and thrive.

Development Media International (DMI) is a non-governmental organization focused on promoting health in developing countries through mass media campaigns. By utilizing scientific methods, storytelling, and targeted media channels, DMI aims to change health behaviors that can save lives. The organization has demonstrated its effectiveness through a five-year randomized controlled trial in West Africa, which resulted in a 35% increase in children receiving treatment for malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia, leading to a 9.7% reduction in child mortality rates. DMI is recognized as one of the most cost-effective non-profit organizations globally, according to GiveWell, highlighting its commitment to aligning media campaigns with national health strategies to achieve substantial health improvements.

Segovia Technology Co. operates an online platform that facilitates critical payments in challenging environments, particularly for relief and anti-poverty programs. Established in 2014 and based in New York, the company specializes in providing payment solutions across Africa and Asia, supporting both corporate transactions and social programs. Segovia's platform integrates various payment providers and employs advanced technologies such as satellite imaging, machine learning, biometric identification, and adaptive fraud detection to streamline the payment process. This innovative approach addresses the unique challenges faced by clients in emerging markets, ensuring fast, secure, and accessible payment solutions. Segovia's technology has been instrumental in assisting refugees in Europe, aiding communities in recovery from crises like Ebola in Liberia, and supporting gig economy workers in East Africa. The team is composed of experienced professionals, including co-founders of GiveDirectly and former technical leaders from major technology companies.

Simprints is a nonprofit technology company focused on enhancing global development efforts to alleviate poverty. It develops mobile biometric scanner software and identification tools that provide an affordable and secure fingerprint system designed for challenging environments. Simprints' solutions enable healthcare workers in remote areas to access patient records digitally through a mobile device, thus improving the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. By ensuring that resources like vaccines and public goods reach those who need them most, Simprints aims to increase transparency and accountability in the distribution of aid and services.