Funding Friday
Hey everyone,
Another week, another Funding Friday! From cybersecurity workshops in ASEAN to food safety innovations in Africa, and even grants to help us dream big about Mars exploration, there’s a ton of exciting opportunities to dig into.
What I love about this week’s lineup is the variety: some calls are focused on urgent issues like online scams and food safety, while others open doors to long-term impact, like AI for African languages or scaling inclusive businesses. Whether you’re a startup founder, a community builder, or just someone who’s curious about how funding can unlock big ideas, I think you’ll find something worth exploring here.
Have a great weekend,
Jesse Orndorff
🛡️ YSEALI Regional Workshop - CyberSafe ASEAN
The U.S. Mission to ASEAN is offering funding for the YSEALI Regional Workshop focused on equipping young leaders to combat online scams in Southeast Asia. This initiative aims to educate participants on cybersecurity practices and promote regional cooperation against cybercrime, with awards ranging from $100,000 to $200,000.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your organization leverage local knowledge to enhance cybersecurity awareness among youth?
• What strategies will you implement to foster cross-border collaboration in combating online scams?
• In what ways can this workshop's outcomes be sustained beyond the funding period?
🚀 Innovation Scouting Fund
The Innovation Scouting Fund aims to tackle real-world business challenges faced by Canadian food manufacturers, distributors, foodservice, or grocery retail firms. It invites Canadian SMEs and academic researchers to propose solutions, with funding for pilot projects ranging from $12,000 to $75,000.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your technology directly address the specific challenges faced by Canadian food firms?
• What strategies will you employ to ensure your proposed solution is ready for pilot testing?
• In what ways can collaboration with industry players enhance the effectiveness of your project?
🚀 Explore Mars with Grants from DevelopSpace
DevelopSpace is offering grants between $500 and $2,500 to support innovative projects focused on the human exploration and development of Mars. This funding aims to encourage open sharing of results and methods, with applications currently open until September 20, 2025.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your project contribute to sustainable human presence on Mars?
• What innovative technologies from terrestrial applications can be adapted for Mars exploration?
• In what ways can collaborative efforts enhance the impact of your proposed research?
🌍 Innovations Against Poverty Grants
Innovations Against Poverty (IAP) offers grants ranging from €50,000 to €200,000 to support innovative inclusive businesses in Bangladesh that aim to provide sustainable solutions for people living in poverty. This program also includes technical support and training to help businesses scale effectively.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your business leverage this grant to enhance its impact on local communities?
• What innovative solutions can you propose that align with the goals of IAP?
• Are you prepared to meet the co-investment requirement and demonstrate financial sustainability?
🌍 Call for Small-Scale Projects Proposals
The Embassy of the Czech Republic invites proposals for Small-Scale Projects (SSP) in Cambodia, focusing on inclusive social development and natural resource management. Projects can receive funding between 200,000 CZK (approx. 9,000 USD) and 500,000 CZK (approx. 23,000 USD), aiming for sustainability and alignment with local development strategies.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your project effectively integrate local knowledge and Czech expertise?
• In what ways can your initiative contribute to sustainable development goals in the region?
• What strategies will you implement to ensure the long-term sustainability of your project?
🌟 Apply Now for the Google for Startups Gemini Founders Forum
Google is hosting the inaugural Gemini Founders Forum, a two-day summit in San Francisco on November 11–12, aimed at Series A startup founders. Participants will engage directly with Google’s AI tools, co-develop AI roadmaps, and collaborate with engineers to enhance their businesses.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can hands-on experience with AI tools reshape your startup's growth strategy?
• What specific feedback would you provide to influence future AI tool development?
• In what ways could collaboration with other founders enhance your understanding of AI applications?
🌐 Giga Accelerator Programme
Join the Giga Accelerator Programme to receive a USD 50,000 non-dilutive grant aimed at innovators with products that enhance school connectivity. This program offers funding, mentorship, and global partnerships to help scale solutions for underserved communities.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your innovative solution specifically address connectivity challenges in underserved communities?
• What partnerships could enhance the scalability and impact of your product in the education sector?
• In what ways can you leverage mentorship to refine your business strategy and technical approach?
🌍 Open Call for Food Safety Innovations in Africa
The FS4Africa initiative is offering financial support to tackle food safety challenges in the African informal sector. This open call aims to fund innovative projects, with a total budget of €600,000, providing up to €60,000 for each selected project.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your project uniquely address food safety issues in the African informal sector?
• What innovative strategies can you implement to ensure scalability and market readiness?
• How will you measure the impact of your solution on food safety and community health?
🌍 Masakhane's Call for Proposals
The Masakhane Research Foundation is launching its inaugural Call for Proposals aimed at enhancing AI representation for African languages. This initiative seeks to fund projects that collect voice data, create open-source data collection tools, and map existing African language technologies, ultimately empowering one billion Africans by 2029.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your community contribute to the preservation and promotion of African languages through technology?
• What innovative approaches can be implemented to gather high-quality voice data for underrepresented languages?
• In what ways can collaboration enhance the effectiveness of AI solutions tailored for African languages?
🚀 Scale Your Impact with the Miller Center Accelerator
The Miller Center for Global Impact offers a six-month accelerator program designed to empower social enterprise leaders to overcome growth barriers and prepare for investment. This program focuses on creating positive impacts for those living in poverty while addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
• How can your organization leverage mentorship to enhance its growth strategy?
• What specific barriers to scaling your solution can be addressed through this accelerator?
• In what ways can your enterprise contribute to women’s economic power and climate resilience?