![Man with helmet using smartphone to make a payment at a small shop while a shopkeeper watches.](https://gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Header-GSMA-Innovation-Fund.jpg)
GSMA Innovation Fund
Accelerating digital tech solutions that are addressing key global challenges
About us
Digital innovation offers a unique opportunity to accelerate socio-economic development in low- and middle-income countries. Digital and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), have the potential to foster economic growth, connect people to jobs and other services and improve their resilience to climate shocks. These technologies also enable start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses to scale by providing the infrastructure for payments, communications, and content creation, as well as opening up new and more direct access to market.
The GSMA Innovation Fund sources innovative solutions leveraging digital and emerging technologies and supports them to scale and create favorable outcomes for local communities, which leads to greater digital inclusion, financial inclusion and resilience to climate and humanitarian shocks.
Since 2013, we have funded over a hundred companies to de-risk innovation across a range of sectors including agriculture, climate resilience, e-commerce, education, energy, financial services, humanitarian challenges, sanitation, waste management and water.
Snapshot of our market visits
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/fishing-trap-1.jpg)
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Geokrishi_Market-Visit-1.jpg)
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Simusolar_Market-Visit-1.jpg)
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Komunidad_Market-Visit-2.jpg)
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![A man is presenting information on a screen to an audience seated at tables. The screen displays a colorful flowchart. Some attendees are using laptops, and one person is taking notes. Large windows in the background let in natural light.](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Attending-the-Agricultural-Workshop.jpeg)
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kacha-Bazar-Facility-1.jpeg)
![Two people are standing in a garden area with several plants and mounds of soil around. The person on the left is wearing a white shirt with green and red trim and jeans, while the person on the right is holding a plastic bag. Behind them is lush greenery.](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WhatsApp-Image-2023-05-04-at-18.59.26-1.jpeg)
Our impact
47
m
Total people impacted
662.3
m
Total crowding-in
26.3
m
Total amount disbursed
98
Total number of MNO partnerships
Our funding approach
Pitch
Applicants complete an online application to ‘pitch’ their proposal, which details the planned project and its potential impact. Call for applications are typically open for 8 weeks, twice every year. The GSMA aims to assess and confirm the shortlisted applicants 4-5 weeks after the deadline. On average, we receive between 300 and 600 applications per round.
Proposal development
The short-listed pitches are invited to develop a proposal setting out the full business case for the project. Applicants will receive guidance from the GSMA in developing their proposal. In addition, the GSMA will conduct an on-site project due diligence as well as a company due diligence, including an assessment of operational, fiduciary and reputational risks.
Selection and contracting
An independent panel of experts evaluates the proposals and awards grants to the winning applicants. These are then contracted, including definition of milestone payments and refinement of the budget.
Grant project
The grantees are provided with direct funding, through milestone-based payments. In addition, the GSMA Innovation Fund offers bespoke technical assistance, partnership facilitation with mobile network operators and other digital players, networking opportunities and capacity building through regional bootcamps and profiling at world class GSMA events such as Mobile World Congress.
Finally, the GSMA Innovation Fund will support grantees to monitor and evaluate their socio-economic (or climate) project impact. Where possible, the GSMA may hire a consultant to conduct surveys of a grantee’s end-users and/or environmental impact for a deeper evaluation at the end of the funded project.​
Post-grant support
The GSMA Innovation Fund continues to promote alumni achievements and provides targeted post-grant support (e.g., connections with investors and MNOs where relevant). The fund also tracks the growth of the alumni for two years following the grant period.
Testimonials from our alumni
Are you interested in applying to the GSMA Innovation Fund?
Our portfolio
A map of our grantees
Portfolio highlights
Portfolio success stories
Our insights and toolkits
Explore our insights and research through reports, blogs, and other resources developed by our subject matter experts.
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/two-collegues.jpg)
GSMA Innovation Fund Impact Portfolio 2023
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/recipient-of-funding.jpg)
Driving mobile internet use in low- and middle-income countries: Lessons and insights from the GSMA Innovation Fund
![A man wearing an orange shirt and vest sits on a chair with his back to the camera, gesturing with his hand. Two women sitting in front of him are smiling and laughing. One of the women is leaning on the other. They appear to be outside.](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/people-laughing.jpg)
Four considerations for implementing PAYG models in LMICs: Lessons from the GSMA Innovation Fund
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/mobile-phones.jpg)
Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Annual Report 2023
Our toolkits
A collection of useful resources and toolkits to support your scaling journey.
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-15.00.57.png)
Design Thinking
![Two people are engaged in a discussion at a table. One person, wearing glasses and a patterned blouse, is listening attentively. The other person, in a white shirt with black accents, is speaking and gesturing with their hands. A tablet is placed on the table.](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Buildin-Synergy-cover-image_web.png)
Building Synergies Course
![](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-15.00.57-2.png)
GSMA Roadmap: A Theory of Change [Part I]
![A black and white illustration shows five people seated around a table looking at a paper with symbols. One person in the center is gesturing as if explaining something. The people appear engaged in a discussion or meeting.](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Roadmap-II-cover-image_web.png)
GSMA Roadmap: A Theory of Change [Part II]
![Three women are standing close together outdoors, looking at a smartphone and laughing. They appear to be enjoying a moment of shared amusement. The background is blurred, highlighting trees and greenery. One woman wears a headscarf, another a red headband.](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/3-people-looking-at-mobile.png)
Mobile Internet Skills
Training Toolkit
![An overhead view of a busy urban street filled with yellow minibuses and other vehicles stuck in traffic. Numerous people are walking or standing along the sides of the street, and multi-story buildings line both sides of the crowded roadway.](https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DU-partnership-cover-image.png)
The Digital Utilities Partnerships Hub
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