Every open door for impact founders.
Accelerators, grants, competitions and fellowships for startups working on climate, health, inclusion and more. Each listing is checked against the organizer's own page before it appears here.
Open programs
WISE EdTech Accelerator 2026–2027
A year-long program for for-profit edtech ventures past MVP, with real traction and measurable learning impact, typically at seed with under $500k raised. A Qatar-focused track adds market-entry support, and an international track is open to any geography. Both give coaching, peer sessions and investor connections, and the cohort presents at the WISE Summit.
Check this opportunityBreakthrough Energy Fellows – Cohort 7
A full-time, one-year fellowship for founders turning early-stage climate technologies into companies, open worldwide. Applicants start with a concept paper; the page does not spell out the funding terms.
Check this opportunityAJF × SDRB Somalia Business Plan Competition 2026
A business plan competition for founders building export-oriented companies in Somalia, aimed at creating productive jobs and higher incomes in sectors such as agro-processing, livestock, fisheries and natural products. The winner gets $20,000 in seed money. Strong entries can also get pilot funding of up to $100,000 and a route to up to $1M in scale-up investment.
Check this opportunity2027 Global Climate Challenge
An open call for tech-enabled climate solutions at prototype stage or later. It covers low-carbon cities, circular materials, resilience to climate hazards, nature-positive food systems, and ocean and coastal restoration. Selected teams join a nine-month support program and can compete for prizes, including dedicated ocean prizes.
Check this opportunity2027 Global Economic Prosperity Challenge
MIT Solve is looking for technology-based solutions in three areas: household and small-business financial resilience, routes into quality jobs for excluded workers, and safe, affordable housing. Every selected team gets a $10k grant, and teams can also compete for partner prizes, several of them aimed at US teams. Solutions must be at prototype stage or later.
Check this opportunity2027 Global Health Challenge
MIT Solve wants technology-based solutions that improve continuity of care, primary care access, and prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases and mental health. Teams can apply from prototype stage up to scale. Selected teams get grant funding, can compete for sponsored prizes, and join a nine-month support program.
Check this opportunityBNEF Pioneers 2027
An annual recognition program from BloombergNEF that picks early-stage innovators tackling this year's climate and energy challenges, with room for wildcard entries. Winners are featured in BNEF research and events and get a year of BNEF access plus entry to its alumni network.
Check this opportunityFIERCE 2nd Open Call for Financial Support
An EU cascade-funding call that gives lump-sum grants to SMEs using satellite and Earth-observation data for green solutions. Priority areas are circularity and waste reduction, responsible use of raw materials, and environmental monitoring. Around 22 SMEs get up to €50k each, through ideation, scale-up or commercialisation tracks.
Check this opportunityAnzisha Fellowship 2027
A multi-year program for African founders aged 15 to 22 who already run a business with customers or beneficiaries in Africa. Fellows get stipends tied to milestones, coaching, self-paced and live learning, and time shadowing established entrepreneurs. The aim is faster growth and more jobs, with prizes at the end of year two.
Check this opportunityFemtech Ventures — Second Call for Femtech Solutions
UNICEF's second annual femtech cohort funds startups with a working prototype that use AI, data science or blockchain to improve the health, wellbeing and sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls. Companies must be registered in a UNICEF programme country and commit to open-source licensing. Women-led teams and founders under 35 are especially encouraged.
Check this opportunityMENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme 2026–2027
This venture program helps researchers and early innovators turn science-based regenerative agriculture ideas into viable businesses for the Middle East and North Africa. Participants get training, mentoring, online courses and regional networking. The three top finalists each win a $20k grant.
Check this opportunityYouth Co:Lab Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2026
A UNDP-led pitch competition for young social entrepreneurs in Japan whose businesses tackle social challenges and the SDGs. Finalists present at a Demo Day and can win awards including prize money, grant support and mentoring, with special awards for women founders, AI and disaster-risk solutions and refugee issues.
Check this opportunityOcean Innovation Challenge — 5th Call for Proposals
UNDP is looking for up to ten private-sector innovators working on marine plastics, coastal and marine ecosystem restoration, or the sustainable blue economy. The work has to be carried out in at least one of five South and Southeast Asian countries. Winners get deliverable-based funding plus incubation support, and women-led and youth-led teams get preference.
Check this opportunityD-Prize Global Competition 2026
D-Prize gives seed grants to first-time founders starting new organizations that deliver proven anti-poverty interventions at scale. Its challenge list covers childhood diarrhea treatment, maternal health, immunization, teaching at the right level, phone-based tutoring and agricultural inputs. Organizations with more than 18 months of operations or more than $30k raised are usually not eligible.
Check this opportunityFinancial Support to Startups — Open Call 2026
EIT Urban Mobility co-invests in European startups building urban mobility products. To apply, a startup must already be raising a pre-seed, seed or Series A round with private investors, and EIT usually does not lead the round. Applicants need at least a working prototype or MVP and a pre-money valuation of €50M or less.
Check this opportunityNexa Lighthouse (Asia and the Pacific)
A Transition-to-Scale funding call from Grand Challenges Canada and AVPN for proven innovations that help health actors in Asia and the Pacific respond to climate-driven health risks. It targets early warning and monitoring systems and climate-responsive patient care. Awards are roughly US$250k to US$2M, sized to each innovation's maturity.
Check this opportunityImagine H2O Accelerator 2027
A zero-equity accelerator for early-stage water technology startups from around the world. The 2027 cohort gets expert-led virtual training, mentors, introductions to utilities and other tech adopters, and a route to pilot funding and water-focused investors.
Check this opportunityImagine H2O Asia 2027
An Asia-Pacific water innovation accelerator run from Singapore for startups building or bringing water solutions to the region. It offers in-country advisors in ASEAN markets, introductions to utilities and businesses, coaching, and possible pilot funding.
Check this opportunityMCCH Sustainable Food Challenge 2027
A free, equity-free matchmaking challenge that links sustainable food and agriculture startups with large food-industry corporations (Bühler, Givaudan, Mars, Louis Dreyfus Company, SIG). Shortlisted startups meet senior R&D and sustainability teams and can win pilots, supply deals, partnerships or investment. Selected startups pitch a joint project at a June 2027 event in Switzerland and get a travel contribution.
Check this opportunitySET Award 2027
An international startup competition for companies speeding up the energy transition. It has five categories: clean energy and storage, digital energy, buildings, industry, and mobility. Applicants need at least a proof of concept and must have been founded in or after August 2016. Finalists pitch live in Berlin, and category winners get equity-free prize money.
Check this opportunityGoing International Bootcamp 2027
A free, fully virtual bootcamp from EnergyLab that prepares climate tech startups to expand overseas. Over about ten weeks it combines introduction sessions, market briefings and cross-border pitch days to connect founders with people and organisations abroad.
Check this opportunityHello Tomorrow Global Challenge 2026–2027
A global contest for science-based startups, from early stage up to Series B, organized into sector tracks. The climate, resource-efficiency and novel-energy tracks cover carbon capture, circular supply chains, water reuse, storage and hydrogen. Finalists pitch at the Amsterdam summit for an equity prize, and every selected startup gets investor and corporate exposure.
Check this opportunityNordic Ocean Accelerator Programme
A short, intensive accelerator for ocean-economy startups and SMEs whose product is already validated. It covers areas such as aquaculture, maritime, ocean energy and blue bioeconomy. Companies prepare online and then spend an onsite week in Helsinki with Nordic ocean clusters, industry experts and investors, working on a market-entry and financing roadmap for the Nordic region.
Check this opportunity2027 European Prize for Women Innovators
An EU prize that recognises women who founded innovative companies in Europe, aiming to make women innovators more visible. There are three categories: Women Innovators (top prize €100k), Rising Innovators for women under 35 (top prize €50k) and the EIT Women Leadership Award (€50k). Applicants enter as individuals through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Check this opportunitySME Market Expansion Open Call 2027
This call gives fixed €60k grants to about ten mobility SMEs, so each can prove its solution with a committed public or private end client in a real setting. Eligible topics are public and shared transport, urban logistics, electrification, mobility data, and health and mobility. Projects run from spring to autumn 2027.
Check this opportunityFundación MAPFRE Awards for Social Innovation – 10th edition
An annual award from the Spanish foundation for innovations that improve people's well-being and quality of life, with focus areas on well-being, demographic change and social inclusion. Projects from Latin America (including a separate Brazil track), Europe and the US compete for a top prize of €100,000, with €10,000 for other finalists, plus coaching, visibility to funders and membership of the foundation's innovators network.
Check this opportunityOceanHub Africa Acceleration Program – Cohort 8 (2027)
A nine-month accelerator for up to 10 African ocean-economy startups that already have paying customers. Founders get weekly coaching from entrepreneurs- and engineers-in-residence, an in-person bootcamp and introductions to investors. The program takes no equity and charges no fee.
Check this opportunityCircular Economy Accelerator – Batch #12
A two-month accelerator for circular-economy startups from around the world, ending with a three-week stay in the Rhine-Ruhr region. Startups get expert validation of their business model, coaching, mentoring and introductions to regional industry, with most travel and accommodation costs covered.
Check this opportunityGet it! Call4Impact - 5th edition
An Italian call for impact startups and teams with ideas for social, cultural or environmental change. Selected teams get a free six-month incubation path with partner incubators, worth about €20-25k, plus a €3,500 contribution. They can also pitch at an Investor Day for an impact investment of €50k-€100k.
Check this opportunitySEED SPOT Impact Accelerator (January 2027 cohort)
An eight-week virtual accelerator for early-stage founders building ventures with a social or environmental mission. Founders get twice-weekly live sessions, one-to-one mentoring and coaching; SEED SPOT takes no equity and charges no fee.
Check this opportunityThe Liveability Challenge 2027
A Singapore-based global call for climate solutions suited to fast-growing tropical cities, now in its 10th edition with a new Oceans track. Finalists pitch in Singapore and compete for catalytic grants, development funding and possible investment from a pool of more than S$5.5 million.
Check this opportunityHundrED Global Collection 2028
An open global call to select 100 proven, scalable K-12 education innovations for HundrED's annual collection. Selected teams get expert validation, a place in the published report, an invitation to the HundrED Innovation Summit and exposure to partners; there is no cash prize.
Check this opportunityACRE (Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy) Incubator
A long-running nonprofit climate tech incubator in Brooklyn that supports startups with fundraising help, a large climate investor network, customer introductions, mentors, hiring support and office space. It takes no equity but charges a monthly membership fee, and companies usually stay two to three years.
Check this opportunityBharat Inclusion Initiative
An incubation program from IIM Ahmedabad's incubator for startups building fintech, skilling and livelihood products for low-income Indians. Selected startups receive milestone-based financial support of USD 50,000 or more plus mentoring, with the incubator taking a small mentoring equity stake.
Check this opportunityCasa do Impacto Incubation
A permanently open impact incubator in Lisbon for social and environmental entrepreneurs. It provides desks or offices, a registered address, regular events and workshops, follow-up and access to mentors and specialist services. A virtual incubation option is available.
Check this opportunityClimate Tech Charge
A year-long, always-open virtual program from Australian climate tech nonprofit EnergyLab for early climate and clean energy startups looking for their first paying customers. Members get a rolling workshop series, mentoring and access to EnergyLab's Sydney co-working space and community for an annual fee.
Check this opportunityDRK Foundation Funding
DRK backs early-stage social entrepreneurs whose product or service has shown it can improve the lives of underserved people. Funding is unrestricted, comes as grants or investment over three years, and is paired with hands-on capacity support. Applications are accepted all year.
Check this opportunityElemental Impact Funding Program
A climate-focused nonprofit investor that backs companies from pre-seed through Series C. Sectors include energy, industry, the built environment, food, nature, water and transport. Applications are reviewed year-round, and only shortlisted companies are contacted for next steps.
Check this opportunityPlanet Foundamentals 2026 - Systemic solutions for a changing world
A year-round acceleration program in Turin for impact startups and social enterprises with a People track (social challenges) and a Planet track (environmental challenges). It covers impact strategy, business modelling, financial planning and fundraising, with mentoring and a Demo Day. Startups can receive up to €150k from SocialFare Seed.
Check this opportunityProVeg Incubator
A Berlin-based incubator from the food-awareness nonprofit ProVeg for startups building plant-based, fermented or cultivated alternatives to animal products. Applications are reviewed year-round during scouting periods, followed by an interview and a panel decision. Funding terms are not stated on the page.
Check this opportunityRICH Hub Climate AI Innovation – Expression of Interest
A rolling call for African climate AI solutions that are already being piloted with users. Selected teams can get coaching, technical support, piloting and research partnerships, and possibly scaling grants of up to USD 200,000. Submitting an expression of interest does not guarantee support.
Check this opportunityRockstart AgriFood
An Amsterdam-based investor and accelerator backing early-stage startups that make the food system more sustainable, from soil to gut. It provides investment, focused content, mentoring and market introductions, and co-invests up to Series B. Applications are accepted year-round.
Check this opportunityVillgro Africa Incubation Program
Villgro Africa runs an incubator and early-stage impact investor for African health, life-science and agriculture startups. It takes applications all year and replies within about a month if a venture fits its mandate. The apply page does not state funding amounts or terms.
Check this opportunityWomen's Economic Empowerment Program
An IIMA Ventures program backing technology startups that increase incomes for low-income women in India. Startups receive milestone-linked funding of USD 50,000 or more, mentoring and cloud credits, in exchange for a small mentoring equity stake.
Check this opportunitytimbuktoo LaunchPad for HealthTech Startups
A pan-African incubation track for healthtech teams that already have a prototype or MVP and are tackling a defined problem in African healthcare. Startups join quarterly cohorts and are matched to partner incubators, virtually or in person, for mentoring and investment-readiness work. Strong performers may move on to acceleration or early-stage investment, though neither is guaranteed.
Check this opportunityEach listing is checked against the organizer's own page; the date is shown on every program. Where the organizer states no closing time, the countdown runs to 00:00 UTC on the deadline date.