African startups are invited to apply for the Last Mile Money Accelerator initiative, which provides funding and support to startups providing digital financial services and cash-in/cash-out innovations to last-mile communities.
IDEO Last Mile Money is looking for promising early-stage startups that are connecting underserved communities in emerging markets to digital financial services after a successful initial accelerator program in 2021.
This year’s edition focuses on solutions that “accelerate financial innovation at the last mile such that it outpaces the first mile,” with startups at the intersection of last-mile users and financial empowerment being targeted.
Accepted startups will obtain a variety of benefits, including design support, equity-free grant funding ranging from US$30,000 to US$50,000, access to IDEO’s partner network, and membership in CICO Collective, which provides access to salons, webinars, and co-creation opportunities with an online community of 1,200 other founders and experts focused on the last mile.
