How COVID-19 era could be a big opportunity for Entrepreneurs/Startups to raise funding?

(May 2020)

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic has become the most defining global humanitarian challenge of all time, triggering a deep economic crisis. With the recessionary pressures on the economy, the global job market has seen a spike in unemployment, where Startups are no less impacted.

But, there are sectors both large and small like logistics, Messaging platforms, edtech companies, home-delivery platforms, digital communication tech-based startups that remain untouched and have benefited immensely on account of Covid-19. This time is very crucial for the tech-based small and grassroots startups to grow immensely and expand their offering by providing the best of their services and products in the market.

There will be hike in major business opportunities for new startup companies that will leverage a longer-term opportunity in the areas of Education, Agriculture, Health, Communication & Digital Technology, Women, Media and many more. Therefore, keeping this in mind, we are bringing some of the refined and best funding opportunities for Startups, SMEs and Social Entrepreneurs to get maximum benefit in this particular time.

UNOPS Global Innovation Challenge calling Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Programmers and Developers (Bootcamp in Kobe, Japan)
UNOPS Global Innovation Challenge brings together innovators, entrepreneurs, programmers and developers to provide the creative ideas and solutions needed to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)…[more]

ImpactAIM announces ANAU AgriTech Accelerator Program (grants of up to 10,000 USD)
The program is launched by UNDP ImpactAIM Accelerator and implemented jointly with Armenia National Agrarian University (ANAU), Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) Foundation, Nation in Action initiative, is supported by Armenian National Innovation SDG Lab and ADB Ventures Facility. The program is designed to support science and technology-backed startups and budding entrepreneurs offering solutions to tackle challenges in the agricultural sector of Armenia and worldwide…[more]

Applications Open for University Startup World Cup 2020 (15,000 USD)
The best university startups from around the world come together to network, exhibit and pitch for a chance of becoming the world’s best university startup! In 2020, the World Cup is hosted by Venture Cup China in Wenzhou, China on October 17th – 20th 2020. Venture Cup Denmark hosted the first University Startup World Cup back in 2015 with 37 university startups from around the world. It turned out to be a great success, and it has been running ever since in Copenhagen, Denmark…[more]

WISH Innovation Award Program
The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) opened applications for the WISH Innovation Spark Competition and the WISH Innovation Booster Competition – two new innovation competitions that provide talented entrepreneurs a platform to promote ideas and products aimed at improving the delivery and quality of healthcare…..[more]

World Summit Awards 2020: Promoting Local Digital Innovation with High Impact on improving Society
The World Summit Awards are a unique awards system, selecting and promoting local digital innovation with high impact on improving society. Is a non-monetary award system with a focus on sustainable knowledge transfer through a worldwide network. Winners benefit not from a one-time financial reward, but a lifelong partnership and integration….[more]

Call for Applications for GSMA Innovation Fund (up to £250,000 for start-ups or SMEs)
The GSMA Innovation Fund (“the Fund”) supports innovative start-ups or small to medium sized private sector companies (SMEs) in emerging markets to achieve sustainable growth and improved socio-economic impact...[more]

Best Startups have a Chance to Win Up to 25,000£ & visit Berlin!
Your startup stands out? Will you be the one startup to win and take home the prize money of 25,000 €? If yes, then apply now for 2020 Green Alley Award! Out of all applicants, a total of six startups will be invited to Grand Finale in Berlin. Five of the six finalists are chosen by committee, the sixth is nominated by a public voting from a preselected number of startups….[more]

Grants for Startups and Local Initiatives addressing Climate Action & Sustainable Development in Africa
Climate Change – Africa Opportunities (CCAO) and its partners are looking for approaches, startups and local initiatives from young green entrepreneurs, women and indigenous communities carrying knowledge (traditional and or modern), new ideas and offering initiatives and or likely to offer innovative indigenous, or technological services, solutions to improve African resilience to the challenges of climate change….[more]

2020 LeadTech Program inviting African Young Female Entrepreneurs
LeadTech is an intensive 6-month incubation program dedicated to early stage women-owned or women-led tech start-ups. Based on a competition model. The program aims to nurture and provide a supportive environment for women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and become independent. The goal of the program is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship at start-up for scale and to strengthen sustainability of growth…[more]

2020 Diaspora Challenge for building Scalable Business Solutions to Social Challenges in Africa
Applications are now open for the 2020 Diaspora Challenge to mobilise the Diaspora community to build scalable business solutions to social challenges in Africa….[more]

Entries Open for 2020 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize – Africa (US$50,000)
Entries are now open for the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize which is a pan-African competition for innovative, young entrepreneurs pursuing the trillion-dollar opportunity of Africa’s agri-food sector….[more]

Applications Open for IMPACT EdTech European Incubator-Accelerator Programme
Applications are now open for the IMPACT EdTech European Incubator-Accelerator programme that helps EdTech start-ups/SMEs turn ideas into market-ready products. IMPACT EdTech aims to contribute to the digital transformation of education by creating a vehicle for disruptive education technology, a catalyst designed to help user in a new era of human-centred digital education….[more]

Applications Open for European Data Incubator (EDI) Programme
Applications are now open for the European Data Incubator (EDI) Programme, the 8-month Big Data programme that will take your startup to the next level. The objective of the EDI programme is to facilitate the uptake of Big Data tools by the start-ups whilst increasing the technical and business skills of the selected start-ups/SMEs…[more]

European Commission: Incubators (business support organisations) for Inclusive and Social Entrepreneurship
The European Commission has announced a Call for Proposals for “Incubators (business support organisations) for inclusive and social entrepreneurship”. This call aims at mobilising existing network(s) of mainstream business incubators to expand their outreach to inclusive and social entrepreneurship…[more]

BMZ seeking Project Proposals in the context of COVID-19 Response
In addition to projects from the ongoing develoPPP.de ideas competitions, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) currently supports measures by privately owned companies that significantly alleviate the negative impact of the corona pandemic in developing or emerging-market countries….[more]

GroFin: Small and Growing Business Fund (USD $100,000- USD $1.5 million)
GroFin is seeking applications for its Small and Growing Business Fund. GroFin is a pioneering development financier specializing in financing and supporting small and growing businesses (SGBs) across Africa and the Middle East. GroFin combines patient capital and specialized business support to grow emerging market enterprises…[more]

2020 Women Startup Challenge NYC at Google
Applications are now open for the 10th Women Startup Challenge, cohosted by Google. Women Who Tech is on a mission to help fund and empower women founders building products to solve the biggest issues facing this world. Launched in partnership with Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the Women Startup Challenge will showcase 10 of the best early stage, women-led startups who will pitch their companies at Google in NYC to some of the biggest investors on September 22….[more]

Business4Change Hackathon: Call for Expressions of Interest from Potential Challenge Owners & Experts
The European Commission is currently inviting businesses and organisations to take part in the upcoming ‘Business4Change hackathon’. The hackathon aims to deliver new business models and solutions to facilitate the circular economy…[more]

Submit Applications for Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East
The Orange Social Venture Prize rewards projects or start-ups created less than three years ago that offer high-tech solutions based on mobiles or the Internet to meet the needs of the populations in Africa and the Middle-East. The Award embodies the Group’s values and commitments in the MEA region….[more]

USAID seeks Innovative Solutions to facilitate Private Sector Engagement in East Africa
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced the East Africa Private Sector Engagement in Support of Prosper Africa Annual Program Statement (APS) (known hereafter as East Africa Prosper APS)…[more]

Applications Open for WAZIHUB IoT Prototyping Competition
Are you an entrepreneur in the field of IoT? A maker in your soul? Are you keen to learn new things and bring your idea to life? WAZIHUB IoT prototyping competition is for you! The WAZIHUB project, funded by the EU, aims at enabling startups and entrepreneurs to innovate and build low-cost, end-to-end IoT prototypes using the WAZIUP and Fiware technology….[more]

Submit Applications for Latvian-American Innovation Award
To highlight and promote entrepreneurship, research-driven innovation, and closer economic ties between Latvia and the United States, the Baltic American Freedom Foundation (BAFF), the American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia (AmCham Latvia), and the U.S. Embassy in Riga, together with TechHub Riga and the Latvian Startup Association, announce the 3rd Annual Latvian-American Innovation Award…[more]

A Digital Path to Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Latin America (Panama and Honduras) – Fall 2020
Applications are now open for “A Digital Path to Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Latin America” which is a part of the Professional Fellows Program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Exchange and Cultural Affairs…[more]

India