OKF and BMBF: Prototype Fund (Germany)
This fund supports the implementation of ideas in civic tech, data literacy, data security and software infrastructure, with grants of up to €30,000 and coaching for software developers, hackers and creatives to write code and develop open source prototypes over a period of 6 months. There will be 4 rounds of funding between 2016 and 2019 with 10 projects funded in each round. You must be independent/self-employed, live in Germany, and publish results under an open source license.
https://prototypefund.de/ or https://prototypefund.de/en/
AAL Call Challenge 2017
An EU wide challenge to identify a package which integrates solutions based on ICT to support active, healthy and independent living of older adults. Further details will be released in 2017. The focus of the 2017 call challenge of the AAL Programme is twofold:
- The challenge lies in developing packages integrating different solutions that address the needs and wishes of end-users and add value to their lives. Since peoples’ wishes, aspirations, and needs evolve over time, packages should be designed with built-in flexibility and a variety of components in order to meet diverse individual situations and to remain attractive to end-users over time. End-users expect proposed solutions to be affordable, user-friendly, secure, and reliable. Packages should be based on existing and/or open platforms.
- The challenge lies in extensive testing and evaluating of packages in order to provide meaningful and significant results.
For more info: http://www.aal-europe.eu/pre-announcement-of-aal-call-challenge-2017/
EIB Institute: Social Innovation Tournament
This competition recognises and supports the best European social entrepreneurs whose primary purpose is to generate a social, ethical or environmental impact. Four prizes are awarded by a jury, composed of specialists from the academic and business world: 1st and 2nd place prizes of €50,000 €20,000 respectively in the General Category and Special Category. For 2017, the Special Category prizes will go to projects focused on ageing. Launch date: February 2017
http://institute.eib.org/whatwedo/social/social-innovation-tournament/
Global Innovation Fund
This fund invests in social innovations that aim to improve the lives and opportunities of millions of people in the developing world, through a combination of grants, loans (including convertible debt), and equity investments ranging from USD $50,000 to $15 million. “Innovation” is defined broadly – any solution that has potential to improve the lives of the poor in developing countries more effectively than existing approaches.
http://www.globalinnovation.fund/
Access – The Foundation for Social Investment: Growth Fund and Reach Fund (UK)
The Growth Fund is designed to provide the finance that charities and social enterprises need for growth or diversifying their business models. The fund is aimed at organisations which are unlikely to have taken on social investment before and offers up to £150,000 in loans and grants:
http://access-socialinvestment.org.uk/growth-fund/
The Reach Fund is 2-year programme to test a new model for investment readiness support and will provides grants of up to £15,000 to help become investment ready: http://www.reachfund.org.uk/
Nesta Impact Investments Fund (UK)
This fund supports life-changing innovations that help tackle the major challenges faced by older people, children and communities in the UK. Investments of between £150k and £1m can be made in social ventures developing such innovations.
http://www.nesta.org.uk/project/nesta-impact-investments
UnLtd: Big Venture Challenge and Grow It Awards (UK)
This programme, which is funded by The Big Lottery Fund, aims to help social entrepreneurs to scale their work, by providing access to business support, powerful connections and match funding to help them raise investment. It is aimed at social entrepreneurs aiming to raise between £50,000 and £500,000: https://unltd.org.uk/bvc/
The Grow It Award offers up to £15,000 and a range of non-financial support: https://unltd.org.uk/grow-it-award/