The Alliance to Scale Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Seed Alliance)

This project will support digital innovations that solve development challenges. It will establish a seed funding program, develop approaches for scaling up innovations, and nurture entrepreneurial leaders. Digital revolution driving change Digital innovations are driving transformative changes around the world and generating new opportunities for growth in developing countries. Greater affordability and accessibly of digital products and services have provided the foundation for rapid growth of start-ups across the developing world. M-Pesa, for instance, was started through a small donor-funded grant. One of the first mobile banking platforms, M-Pesa now boasts more than 21 million users in Kenya and Tanzania alone. Seed funding and mentorship for business growth The Alliance to Scale Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship will identify and support opportunities for scaling digital innovations that solve development challenges in education, governance, health, the environment, and the economy. It combines three regional, competitive small grants and awards programs from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. More specifically, the Alliance will implement a competitive seed-funding program. It will also create business and social impact mentorship programs that will nurture entrepreneurial leaders to scale and commercialize digital innovations. Finally, it will develop best practices for stimulating and scaling digital innovations to ensure they have impact.