
GSMA Innovation Fund
Accelerating digital tech solutions that are addressing key global challenges
About us
Digital innovation offers a unique opportunity to accelerate socio-economic development in low- and middle-income countries. Digital and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), have the potential to foster economic growth, connect people to jobs and other services and improve their resilience to climate shocks. These technologies also enable start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses to scale by providing the infrastructure for payments, communications, and content creation, as well as opening up new and more direct access to market.
Since 2013, we have funded over a hundred companies to de-risk innovation across a range of sectors including agriculture, climate resilience, e-commerce, education, energy, financial services, humanitarian challenges, sanitation, waste management and water.
Snapshot of our market visits








Our impact
69.6
m
Total people impacted
671.7
m
Total crowding-in
26.3
m
Total amount disbursed
108
Total number of MNO partnerships
Our funding approach
End to end selection process
The GSMA receives applications, screens them for eligibility and scores them based on a defined set of criteria. Around 30 applicants are short-listed.
Short-listed applicants undergo a virtual company due diligence (assessment of operational, fiduciary and reputational risks) and develop a project proposal.
A recommendation Panel (comprised of GSMA, funding donors and independent experts) assesses the short-listed projects and recommends the most impactful applications. Applicants will have the opportunity to (virtually) pitch their projects in front of this Panel.
The GSMA conducts an in-person due diligence visit to (1) understand the nuances of the recommended projects and companies and (2) to verify what has been pitched to the recommendation Panel. Recommended companies develop a full financial proposal, KPIs and workplan.
A selection Panel reviews the evidence from the in-person due diligence and approves who, from the recommended companies, will become grantees.
Note: This number can be equal or less than the number of recommended companies, based on the result of the in-person due diligence.
The GSMA and the ‘to-be-grantees’ finalise the final elements of the contract (e.g. evidence to milestone payments etc.) before the contract is executed and the project is launched.
Project implementation and support
The grantees are provided with direct funding, through milestone-based payments. In addition, the GSMA Innovation Fund offers bespoke technical assistance, partnership facilitation with mobile network operators and other digital players, networking opportunities and capacity building through regional bootcamps and profiling at world class GSMA events such as Mobile World Congress.
Additionally, the GSMA Innovation Fund will support grantees to monitor and evaluate their socio-economic (or climate) project impact. Where possible, the GSMA may hire a consultant to conduct surveys of a grantee’s end-users and/or environmental impact for a deeper evaluation at the end of the funded project.​
The GSMA Innovation Fund continues to promote alumni achievements and provides targeted post-grant support (e.g., connections with investors and MNOs where relevant). The fund also tracks the growth of the alumni for two years following the grant period.
Testimonials from our alumni
Are you interested in applying to the GSMA Innovation Fund?
A map of our grantees
Our portfolio
Portfolio highlights
Portfolio success stories
Our insights and toolkits
Explore our insights and research through reports, blogs, and other resources developed by our subject matter experts.

GSMA Innovation Fund Impact Portfolio 2023

Funding female inclusive start-ups in low- and middle- income countries

Ensuring food security by solving the agricultural information gap

Scaling digital innovation in low- and middle-income countries
Our toolkits
A collection of useful resources and toolkits to support your scaling journey.

Design Thinking

Building Synergies Course

GSMA Roadmap: A Theory of Change [Part I]

GSMA Roadmap: A Theory of Change [Part II]

Mobile Internet Skills
Training Toolkit

The Digital Utilities Partnerships Hub
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