Applications are now open for the Microsoft Affordable Access Initiative Fund that assists companies in bringing new technologies, services and models to emerging markets.
“The social enterprises we support have inspired us with practical, high-impact and scalable approaches to help close the digital divide,” said Microsoft Affordable Access Initiatives Director Paul Garnett, writing in NextBillion. “It’s a privilege to see these solutions take shape, and to play a role in helping local entrepreneurs spur job creation and economic growth.”
Running for the second year now, in the first round of investments Microsoft award 12 businesses affordable internet access or cloud-based services in fields such as power generation, health, education, finance and agriculture.
Among the recipients was Vista Africa, a cloud based a cloud-based software platform that helps healthcare providers screen, track and treat patients’ health in areas where connectivity is limited. African Renewable Energy Distributor (ARED),which provides Mobile Solar Kiosks for phone charging, airtime, mobile money, content storage, and data connection. and Ekovolt a Nigerian startup that offers wireless broadband and cloud services.
The initiative affords the recipients an opportunity to further develop their business and increase their impact. Also a part of this initiative is the Microsoft Philanthropies which help to bring digital literacy, online safety and computer science education programs available to grant recipients and the communities they serve.
“Too many people around the world lack internet connectivity and the educational, commercial and economic benefits of cloud-based services,” said Mary Snapp, corporate vice president and head of Microsoft Philanthropies. “Affordable Access Initiative grants, and the technology ecosystems they help support, empower entrepreneurs to provide connectivity, which then enables the creation of critical services for those who need it most.”
Who Should Apply:
- Commercial organizations with two or more full-time employees.
- Have a prototype of a working solution and preferably paying customers.
- Models that combine new cloud services and applications, low-cost forms of internet connectivity.
- New payment mechanisms designed for consumers and smaller businesses in underserved markets.
Applications will be accepted until midnight PST on Jan. 31, 2017.
For more on the application process visit http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/affordable-access-initiative/home.
Staff Writer
