Deadline: September 21, 2025
Are you building innovative connectivity solutions for underserved communities? The Giga Accelerator Programme 2025 is now open for applications, offering a non-dilutive grant of USD $50,000 to support scalable, open-source technologies designed to connect the unconnected.
This programme, part of the global Giga initiative by UNICEF and ITU, is anchored at the Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona and will run primarily online, ensuring participation from anywhere in the world.
About the Giga Accelerator Programme 2025
The Giga Accelerator Programme 2025 is designed to support organisations working to improve internet access in infrastructure-constrained environments. Through funding, mentorship, and networking, the programme empowers innovators to bring their solutions to market and drive meaningful change in underserved areas.
Key Goals of the Programme
- Support product development through funding and technical guidance.
- Enhance commercial viability and ensure interoperability of solutions.
- Build strategic partnerships with telecom operators, policymakers, and industry leaders.
Areas of Focus
The programme targets solutions in the following areas:
- Connectivity in Infrastructure-Constrained Environments – Technologies that enable connectivity where traditional infrastructure is unfeasible.
- Affordable and Sustainable Business Models – Innovative financial and operational models that make connectivity accessible and sustainable in underserved markets.
- Viable Internet Provision for Underserved Areas – Community-scale, affordable solutions for rural and peri-urban communities.
- Optimisation for Underserved Contexts – Solutions that are reliable, adaptable, and easy to deploy in challenging environments.
- Reducing Operational Barriers – Approaches that simplify delivery, reduce costs, and lower the expertise needed to deploy connectivity solutions.
Benefits of Joining the Giga Accelerator Programme 2025
Selected participants will gain access to:
- $50,000 Non-Dilutive Grant – To support activities such as market adaptation, product testing, regulatory approvals, and more.
- Expert Mentorship – Tailored guidance in fundraising, go-to-market strategies, and regulatory navigation.
- Global Networking Opportunities – Direct access to telecom operators, connectivity initiatives, and international stakeholders.
- Demo Day Exposure – Showcase your solution to global investors and industry leaders at events like the Mobile World Congress and Giga Connectivity Forum.
- Support for Scaling – Assistance in aligning your solution to market needs, enabling future pilots and scalable deployments.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Giga Accelerator Programme 2025, applicants must:
- Be a registered legal entity in any ITU Member State.
- Have no major ongoing litigation related to prohibited practices as defined by ITU.
- Demonstrate financial solvency.
- Have a product at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher (proof of concept or prototype stage).
- Offer an open-source solution or commit to open-sourcing by the end of the programme.
Application Requirements
Applicants will need to submit:
- A completed application form.
- Legal registration documents.
- Compliance documentation.
- Self-assessed TRL documentation.
- Declaration of open-source commitment.
- A pitch deck (highly recommended).
Timeline & Deadline
- Application Deadline: 21 September 2025
- Programme Format: Virtual, with final in-person Demo Day in Barcelona
How to Apply
Interested in joining the Giga Accelerator Programme 2025?
Do not miss this chance to accelerate your connectivity solution and gain access to funding, mentorship, and global visibility.
For proposal drafting, refinement, and review, contact grantsdatabase.org.
