Status: open. The current Global Competition launched September 14, 2026. Early submission closes October 25, 2026.
D-Prize funds first-time entrepreneurs to launch new organizations that distribute proven poverty interventions, up to $20,000 per winner. The current Global Competition is open across specific challenge tracks in health, education, agriculture, water access, road safety, poverty graduation, and government transparency, plus an open category for applicants proposing their own distribution idea. Early submission closes October 25, 2026; regular submission closes November 15, 2026.
At a glance
| Deadline | Early: October 25, 2026. Regular: November 15, 2026. Extension: December 6, 2026 (all midnight PT) |
| Eligibility | New organizations, typically first-time entrepreneurs with no more than 18 months of full-time operations or $30,000 raised; special encouragement for applicants from low- and middle-income countries |
| Grant amount | Up to $20,000 per winning organization |
| Geography | Global, with emphasis on low- and middle-income countries |
| How to apply | Two-page concept note and resume(s), submitted online |
| Official link | D-Prize |
Who’s eligible
Per D-Prize’s own criteria, most winners are first-time entrepreneurs launching a new organization, not an existing team expanding one. Organizations with more than 18 months of full-time operations, or that have already raised more than $30,000 USD, are typically not supported. An existing organization can still apply if its core focus is distributing an evidence-based poverty intervention, not running a broader program that happens to touch on one. D-Prize specifically encourages applicants based in low- and middle-income countries.
Applicants choose from named challenge tracks, including childhood diarrhea treatment, maternal health, child immunization, oxygen access, reading glasses, phone-based tutoring, road safety, water filters, government transparency, poverty graduation, and agricultural inputs and post-harvest support, or they can propose their own distribution idea through the open category. There’s no clean-energy-specific track in the current challenge list; past winners distributing solar products and cook stoves have applied and been funded under the general or open categories rather than a dedicated clean-tech track.
What you get
Winners receive up to $20,000 to launch their organization and pilot their distribution model. Beyond the grant itself, D-Prize’s process is built around testing a specific, evidence-based intervention at the last mile, so applicants get structured feedback through each evaluation round even before knowing whether they’ve won. D-Prize reports receiving more than 3,000 submissions per competition, with roughly the top 1% ultimately funded.
How to apply
- Round 1: Submit a two-page concept note and resume(s) through D-Prize’s online application before the deadline.
- Round 2: If selected (top 5% of applicants), answer short written questions within a two-week window.
- Final round: Remaining candidates go through phone and email interviews.
- Award and launch: Winners receive funding and begin piloting their organization.
Key dates
- Global Competition launch: September 14, 2026
- Early submission deadline: October 25, 2026 (midnight PT)
- Regular submission deadline: November 15, 2026 (midnight PT)
- Extension deadline: December 6, 2026 (midnight PT)
FAQ
Can an existing organization apply to D-Prize?
Only if its core focus is distributing an evidence-based poverty intervention. Organizations with more than 18 months of full-time operations or more than $30,000 raised are typically not supported.
Is there a dedicated clean-tech or clean-energy challenge track?
Not in the current challenge list. D-Prize’s named tracks cover health, education, agriculture, water, road safety, poverty graduation, and government transparency. Solar and cook-stove distribution ideas have won in past cycles through the general or open (“propose your own”) category rather than a named clean-tech track.
How many applicants get funded?
D-Prize receives more than 3,000 submissions per competition; roughly the top 1% are ultimately funded, after concept note review, a written second round, and interviews.
What’s the application deadline if I miss the early or regular round?
There’s an extension deadline of December 6, 2026, midnight PT, for the current competition.
Where should applicants be based?
D-Prize is open globally, with specific encouragement for applicants based in low- and middle-income countries.
More opportunities like this: Miller Center Global Impact Accelerator and Climate Resilience Awards for Business 2026.
Source: D-Prize, Global Competition.
