SHIFT Grant Program for Growth-stage Fintechs (Up To $10K Results-Based Grant)

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Applications are open for SHIFT Grant Program. SHIFT (Scaling Holistic Inclusion in Fintech Transformation) is a migration-focused support program for growth-stage fintechs in Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, and Asia. They back ventures that already serve or are ready to pivot to serve women affected by migration and other vulnerable communities.

Through results-based grants, tailored mentorship, investor connections, and global visibility, SHIFT helps fintechs strengthen their business, scale inclusive financial solutions, and drive lasting impact.

SHIFT (Scaling Holistic Inclusion in Fintech Transformation) builds on the experience of the Financial Innovations for Women Affected by Migration (FIWAM) program, a growth program funded by the Impact-Linked Fund for Gender-Inclusive Fintechs (ILF for GIF), under the Impact-Linked Finance Fund, and implemented by Seedstars and iGravity. FIWAM supported 30 fintechs across Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, and Asia, providing mentorship, training, and investor connections. By the end of the program, participants had raised $2.7M in additional funding and reached more than 275,000 migrant women with inclusive financial solutions.

Eligibility Criteria

SHIFT is open to growth-stage fintechs that meet the following criteria:

Sectors
- Operates in fintech or embedded fintech (offering financial services such as credit, insurance, payments).
Stage
- Growth-stage company with proven traction and revenue.
Fundraising Readiness
- Has raised funding in the past 12 months or is actively planning to raise capital.
Business Model
- For-profit and revenue-generating, with strong potential to scale.
Geographic Eligibility
- Based in or operating in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa (MENA), or Asia.
Impact Focus
- Already serves women affected by migration or Willing to pivot/scale products and services tailored to the financial needs of women affected by migration (WAM)*. Note: Women Affected by Migration (WAM) includes: Women who migrate internally or across borders Women left behind when a family member migrates (e.g., spouse working abroad) Women in migration-impacted communities, including high emigration areas or remittance-dependent regions.

SHIFT Grant Program Benefits

Selected ventures will receive:

$10K Results-Based Grant
- Flexible funding to implement solutions for women affected by migration.
Tailored Mentorship & Expert Support
- Guidance from migration industry experts and peer learning to strengthen your business model, impact, and investment readiness.
Investor & Partner Access
- Connect with 500+ investors and ecosystem partners interested in inclusive fintech solutions.
Access to the SIGMA platform
- A key unique feature offering data-driven growth tracking, business model testing, and impact measurement tools.
Impact Measurement & Gender-Inclusive Practices
- Capacity building to collect sex-disaggregated data, integrate gender KPIs, and design inclusive financial products.
Knowledge & Media Opportunities
- Inclusion in case studies, podcasts, and docuseries to showcase impact.
Global Visibility
- Exposure through Seedstars’ +1M network and partner channels.
Onsite Tech Ecosystem Opportunities
- Invitations to key events in your region to network, showcase your venture, and explore partnerships.