Applications Invited for Digital Society Challenge 2020

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About the Organization:

Omidyar Network India invests in bold entrepreneurs who help create a meaningful life for every Indian, especially the hundreds of millions of Indians in low-income and lower-middle-income populations, ranging from the poorest among us to the existing middle class. To drive empowerment and social impact at scale, they work with entrepreneurs in the private, nonprofit and public sectors, who are tackling India’s hardest and most chronic problems.

Digital Society Challenge

The Digital Society Challenge is a funding program for bold innovators who are creating solutions to make the internet safer for the Next Half Billion, such that online risks are better addressed and the NHB can communicate and transact more freely online. Winning proposals will receive funding from Omidyar Network India.

Type of innovation

They are looking for ideas or solutions that directly impact individuals. While we actively fund research, surveys and events, we will not be doing so under this Challenge.

Applications under this challenge could be either -

• A direct-to-individual setting where the solution is directly provided to internet users, ideally the NHB. As an illustration, this could be an app that provides users information about digital risks or training gram panchayat members on these issues.
• An organisation-to-organisation setting where a solution directly empowers another organisation that is catering to individuals. As an illustration, this could be an open source tool that non-profits can use to engage their beneficiaries in a privacy-protecting environment.

Type of investment

The challenge is open to both for-profit as well as non-profit organisations under three distinct tracks.

Participants must clearly review the requirements of each track, and must submit their application under the track applicable to them. There will not be cross-transfer of applications between different tracks. Individual innovators can also apply, but they will need to collaborate with one of the eligible organisations.

The three tracks are -

• Grants - Grants to non-profit entities that habitually receive grants in compliance with applicable laws. These entities must have a valid and subsisting FCRA(Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) registration.
• Service Agreements - Service Agreements to entities that habitually provide such services to their clients. Both non-profit and for-profit entities can propose service agreements
• Equity Investments - Equity investments in for-profit enterprises willing to receive equity investments. The for profits enterprises need to be registered companies.

Who can apply?

• The challenge is inviting proposals from three categories of applicants. Start-ups can apply for equity investments, and non-profits can apply for grants to undertake projects or strengthen their organizations. Organizations that provide services to clients can also apply for service contracts to execute their ideas.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are as follows -

• Reach: The solution should reach and empower a large number of Indians, especially in the NHB.
• Depth of Impact: The solution should have a deep impact on the lives it touches.
• Innovation: The solution should have either tech or non-tech novelty that disrupts current systems.

Timeline

• The challenge will be spread across a maximum period of 1 month, with the final submission deadline being 23rd October, 2020. They will shortlist applicants on a rolling basis, so the earlier you submit the better.

Contact: digitalsociety@omidyarnetwork.in

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