Applications are now open for the 2027 D-Prize Challenge. The D-Prize seed new organizations
distributing proven poverty solutions, all aiming to scale.
Requirements
- You should have enormous ambition and can imagine yourself as a successful entrepreneur.
- You are ready to launch your new venture, and if a pilot proves successful you are excited to
grow it into a world-changing organization. - If you are still a student or have existing commitments, you should have a clear idea of how
to transition into a full-time founder. - D-Prize is exclusively interested in ventures that will scale the distribution of an already
proven poverty intervention in the developing world.
Eligibility
- D-Prize challenges are open to anyone or any team. The sole restriction is that individuals
and their immediate family on the judging panel may not participate as contestants. - D-Prize is also open to any business model (for-profit, non-profit, and everything in between).
- All winners will be awarded up to $20,000. The award is offered in the form of a convertible
grant.
Application Timeline:
Round 1
First Round proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis, using the following deadlines. We
strive to send decisions out within four months. Judges may request additional information
via email before making a decision.
- Early decision deadline: May 17 2026 at 23:59 PT (Pacific Time, UTC -7).
- Regular deadline: June 7 2026 at 23:59 PT.
- Extension deadline: June 28 2026 at 23:59 PT. Extensions are limited to the first people
who register at: www.d-prize.org/extension
Round 2
Top entrepreneurs invited to participate in Round 2 will be asked to respond to several pages
of short written questions to create a full proposal. These questions ask for more details
about your operations, budget, milestones, and other items. Participants will receive a Round
2 Proposal Packet with full instructions. Those invited to the Second Round will have about
two weeks to submit.
Final Round
Entrepreneurs invited to the Final Round will interview with judges over email and on the
phone. Depending on the promise and cost-effectiveness of a proposal, judges may award
up to $20,000 in funding. The average D-Prize award size is $16,000.
