The Financial Innovation Lab (FinLab) under the United Nation Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is running a “Gig Economy Challenge”. They are giving a grant for gig economy solution.
Financial health solutions for gig workers
The idea is to source for MVPs that can be piloted in KL that can offer solutions that can improve the financial health of gig workers across APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) (See the list all 23 APEC’s countries on UNCDF’s FAQ page).
Financial inclusion opportunity in South East Asia
I have written before my quick take on on the Temasek and Google joint report that set out the financial inclusion opportunity especially for the underbanked and unbanked group across the Asia Pacific.
What’s the prize
Top three teams will get a grant up to USD30,000 each and technical assistance worth USD100,000 to pilot the solution.
Since APEC is hosted in KL this year, it made a whole a lot of sense why the bootcamp will be done in KL as well. Hence why there’s a requirement that the MVP pilot has to be tested in Malaysia as well.
Who can apply
You can apply so long as you are a company formed in any of APEC’s countries and have at least an MVP in place.
Based on the conditions, it looks like they’re finding applicants that can tackle any of the financial health pillars like spending, saving, borrowing or financial planning. They do look pretty broad and seem to also open for applicants who may not have a technology solution attached to it.
Deadline
The selection process begins today 18 March 2020 and ends on 27 April 2020. The application form can be found on UNCDF’s website
I do hope that the whole Covid-19 pandemic would have subsided by then.
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