Microsoft  launched its Affordable Access Initiative Grant Fund for a 2nd year bringing affordable internet access new tech & services to undeserved markets

Did you know?

Most of the world is not connected to the internet. Undeserved markets, rural areas and economically-disadvantaged communities are least likely to have access to the internet. With advances in the affordable access ecosystem and your solutions, 3.9 billion more people will be empowered to engage in the digital economy.

Mission

The Microsoft Affordable Access Initiative Grant Fund seeks to support, grow and scale innovative businesses that are developing technologies and business models that have the potential to help billions more people affordably get online. Areas of interest include last mile access technologies, off-grid renewable energy solutions, and alternative payment mechanisms, as well as verticals such as finance, payments, healthcare, education, and agriculture.

Grant recipients also receive Microsoft BizSpark, Microsoft’s development and test software that includes Azure, Windows, Visual Studio, Office and SQL Server. BizSpark comes with access to hundreds of free training classes and other technical content. Microsoft Philanthropies also provides digital literacy, online safety and computer science education programs in communities in which Affordable Access Initiative grants are given.

This year’s recipients include Electric Vine Industries (Indonesia), Kukua Weather Services (Uganda), Picosoft (Nepal), Sigora International (Haiti), Solaris Offgrid (Tanzania), Standard Microgrid (Zambia), SunCulture (Kenya), VABB (Virginia), VisionNet (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and WrightGrid (Democratic Republic of the Congo).