Why you should apply
Startups with bold visions, assemble! The Mercy Corps Ventures (MCV) AI for Financial Resilience Initiative 2025 empowers emerging-market tech ventures that are addressing the urgent challenge of financial exclusion. (Call for Applications – AI for Financial Resilience Initiative 2025). The goal: harness AI, blockchain and other frontier technologies to build accessible, resilient financial solutions for unbanked, under-banked and climate-vulnerable populations.
Here’s what makes this opportunity especially compelling:
- Purpose & Impact — All around the world, low-income individuals, women, immigrants, micro- and small enterprises, and climate-sensitive communities still lack equitable access to insurance, savings, credit, remittances and financial literacy. This initiative invites solutions that drive inclusive finance and strengthen resilience in these communities.
- Technology-led — Eligible applicants are those using AI or blockchain (or combinations thereof) to forge new pathways in financial inclusion: think AI-driven insurance, tokenised savings instruments, predictive credit, anticipatory cash transfers and more.
- Support beyond funding — Selected startups don’t just get a grant: they join a network, receive mentorship, grow through global partnerships and gain exposure via MCV’s ecosystem.
Who can apply?
You’re a strong fit if:
- You’re a startup actively building an AI- or blockchain-powered solution for financial inclusion.
- Your target users include unbanked or under-banked populations, low-income groups, women, immigrants, MSMEs especially in emerging markets (Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Asia).
- Your solution falls into one or more of the focus areas:
- AI-enabled financial literacy or training programmes
- Blockchain-enabled digital financial tools for insurance or savings
- AI systems for parametric credit, predictive finance or disaster-responsive cash transfers
What you’ll receive
- A grant of up to USD 50,000, equity-free — the funding is awarded based on milestone achievement.
- Access to mentorship and advisory support to help refine impact measurement, scale operations and expand networks.
- Invitation into MCV’s global ecosystem of partners and peers, with opportunities for visibility, collaboration and brand exposure.
Read: Ready to Scale Big? Apply Now to the 100x Impact Accelerator Programme 2026-2027 (Up to £150,000)
Application details & deadline
- Apply here: MCV Application Portal
- Deadline: Submissions must be received by December 1st, 2025. Don’t delay—this is a time-sensitive opportunity and the selection process will proceed swiftly.
- Be sure to complete all required fields and prepare supporting materials that showcase:
- What your solution does, how it uses AI or blockchain
- The target population and market need
- Evidence of traction or proof-of-concept (if available)
- The scalability and financial resilience benefit for users
Why this matters
As financial systems evolve, emerging markets face a dual challenge: enabling digital inclusion and ensuring resilience in the face of climate risks, economic shocks and underserved populations. Through this initiative, Mercy Corps Ventures recognises that innovation with purpose — especially tech-driven models — is the key to closing the gap. By applying, startups become part of a movement to redefine how financial services support the most vulnerable.
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Take action now!
Don’t wait until the last minute — round up your team, polish your pitch, gather your data and submit your application today. This kind of support doesn’t come around every day. If you’re solving a real challenge with verifiable impact potential in emerging markets, this could be your launchpad.
We hope to see your transformative solution in the mix. Good luck!
