Deadline: December 1, 2025
Proposals are invited for the Mercy Corps Ventures’ AI for Financial Resilience 2025/2026. Emerging technologies like AI are rapidly reshaping the landscape for digital consumer products. When deployed responsibly, these tools can significantly improve the wellbeing of the 1.4 billion unbanked people around the world by building inclusive and user-friendly financial services.
MCV’s AI for Financial Resilience initiative leverages AI, blockchain, and emerging technologies to close financial service gaps for unbanked, underbanked, and climate-vulnerable populations in emerging markets, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia. The initiative pilots and scales solutions such as AI-driven insurance, parametric credit, savings via bond tokenization, and anticipatory cash transfers and remittances, aiming to improve financial access, economic resilience, and trust in digital finance.
Benefits
- MCV will provide milestone-based, equity-free grants of up to $50,000 to five eligible startups.
- Alongside capital, MCV will also provide mentorship, impact measurement advisory, access to partnership opportunities, knowledge exchange, and brand exposure.
Eligibility
- They are looking for innovative financial products for unbanked and underbanked people in emerging markets. This can range from using AI to drive financial literacy through education and training to increasing access to insurance, savings, credit, and emergency payments using AI- and blockchain-powered digital financial products.
- Primary beneficiaries: Unbanked and underbanked populations, with a strong emphasis on low-income individuals, women, immigrants, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
- Geographic focus: Emerging markets, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Application
The deadline for submitting applications is December 1, 2025. The form must be completed in English.
For more information, visit AI for Financial Resilience.
