The D-Prize Global Competition is built on the belief that the world has already invented the solutions needed to end poverty, but we lack the "distribution" to get them to everyone. This competition is not about inventing new technology; it is about building a business or NGO that delivers existing, high-impact solutions to those who need them most.

Start delivering your solution to poverty. D-Prize awards up to $20,000 to anyone ready to launch a new social enterprise that distributes proven, life-changing products like solar lamps or vaccines to the world's most vulnerable populations.

Who Can Apply & Eligible Activities

Who Can Apply

• D-Prize is specifically designed for those at the very beginning of their journey.

• First-Time Founders: Most awardees have never launched a venture before.

• Early-Stage Ventures: You may apply if you have been operating for less than 18 months and have raised less than $30,000 USD in outside funding.

• Background Agnostic: Open to any individual or team regardless of age, education, or professional background.

• Global Access: Applicants from any country are welcome, provided the project is implemented in a low-to-middle-income region.

Eligible Activities include (but are not limited to):

• Your project must focus on a "distribution challenge" in one of the following categories:

• Health: Delivering maternal health items, child immunizations, or oxygen concentrators.

• Water & Sanitation: Distributing chlorine dispensers or ceramic water filters.

• Agriculture: Providing smallholder farmers with quality seeds, fertilizer, or post-harvest storage.

• Livelihoods: Launching "Poverty Graduation" programs or distributing reading glasses.

• Energy: Providing solar lamps or clean cookstoves to off-grid communities.

• Education: Phone-based tutoring or accountability tools for schools.

• Custom Challenge: Propose a distribution model for a proven poverty intervention not listed above.

Funding & Terms

• Pilot Phase: The $20,000 grant is intended to fund a 3-month pilot to prove your distribution model works on a small scale.

• Business Model: D-Prize seeds all types of organizations, including for-profits, non-profits, and charities.

• Implementation: Funding is paid upfront to help you launch immediately.

Key Steps for Applicants

1. Round 1: Submit a 2-page concept note and a resume.

2. Round 2: Shortlisted applicants (Top 5%) are invited to answer detailed operational questions.

3. Final Round: Finalists (Top 1%) conduct interviews with the D-Prize judging panel via phone/email.

Eligible Countries

The program covers a broad set of countries in the Latin America & Caribbean region, including but not limited to:

• Haiti 

• Dominican Republic 

• Jamaica 

• Grenada 

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• Dominica 

• Saint Lucia 

• Cuba

• Guyana 

• Suriname 

• Belize 

• Guatemala 

• Honduras 

• Nicaragua 

• Bolivia 

• Ecuador 

• Peru

Additional Notes for Applicants

• Focus on Distribution: Do not pitch a new invention. Your application will be rejected if you are trying to "invent" a product rather than "distribute" an existing one.

• Evidence is Non-Negotiable: D-Prize does not fund "good ideas"—they fund "proven outcomes." If you choose the Custom Challenge, you must provide links to third-party research (like a World Bank study or a peer-reviewed journal) that proves your chosen intervention actually reduces poverty.

• The "Pilot to Scale" Mentality: While the grant funds a 90-day pilot, the judges are looking for a two-year vision. In your application, be ready to explain how you will go from serving 100 people in your pilot to 100,000 people in the future.

• Lean and Local: They value "frugal innovation." Your budget should show how you can keep costs low so that most of the grant money goes directly toward getting the product into the hands of the community.

• Team Skills Over Titles: You don’t need an MBA. D-Prize looks for "doers"—people with the grit to navigate local logistics, build trust in underserved neighborhoods, and solve problems on the ground.

• Feedback for All Finalists: Unlike many global grants, D-Prize is committed to entrepreneur growth. Every applicant who makes it to Round 2 will receive detailed, professional feedback from the judging panel, even if they aren't selected for the final award.

Learn More

Visit the official programme page:

https://d-prize.org/ 

Register for an extention:

https://d-prize.org/extension

Antigua Digest’s Note

While many Caribbean nations are moving toward higher-income status, pockets of vulnerability remain. We encourage applicants to look at the Custom Challenge category to propose distribution solutions that fit the unique logistical challenges of island geography and regional supply chains.

"At Antigua Digest, we recognize that while our islands and neighbors in Latin America are often celebrated for their beauty and growth, the 'last-mile' gap remains a reality for many. Logistical hurdles—like inter-island transport costs or rural mountain access—often prevent life-saving tools from reaching our most vulnerable citizens.

Global funders often lack the 'boots-on-the-ground' insight that you possess. You understand the unique social fabric, the language, and the informal networks of the Caribbean and Latin America. D-Prize isn't looking for a savior from the outside; they are looking for a local leader who says, 'I know exactly why this isn't reaching my people, and I know how to fix the delivery.'

Don't let the 'Global' title intimidate you. Our region is a powerhouse of resilience and creativity. Whether it’s adapting solar irrigation for Caribbean farmers or bringing maternal health kits to remote coastal villages, your pilot could become the blueprint for the entire region. Let’s put the Caribbean and Latin America on the D-Prize winner’s map this year. The world has the solution—now it's your turn to deliver it."

Need Help Applying?

Antigua Digest offers support services for individuals, entrepreneurs, non- profit organizations and MSMEs seeking grant funding.

We can assist you with:

• Project concept development and alignment with grant criteria

• Proposal writing (narrative, budget, logical framework)

• Review of eligibility and compliance with terms

• Submission monitoring and follow-up

Contact us at admin@antiguadigest.com for tailored assistance with your submission.