WFP Innovation Accelerator Sprint Program
Supports teams developing disruptive solutions to end hunger through bootcamps, mentorship, and equity-free funding.
A drone delivery system bringing food to conflict zones. An AI-powered crop disease detection app for smallholder farmers. A blockchain platform tracking food aid from warehouse to beneficiary. These aren’t hypotheticals—they’re real innovations that have emerged from the WFP Innovation Accelerator Sprint Program, the UN’s largest humanitarian innovation accelerator.
At a Glance
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Up to $100,000 (equity-free) |
| Program Duration | 3-6 months |
| Application Cycle | Rolling intake (multiple cohorts annually) |
| Eligible Applicants | Startups, NGOs, social enterprises, WFP staff |
| Focus | Zero Hunger / SDG 2 solutions |
| Location | Based in Munich, Germany (bootcamps) + virtual support |
What is the WFP Innovation Accelerator?
The World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator identifies, supports, and scales high-potential solutions to achieve Zero Hunger. Since 2015, it has supported 80+ projects in 45+ countries, reaching millions of beneficiaries.
The Sprint Program
The Sprint Program is the Accelerator’s flagship offering—a structured program that takes promising innovations through intensive development and testing:
What You Get:
- Up to $100,000 in equity-free funding
- 1-week in-person bootcamp in Munich
- 3-6 months of hands-on mentorship
- Access to WFP’s global field operations (presence in 120+ countries)
- Connection to investors, partners, and scaling opportunities
- Technical and operational support from WFP experts
Innovation Tracks
| Track | For | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint | Early-stage innovations with initial traction | Idea → Prototype → Pilot |
| Scale-Up | Proven innovations ready for expansion | Pilot → Scale |
| Boost | WFP internal innovations from country offices | Internal innovation support |
What WFP Is Looking For
Focus Areas
Your innovation must address one or more aspects of Zero Hunger:
1. Access to Food
- Last-mile delivery solutions
- Cash and voucher assistance technology
- Emergency response innovations
2. Food Systems
- Smallholder farmer productivity
- Post-harvest loss reduction
- Supply chain optimization
- Market linkages for producers
3. Nutrition
- Malnutrition detection and treatment
- Fortification and supplementation delivery
- Nutrition data and analytics
4. Climate Resilience
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Early warning systems
- Climate adaptation technologies
5. Emergency Response
- Disaster preparedness technology
- Rapid response logistics
- Refugee and IDP support solutions
Innovation Criteria
| Criterion | What They’re Looking For |
|---|---|
| Impact Potential | Could this reach millions of hungry people? |
| Innovation | Is this genuinely new or significantly improved? |
| Scalability | Can this grow beyond initial implementation? |
| Sustainability | Is there a viable business/operational model? |
| Team | Can this team execute and adapt? |
| WFP Fit | Does this complement WFP’s operations? |
Examples of Funded Innovations
Technology Solutions:
- H2Grow: Hydroponic farming in refugee camps
- SKAI: AI-powered satellite imagery for food security mapping
- Building Blocks: Blockchain for cash-based transfers
Agriculture Innovations:
- Digital extension services for smallholder farmers
- Cold storage solutions powered by solar energy
- Mobile platforms connecting farmers to markets
Nutrition & Health:
- SCOPE CODA: Biometric identity for aid distribution
- mNutrition: Mobile health and nutrition advice
- Smart food packaging with nutritional tracking
Eligibility Requirements
Who Can Apply
| Applicant Type | Eligible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tech startups | ✅ Yes | For-profit companies welcome |
| Social enterprises | ✅ Yes | Hybrid models fit well |
| NGOs | ✅ Yes | With innovative solutions |
| Research institutions | ✅ Yes | With applied innovations |
| WFP employees | ✅ Yes | Internal innovation track |
| Individual entrepreneurs | ✅ Yes | With registered entity or in formation |
Requirements
- Hunger/nutrition focus: Solution must directly or indirectly address food insecurity
- Some traction: Beyond idea stage—prototype, pilot, or early customers preferred
- Scalable model: Path to reaching thousands or millions of beneficiaries
- Committed team: Founder(s) available for bootcamp and program duration
- Global South focus: Solution must be applicable in developing country contexts
What Doesn’t Fit
- Pure research without practical application
- Solutions with no connection to food/hunger
- Concepts without any validation or traction
- Teams unable to commit to program activities
- Solutions only applicable in developed countries
Application Process
Stage 1: Online Application
Submit through the WFP Innovation Accelerator portal:
- Team information and backgrounds
- Problem statement and solution description
- Traction and evidence of impact
- Business/operational model
- Funding request and use of funds
- Video pitch (2-3 minutes)
Stage 2: Screening
The Accelerator team reviews applications for:
- Alignment with WFP priorities
- Innovation and uniqueness
- Team strength
- Scalability potential
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Stage 3: Interview
Shortlisted teams participate in virtual interviews:
- Deeper dive into solution and business model
- Team dynamics and capability assessment
- Discussion of potential WFP partnership fit
Stage 4: Selection
Selected teams receive:
- Official invitation to Sprint Program
- Funding agreement details
- Bootcamp logistics and preparation materials
Stage 5: Bootcamp (Munich)
1-week intensive in Munich, Germany:
- Design thinking workshops
- Business model refinement
- Pitch training
- Mentor matching
- Peer learning with cohort
Stage 6: Sprint Phase (3-6 months)
After bootcamp:
- Regular mentor check-ins
- Milestone-based funding disbursement
- Access to WFP field operations for pilots
- Technical support from WFP experts
- Demo Day presentation to investors and partners
Writing a Strong Application
What Makes Applications Stand Out
Clear problem articulation:
- Specific, quantified problem statement
- Why existing solutions are insufficient
- Evidence of the problem’s scale and urgency
Innovative solution:
- What’s genuinely new about your approach?
- Why is this better than alternatives?
- What’s your “unfair advantage”?
Demonstrated traction:
- Users, beneficiaries, or customers reached
- Pilot results or early evidence of impact
- Revenue, grants, or partnerships secured
Scalability:
- Clear path from current stage to millions of beneficiaries
- Unit economics that work at scale
- Realistic timeline for growth
Strong team:
- Relevant expertise and experience
- Commitment and dedication
- Complementary skills
The Video Pitch
Your 2-3 minute video is crucial:
- Lead with the problem and its urgency
- Clearly explain your solution (assume no prior knowledge)
- Share traction and evidence
- Show your team and passion
- End with a clear ask
Tips:
- Quality matters less than clarity—smartphone is fine
- Practice, but don’t read from a script
- Show your solution if possible (demo, screenshots)
- Be genuine and passionate
Program Benefits
Financial Support
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed funding | Up to $100,000 (equity-free) |
| Milestone-based | Released in tranches tied to progress |
| Flexible use | Support team, technology, pilots |
Non-Financial Support
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
| WFP field access | Test and pilot in 120+ countries |
| Expert mentorship | Sector specialists and entrepreneurs |
| Investor connections | Introductions to impact investors |
| Media exposure | WFP communications and press |
| Alumni network | Ongoing community of innovators |
| Follow-on funding | Access to Scale-Up program |
WFP Partnership Potential
The most valuable outcome for many participants:
- Pilot integration with WFP operations
- Access to WFP supply chains and logistics
- Potential procurement contracts
- Scaling through WFP’s global presence
Insider Tips
Before Applying
- Research WFP’s operations: Understand where your solution fits in their work
- Study past cohorts: See what types of innovations have been selected
- Get field validation: Evidence from developing country contexts is powerful
- Build a balanced team: Technical + operational + local expertise
During Application
- Be specific about impact: “Reduce post-harvest losses by 30% for 10,000 farmers” beats “help farmers”
- Show, don’t tell: Include screenshots, photos, data visualizations
- Be honest about stage: Early is okay; pretending to be further along backfires
- Demonstrate WFP fit: Explain specifically how WFP can help you scale
During the Program
- Be present at bootcamp: This is where relationships form—engage fully
- Leverage WFP access: The field operation access is uniquely valuable
- Meet your milestones: Funding tranches depend on progress
- Stay connected post-program: Alumni often return for Scale-Up
What WFP Really Wants
- Solutions that could integrate with WFP operations
- Innovations they might eventually procure or adopt
- Teams that can work with large UN organizations
- Scalable models, not one-off projects
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Application Errors
- Too vague about impact: Generic claims about “helping hungry people”
- Ignoring business model: Even nonprofits need sustainable economics
- Weak video: Low effort, unclear explanation, or reading from script
- No developing country relevance: Solutions only tested in developed contexts
Program Mistakes
- Missing bootcamp: Attendance is mandatory and critical
- Not engaging mentors: Underutilizing available support
- Overpromising, underdelivering: Set realistic milestones
- Ignoring WFP partnership: Not exploring integration opportunities
Strategic Mistakes
- Pure tech focus: WFP values solutions, not technology for its own sake
- Ignoring last mile: Fancy solutions that don’t work in low-resource settings
- Solo founder risk: Strong teams are preferred
- Exit before program ends: Commitment through Demo Day is expected
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the funding really equity-free?
Yes. WFP does not take equity in for-profit companies. The funding is a grant, not an investment.
Do I need to relocate to Munich?
No. Only the 1-week bootcamp is in Munich. The rest of the program is virtual with some optional travel to field offices.
Can I apply with just an idea?
Technically yes, but chances improve significantly with some traction—a prototype, pilot data, or early users.
How competitive is the program?
Very. Hundreds of applications per cohort, with 10-15 teams typically selected. Success rate is roughly 3-5%.
Can WFP become a customer?
Yes, and this is often the most valuable outcome. Several Sprint alumni have secured WFP procurement contracts.
What if my solution isn’t technology-based?
That’s fine. Process innovations, delivery model innovations, and social innovations are also welcome.
Can I apply again if rejected?
Yes. Many successful applicants applied multiple times. Use feedback to strengthen your application.
Is this only for food distribution?
No. The full food system is in scope—production, storage, distribution, consumption, and nutrition.
Is This Program Right for You?
Strong fit if:
- Your innovation directly addresses hunger or food insecurity
- You have some traction (beyond just an idea)
- You can commit to bootcamp and 3-6 months of program activities
- You want to work with/through large humanitarian organizations
- Your solution works in developing country, low-resource settings
Not the right fit if:
- Your innovation has no connection to food/hunger
- You’re at pure idea stage with no validation
- You can’t attend the Munich bootcamp
- Your solution only works in developed countries
- You’re seeking a large investment (this is grant funding, not VC)
The WFP Innovation Accelerator represents a unique opportunity to access the world’s largest humanitarian organization’s global infrastructure—offering not just funding, but a pathway to scale through WFP’s operations in 120+ countries.