Non-profit ICANN launches $10m grant for Kenyan innovators

STARTUP VENTURE CAPITALFebruary 1, 2024 at 7:31 PM UTC

TLDR

ICANN introduces a $10 million grant program to support innovators in Kenya and promote inclusive and transparent Internet infrastructure solutions.
The grant program is part of a larger initiative to increase Internet connectivity, especially in developing nations like Kenya.
The program aims to foster projects that enhance the unique identifier systems of the Internet and develop stable, user-friendly, and secure Internet infrastructure solutions.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a nonprofit organization overseeing the Domain Name System (DNS), has introduced a global Grant Program earmarking $10 million (KSh 1.6 billion) to support innovators in Kenya.

This initiative aims to foster projects that promote an inclusive and transparent approach to developing stable, user-friendly, and secure Internet infrastructure solutions, particularly those supporting the unique identifier systems of the Internet.

The upcoming phase cycle of grants is set to distribute a total of $210 million (KSh 33.6 billion), with the Kenyan fund marking the program's initial phase. The grant program aligns with the broader global trend of increasing Internet connectivity, especially in developing nations like Kenya.

Key Takeaways

Internet connectivity continues to increase worldwide, particularly in developing countries like Kenya. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an estimated 5.3 billion of the world’s population use the Internet as of 2022, a growth rate of 6.1% over 2021. The application cycle for the first $10 million in grants will open in March 2024. ICANN will begin accepting grant applications on 25th March 2024. The application window will remain open until 24th May 2024. A complete list of eligibility criteria can be found here.

ICANN

Kenya

Startups

Internet

Innovation