Giga Accelerator Programme 2025

📖 About Giga Accelerator Programme

The Giga Accelerator is a programme under the Giga initiative, anchored at the Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona and delivered primarily in a virtual format. It supports products that advance economically sustainable and inclusive school connectivity, helping innovators refine and scale their solutions while building strategic relationships across the digital connectivity ecosystem.

Goals of the Programme:

1. Support product development and sustainability through financial backing and mentorship.
2. Enhance commercial viability and ensure interoperability of solutions.
3. Foster relationships with high-potential partners in the telecom sector.

Focus Areas:

• Connecting Communities in Infrastructure-Constrained Environments: Solutions for communities where traditional connectivity infrastructure may be insufficient, unavailable, or unviable.
• Affordable and Sustainable Business Models & Financing Mechanisms: Creative business models, pricing approaches, or financing mechanisms to ensure digital connectivity remains financially viable and accessible.
• Viable Internet Provision for Underserved Areas: Sustainable, commercially viable internet provision at community scale, especially in peri-urban and rural areas.
• Optimizing Internet Provision for Underserved Areas: Leveraging the latest technologies for reliable performance adaptability and ease of deployment.
• Reducing Operational Barriers for Connectivity Providers: Solutions that ease operational complexity, cost, and technical skill requirements for delivering connectivity in remote areas.

🎁 Benefits of Giga Accelerator Programme

• USD $50,000 Non-Dilutive Grant: Flexible funding tied to clear, jointly defined milestones. Supports activities such as adapting solutions for new markets, independent testing, and acquiring essential tools.
• Structured Online Programme: Combines business strategy with deep technical insight. Participants receive mentorship and one-on-one support from subject matter experts. Sessions cover topics like fundraising, go-to-market planning, regulatory pathways, and technical guidance.
• Curated Network Access: Entry into a global network of stakeholders, including mobile network operators, connectivity initiatives, industry leaders, and policy influencers.
• In-Person Demo Day: Opportunity to present solutions to industry stakeholders, including mobile operators, public connectivity programmes, and aligned investors. Selected teams may present at international events like Mobile World Congress and the Giga Connectivity Forum.
• Emerging Market Alignment: Hands-on support, local input, and collaboration with governments and development agencies. Participants are positioned for future pilot opportunities and scalable implementation.

✅ Programme Requirements

1. Legal Registration: The applicant must be a legal entity, duly registered in one of the ITU Member States.
2. Compliance: Confirmation in writing that the entity and its owners are not subject to major ongoing litigation related to prohibited practices as defined by ITU.
3. Financial Stability: Proof of financial solvency to demonstrate the entity is a going concern.
4. Stage of Development: The product must be at a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 or higher (proof of concept or prototype phase).
5. Open-Source Commitment: The product must be an existing open-source project or the applicant must commit to an open-source contribution model before the end of their participation in the programme.

📅 Application Date and Process

Application Deadline:

September 21, 2025

Required Documents:

• Application Form
• Proof of legal registration & compliance documentation
• TRL self-assessment
• Open-source commitment declaration
• Organization’s Pitch Deck (highly recommended)

🌐 Application Portal

View details of the Giga Accelerator Programme.
Apply for the programme using the Application Form.

🏢 Sponsor Organisation

The programme is sponsored by Giga, a global initiative to connect schools to the internet.

For more information, visit the official Giga Accelerator Programme website.

• Each selected organization receives a USD $50,000 non-dilutive grant, tied to clear, jointly defined milestones. This flexible funding can support activities such as adapting your solution for new markets, independent testing, type approval/conformity assessment and/or acquiring essential tools to help your team move faster without giving up equity.
• Participants join a structured online programme that combines business strategy with deep technical insight. Each organization is matched with experienced mentors and benefits from ongoing, one-on-one support with subject matter experts throughout the programme. Sessions cover topics such as fundraising; go-to-market planning; regulatory pathways; and practical technical guidance to help strengthen each startup's solution and prepare it for real-world implementation.
• Gain entry into a curated network of global stakeholders, including mobile network operators, connectivity initiatives, industry leaders, and policy influencers. The programme fosters meaningful relationships and opportunities for partnership-both during and beyond the cohort period.
• The programme concludes with an in-person Demo Day, where participating organizations are introduced to a select group of industry stakeholders, including mobile operators, public connectivity programmes, and aligned investors. Giga will select leading teams to present at international events such as Mobile World Congress and the Giga Connectivity Forum, positioning their solutions for high-level collaboration.
• The programme prepares organizations to align their solutions with the needs of emerging markets through hands-on support, local input, and collaboration with governments and development agencies. Participants will be positioned for future pilot opportunities and scalable implementation.