10 Programs Helping AI for Good Startups Grow to the Next Level in 2021

When your startup is looking to take the next step in its growth, the access to support, mentorship, educational resources, and community can be game-changing to achieve success.

There are hundreds of support programs out there, accelerators, incubators, challenges, communities, and it can be an overwhelming process to find the right one for your project, especially when you’re developing AI technologies for positive impact projects.

We’ve sifted through hundreds of programs and put together a list of the 10 best ones helping specifically AI for Good startups in diverse industries such as energy, climate change, healthcare, or social good.

The Omdena AI Incubator is the only AI development program in the world exclusively for early-stage impact start-ups. They believe the future lies with start-ups that are driven by solving real-world problems rather than just maximizing shareholder profits. They will help 50 start-ups in the next 12 months by giving instant access to their platform of more than 1,700 AI engineers.

Carbon13 is the venture builder for the climate emergency. They are selecting and supporting 1000 entrepreneurs over 5 years who will build scalable ventures with the potential to reduce carbon emissions by over 400 million tonnes.

WaiACCELERATE is a new business acceleration program by Women in AI. This initiative targets women innovators looking to start a business in the fields of AI, Machine Learning and Data Science. With a focus on promoting ethical leadership and social impact, WaiACCELERATE is designed as a combination of various online modules and educational initiatives aimed at increasing the number of female-led innovative start-ups that use AI-related technology and are committed to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

In a span of 9 months, participants develop, nurture and grow their entrepreneurial dreams into competitive and profitable business ventures.

Impact Hub Amsterdam connects pioneers, leaders, and innovators to organisations, investors, and the public sector. They are a collaboration and innovation enabler.

Impact Hub Amsterdam is part of the Impact Hub network of 17,000 entrepreneurs and innovators in 102+ locations worldwide in 50+ countries spanning five continents. Since 2008 they have supported the start, growth and scaling of 4000+ of impact entrepreneurs, hosted 2400+ impact-focused events, provided collaborative working space for 3800+ members, and built a wider ecosystem of 10.000+ diverse impact actors in key issue areas, such as sustainable food, circularity, new plastics and inclusion.

The AI for Social Impact 2021 programme helps purpose-driven ventures in the UK advance their AI solutions to create positive social change. For the third year running, Microsoft for Start-ups UK and Social Tech Trust will select a cohort of organisations with a commitment to a social mission to join this 4-month programme.

This year, they’re looking for organisations that support the UK healthcare, manufacturing and resources industries to recover faster and better from COVID-19.

Rockstart was launched in 2011 in Amsterdam as one of Europe’s first start-up accelerators. Rockstart is a domain-focused accelerator-VC with follow-on growth funding that supports and empowers the best start-ups on their way to success across four domains: Energy, Health, AgriFood, and Emerging technologies. They provide start-ups with access to the capital, market, community, and expertise by connecting them to partners, investors, mentors and the wider Rockstart network.

The Fashion for Good Accelerator is the ultimate programme for start-ups driving innovation in sustainability, circularity and transparency to make all fashion good. Each year in March, they invite 10-15 start-ups to join their intensive global programme.

“Fair Forward” and “Make-IT in Africa” are projects implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to promote AI technology and digital innovations respectively. The Africa AI Accelerator has been designed by Ghana Tech Lab (GTL) to promote local innovations in the field of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data usage. The first cohort will support 10 AI start-ups from Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, and Uganda with program partners being GIZ and IBM.

The Program has been structured to provide start-ups with technical product development and business development support through a blended accelerator program with a virtual and physical interface. Customized to boost collaboration between start-ups and corporates, commercial partners, and investors, participating start-ups will receive support to meet clear growth aspirations through measurable targets setting.

Tech Nation fuels the growth of game-changing founders, leaders and scaling companies so they can positively transform societies and economies. They provide them with coaching, content and community they need for their journey in designing the future.

Tech Nation catalyses the 21st century infrastructure that accelerates the entire ecosystem, bringing together a network of purposeful founders and philanthropists, progressive enterprises and policymakers, influential funds and institutions in order to collaborate in building the technological innovation that will improve the future for the UK and beyond.

AI for Tomorrow is organizing a 4 month innovation challenge. Teams will develop an AI solution in the area of health, environment and society, get access to technical resources, webinars and 100+ mentors.

The Good AI is a media empowering companies and talent that use AI to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. We produce content and support with exposure, job board, and access to talent.