About Us | WFP Innovation

Do you have a great idea?
Apply to the WFP Innovation Accelerator

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was launched by the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme in 2015 to source new ideas, sprint pilot projects, and scale high-impact innovations by connecting them with WFP’s global network in over 120 countries and territories. From its base in Munich, Germany, the WFP Innovation Accelerator has grown to become one of the world's leading social impact startup accelerators. Together with the network of WFP regional innovation hubs and country office innovation teams, portfolio ventures and with the support of our partners, in 2024 the WFP Innovation Accelerator ran 18 programmes addressing a wide range of social impact and sustainability issues.

Our Impact in 2024

Countries & Territories

61 million

People

Building on WFP’s legacy of innovation, the WFP Innovation Accelerator was launched in 2015 to pilot new solutions and scale promising innovations to disrupt hunger. We positively impacted the lives of 61 million people across 90 countries and territories in 2024 alone.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator has been named as one of the ‘Best Workplaces for Innovators’ (2020, 2021, 2024), Most Innovative Companies (2021 and 2017) and ‘Innovation Team of the Year’ (2020) by Fast Company, for ongoing work in sourcing, nurturing and scaling innovative start-ups focused on reducing global hunger. Head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator, Bernhard Kowatsch, was also a 2023 Innovative Leader of the Year Fast Company finalist.

Globally, WFP was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize "for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict." Find out more at www.wfp.org/enablers.

What we do

We help innovators sprint from idea to impact

Our Sprint Programme is an intense six-month acceleration programme that helps innovators and start-ups reach proof-of-concept and develop prototypes ready for implementation. Apply for access to US $100,000 in funding, world-class mentors, results-driven programming, and WFP’s vast field operations.

We enable the scale-up of high-impact innovations

Our Scale-Up Enablement Programme enables the rapid scale up of high-impact innovations by providing tailored strategic planning, fundraising, communications, knowledge management and mentorship support. We scale up innovations that have the potential to significantly disrupt hunger by improving the livelihoods of millions of people, increasing efficiency and effectiveness across multiple countries.

We explore game-changing frontier innovations

New technologies are rapidly developing and deeply transforming our lives and the world, including in the area of humanitarian aid. Our Frontier Innovations Programme explores game-changing innovations and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, edge computing and robotics to help humanitarians deliver on their mandate more effectively.

We provide a platform for innovation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

WFP is committed to strengthening global partnerships that deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. Our Innovation Services Programme creates custom acceleration programmes, innovation journeys and ecosystem building activities with other United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, foundations and private sector organisations. Our goal is to drive systemic change through working together.

What we offer

Do you have a bold idea to disrupt hunger? Apply to the WFP Innovation Accelerator for the possibility to receive up to US $100,000 in equity-free funding, mentorship from industry experts, and access to the world’s largest humanitarian organization.

Equity-Free Funding

Hands-On Support

Access to Field Operations

Submit Your Innovation

What sets us apart?

We’re ranked one of the most innovative companies in the world.

In 2021, we received two Fast Company awards: ranking on their list of "Most Innovative Companies" (#2 Not-For-Profit) and "Best Workplaces for Innovators". This follows a 2020 ranking by Fast Company's "Best Workplace for Innovators" and "Innovation Team of the Year" awards — only 10 organizations worldwide received this dual honour. The Head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator, Bernhard Kowatsch, was also a 2023 Innovative Leader of the Year Fast Company finalist. These honours recognize our unique application of Silicon Valley entrepreneurial approaches to fighting world hunger.

Nine years, 55 bootcamps and millions of people reached.

Since 2015, we’ve raised over US$323 million in co-funding and ran 59 bootcamps, supporting 519 teams.

We’re on the cutting-edge of the world’s largest humanitarian agency.

We’re part of the World Food Programme: the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies, and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

We have a world-class network of mentors, partners and startups.

We’re proud to be part of a network of world-class mentors, partners and startups who can provide impactful and to-the-point support. From Google, to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to the United Nations Innovation Network, our partners span the private sector, non-profits, foundations, governments, and inter-governmental organizations.

We’re located in the heart of Munich and tapped into a global innovation ecosystem.

We’re tapped into the strength of Munich’s startup ecosystem and highly-educated, globally-connected talent pool. We’re also part of WFP: with more than 80 offices around the globe, we can provide unrivalled support to scale-up and roll-out high-impact innovations worldwide.

Our Innovation Principles