About Us | WFP Innovation

Do you have a great solution?
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 2025 the WFP Innovation Accelerator ran 14 programmes addressing a wide range of social impact and sustainability issues.

Our Impact in 2025

Countries & Territories

132.4 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 132.4 million people across 90 countries and territories in 2025 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 accelerate and scale proven, field-driven innovations

Our user-centric, data-driven and systematic process focuses on the challenges that matter most for impact. Our innovation support helps strengthen user-centric value propositions, generate robust proof of concepts and develop scalable and sustainable models. We support tools that leverage advanced technologies like AI, geospatial analytics and biotechnology to make progress on humanitarian and development challenges. When a solution is ready to scale, we provide tailored growth strategies, sustainable business models and strong partnership pathways that drive institutional adoption and deliver measurable, lasting improvements for vulnerable communities.

Innovation portfolio

We pioneer humanitarian AI innovations

Zero Hunger is only possible when we leverage innovation and advanced technologies to optimize resources, enhance decision-making and improve food distribution systems. We invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered solutions and technologies to mitigate the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition.

Artificial Intelligence

We amplify and enable the collective impact of the UN system

We envision an integrated humanitarian and development innovation system that works as one. As WFP’s dedicated interagency unit working with external ventures, SDGx amplifies and enables the collective impact of WFP, the UN system, its partners and the impact ecosystem.

SDGx

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 team explores and implements game-changing innovations and cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, web3, fintech, autonomous vehicles and robotics, to support humanitarian and development assistance and deliver efficiency and effectiveness gains to WFP operations.

Frontier Innovations

We build ecosystems of innovators to multiply impact

We serve as a catalyst for the UN, private and public sector, ventures, academia, NGOs and other institutions to come together to solve problems. Together, we leverage diverse resources and expertise to transform the humanitarian and development landscape. Working with WFP colleagues around the globe, we host the WFP Innovation Network to share knowledge and amplify innovations.

WFP Innovation Network

We develop innovative finance solutions for innovations to scale sustainably

We expand the funding sources of innovations tackling hunger. We develop and implement catalytic mechanisms to attract and blend different sources of capital and grow the lifetime value of each dollar WFP receives. These new forms of sustainable financing are crucial to transforming the humanitarian landscape and closing the funding gap.

What we offer

Do you have a bold solution solving humanitarian challenges? Apply to the WFP Innovation Accelerator for the possibility to receive equity-free funding, tailored support to scale, 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.

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. Only 10 organizations worldwide received the dual honour of Fast Company's "Best Workplace for Innovators" and "Innovation Team of the Year" awards. 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.

Ten years, 55 bootcamps and millions of people reached.

Since 2015, we’ve raised over US$383 million in co-funding and ran 62 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