The World Bank GovTech Innovation Challenge 2025 for startups and SMEs (Sponsored Bootcamp in Switzerland) – Opportunities For Africans

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Application Deadline: September 19, 2025 23:59 CET

Applications at the moment are open for the 2025 World Bank GovTech Innovation Challenge. The GovTech Innovation Challenge is a pilot programme connecting authorities companions with progressive expertise corporations to handle vital public sector challenges. This initiative mobilises startups and SMEs to develop sensible options that improve authorities effectivity, transparency, and citizen providers by means of digital transformation.

This inaugural problem companions the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) with world expertise companies to develop options for tax administration challenges in Ghana. Three chosen corporations will take part in a improvement programme designed to in practical prototypes and potential implementation pathways.

Challenge statements
The problem statements, which function the premise for all proposal submissions, might be accessed at:

• Informal Sector Income Tax Identification and Registration
• E-commerce VAT Identification and Compliance

Eligibility Requirements

The Innovation Challenge is completely open to early-stage startups, scale-ups, and small to
medium enterprises (SMEs) on the worldwide stage. Large companies, multinational enterprises and subsidiaries of main companies will not be eligible to take part. To qualify for participation, applicant corporations should fulfill all the following necessary standards:

• Have fewer than 75 workers on the time of application
• Have annual income under $5 million USD (or equal worth in native foreign money) for the latest monetary 12 months
• Demonstrate confirmed crew functionality and related trade expertise relevant to the problem area
• Commit to energetic participation in pilot programme implementation and comply with complete information sharing necessities with programme companions
• Align organisational mission and proposed options with governmental expertise development and measurable social influence goals

Support

• Selected proposals will obtain complete help to develop their proposals into practical Proof of Concept (PoC) prototypes by means of a structured improvement programme. This contains technical consultations with authorities associate groups, participation in an intensive bootcamp in Switzerland targeted on public-private collaboration, and presentation Opportunities on the GovTech Conference for suggestions and visibility amongst worldwide stakeholders.

Technical and improvement consultations

• Selected innovation corporations will obtain complete technical help, together with help with documenting detailed technical necessities, detailed on-line consultations with GRA technical groups on implementation necessities, and pre-bootcamp preparation by means of on-line periods and help.

Bootcamp in Switzerland
The 4-day intensive bootcamp in Switzerland will present chosen startups with:

• Specialised workshops on startup and public sector collaboration
• Government Partner Sessions: Direct meet-the-team periods with Ghana Revenue Authority employees and different authorities representatives
• Hands-on working periods for prototype demos and improvement
• Access to technical mentors and trade specialists
• Opportunities to attach with different members, authorities officers, and worldwide improvement stakeholders
  The bootcamp is predicted to occur from 11 to 14 November 2025 (topic to alter)

GovTech Conference

• Each chosen firm will current their developed proposal and prototype on the Programme’s
  closing convention, held alongside the Trust Valley Day occasion on the CCIG in Geneva, Switzerland.

Application Timeline:

• Application deadline: September 19, 23:59 CET
• Proposal shows (on request): September 8-26
• Selected proposals announcement: October 3
• Proposal Proof of Concept implementation: October 6 – November 21
• Bootcamp: 11-14 November
• GovTech Conference: December 2, 2025

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the World Bank GovTech Innovation Challenge