Reliance Foundation, Gates Foundation advance scalable solutions for one million women; announce first-round winners of 'SheConnects Digital Accelerator: India'
New Delhi, July 16
The SheConnects Digital Accelerator, a joint initiative of Reliance Foundation and Gates Foundation, marked two major milestones in India with the announcement of the six non-profit organisations selected in Round 1, who will together reach nearly one million women, and the launch of the Request for Applications for the next round of grants.
The announcements were made in Delhi on Wednesday, bringing key stakeholders from government, academia, philanthropic, civil society, and technology ecosystems.
The SheConnects Digital Accelerator: India aims to advance women's digital inclusion by scaling proven, high-impact solutions that enable women and girls to participate fully in the digital world, improving their lives and livelihoods, as per the press release.
The Accelerator aims to catalyse innovative partnerships, strengthen evidence on what works, foster south-to-south learning, and help shape a more inclusive digital ecosystem. GSMA Foundation will support selected awardees in India with capacity-building bootcamps and peer-to-peer learning, alongside technical support to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of the digital solutions and programmes that awardees are creating for women.
Speaking at the event, Deepthi Reddy, Chief - Women Empowerment, Reliance Foundation, detailed the Accelerator's vision for India and officially announced the opening of Round 2.
"Empowering women with tools and confidence to participate fully in the digital world is essential to a more equitable future. When empowered women are at the centre, they drive more than their own journey and catalyse transformation in society. At Reliance Foundation, it has been our long-standing commitment to identify and encourage scale-up of transformative solutions. We are excited to welcome the first cohort of our valuable partners who bring unique ideas for driving this mission forward together," she said in a statement.
Saachi Bhalla, Deputy Director - Gender Equality, Gates Foundation, added perspectives from the Gates Foundation.
"The SheConnects Digital Accelerator represents an important opportunity for non-profit organizations to develop and scale solutions that advance women's meaningful digital inclusion, while generating practical evidence that can inform efforts across India and the Global South. Ultimately, the success of digital transformation will not be measured by the sophistication of our technologies, but by whether they improve people's lives. Through the SheConnects Digital Accelerator, we have an opportunity to ensure that innovation is both inclusive and impactful," she said.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, six non-profit organizations were selected for the inaugural round of grants with a collective commitment of Rs 25.84 crore for this round, to deploy evidence-based digital solutions across India. In total, the Round 1 portfolio is projected to impact nearly one million individuals.
The initiative's grantees include Project Concern International (PCI) India, to drive economic resilience and digital agency for rural women through its government-backed 'EmpowerHer' platform in Odisha; the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, to enhance agency of coastal fisherwomen across five states through digital skills and post-harvest facilities; Myna Mahila Foundation, leveraging Myna Bolo chatbot to expand last-mile healthcare access; the Digital Empowerment Foundation, to support rural women entrepreneurs through Soochnapreneur Business Mitras and one-stop centres across four states; A Society for Promotion of Inclusive and Relevant Education (ASPIRE), combining shared infrastructure with community-based training for women across four states; and Chaitanya, to equip self-help group (SHG) members with digital skills to navigate restrictive social practices and unlock economic advancement, as per the press release.
The SheConnects Digital Accelerator also announced the launch of applications for Round Two, inviting Indian non-profits to apply for funding where each selected grantee will be eligible for grants of up to Rs 4.2 crore per project. The funding is designed for projects spanning 15 to 18 months that target post-pilot, scale-stage solutions with high potential for scalability and sustainability.
The Accelerator seeks innovative, woman-centred designs combining technology (such as AI, chatbots and regional language tools) with behaviour change communications. The initiative also envisages sharing research and insights from the outcomes of these initiatives to inform the wider ecosystem.
In addition to grants, the selected organisations will be part of expert bootcamps, technical MEL assistance, and learning exchanges. Applications to be in English through a two-step online process via the official application portal by September 4, 2026.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is what real partnership looks like. Having worked with SHGs in rural India, I know how much of a difference digital access can make—especially for women who are often excluded from financial and health systems. The Myna Bolo chatbot for healthcare access is a brilliant idea. Let's hope this scales properly.
I appreciate the ambition to reach one million women, but I hope the implementation is mindful of ground realities. Many women in smaller towns still struggle with basic smartphone literacy. The focus on regional language tools is good, but we need more than chatbots—actual human trainers on the ground. Also, let's see how transparent the selection of NGOs is.
Good to see corporate and philanthropic foundations collaborating for a social cause. The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation's work with coastal fisherwomen is particularly impressive—they understand local contexts. My only concern: will these projects survive after the grant period? Need sustainable models, not just pilot projects. 🤔
Finally! A digital inclusion program that isn't just about giving smartphones. The emphasis on behavioral change and confidence-building is crucial. Many women in my village have phones but don't use them beyond calls due to fear or lack of training. This is a step in the right direction. Kudos to the team! 🌟
While the intent is noble, I wish they would also focus on digital safety for women. With more women online, we need stronger measures against cyber harassment and scams. Training on how to avoid phishing or fake job offers should be part of the curriculum. Just my two paise.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.