Financial Literacy Solutions Sprint

About the Sprint

The Financial Literacy Solutions Sprint launched under the U.S. G20 Presidency will identify and accelerate innovative, technology-enabled solutions that improve how individuals and small businesses make financial decisions in practice.

Financial literacy and capability are widely recognized as important enablers of informed financial decision-making and sustained economic growth — key priorities under the U.S. G20 Presidency. However, traditional approaches have often struggled to translate knowledge into action. This Sprint focuses on identifying and cultivating solutions that are embedded within financial services and digital ecosystems, enabling users to make better decisions in real time, in context, and at scale.

Teams shortlisted as "Sprint Finalists" through the initial application process will participate in a structured innovation Sprint designed to refine their solutions, strengthen their value proposition, and define clear pathways to scale—particularly through partnerships with financial institutions, platforms, and delivery systems.

Following the Sprint, teams demonstrating the strongest potential for scale will be selected as "Winning Teams". These teams will be invited to present their solutions at the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with global policymakers, financial institutions, and development partners.

The Sprint prioritizes solutions that:

What Finalists and Winners Receive

4 to 6 finalists will participate in the Sprint, including virtual sessions and an in-person sprint in Washington DC (location TBC), and receive expert guidance. The 1-2 teams selected as winners will receive:

CGAP will cover all travel expenses associated with the Sprint.

Timeline

The Sprint will run from May to December 2026, with key milestones as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

The Sprint is open to organizations developing technology-enabled financial literacy or financial capability solutions with clear potential to scale.

Eligible applicants include:

• Financial service providers (banks, fintechs, MFIs, mobile money providers).
• Technology companies and AI developers.
• Financial literacy-focused non-profit, educational, and philanthropic organizations.
• Other innovators working in partnership with, or seeking to partner with, financial institutions or platforms.
• Central banks and other regulators that have developed and / or are testing innovative tech-enabled financial literacy solutions. 

Organizations applying for the Sprint must:

• Be domiciled in countries participating under the U.S. G20 Presidency (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Türkiye, UAE, UK, United States). Organizations domiciled in U.S. G20 Presidency countries with solutions that have potential to scale to other regions are welcome to apply.
• Have a working prototype or product in early-stage deployment that focuses on enhancing the financial literacy or capability of individuals and/or small businesses.
• Demonstrate evidence of user benefit and early traction.
• Present a credible pathway to scale, such as through partnerships or integration into existing systems.
• Target individuals and/or small businesses, including underserved populations.
• Be able to commit to participation in all Sprint events, including virtual and in-person sessions.

Selection & Judging Panel

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

A multidisciplinary judging panel, including financial service providers, technology and innovation experts, financial sector regulators, and policymakers, will evaluate applications and judge the Sprint.

How to Apply

Applications are open to organizations with proven, technology-enabled financial literacy solutions that are ready to scale.

Applicants must click on the button below to submit their application by 15 June 2026 (11:59 PM EST). Applications should be concise and focused on demonstrated potential for real-world impact.

Please note that applications cannot be saved and returned to later. Applicants should be prepared to complete and submit the application in one session. To help you prepare your responses in advance, you can review the full list of questions by clicking on the link below.

FAQs