WASHINGTON, DC, April 20, 2026 – Global nonprofit Accion, in partnership with strategy and behavioral design firm GRID Impact today launch the Trust by Design Fintech Challenge. Supported by the Gates Foundation, the Challenge identifies and rewards market-tested fintech solutions that build trust with women customers and demonstrate clear business impact. Applications are open to fintech companies, financial institutions, platforms embedding financial services, and other service providers that serve women who have traditionally been excluded from financial systems.
Lack of trust remains a major barrier to financial inclusion, with 20 percent of unbanked adults in low- and middle-income countries citing it as a key reason for staying out of the financial system[1]. Barriers like complex onboarding, unclear terms, limited recourse, and intrusive data practices make it harder to build trust among women customers. When trust is low, disengagement follows, leading customers to miss out on savings and credit while providers see lower retention and higher default rates.
The Trust by Design Fintech Challenge focuses on fintech solutions with measurable proof of impact, especially those that reduce harm, build trust, and drive sustained usage among women customers. This Challenge will highlight providers that prove trust is a competitive advantage.
The Challenge will award one $50,000 grand prize and a $10,000 prize to three finalists. Winners will be recognized as industry leaders in trust-centered fintech and connected to a global network of impact and commercial investors through curated events and showcases.
According to Michael Schlein, President and CEO of Accion, “Closing the gender gap in financial inclusion will require investment in solutions that are intentionally developed with women’s needs in mind. With the Trust by Design Challenge, we aim to bring attention to companies that are taking the lead in designing innovative financial products and services that women can trust to help them build businesses, provide for their families, and recover from economic shocks.”
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About Accion
Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the nearly two billion people who are failed by the global financial system. We develop and scale responsible digital financial solutions for small business owners, smallholder farmers, and women, so they can make informed decisions and improve their lives. Through targeted investment strategies, advisory solutions, and expert thought leadership, we work with local partners to develop and scale cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly financial solutions. Over its history, Accion has helped build 285 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 77 countries, reaching 478 million people. More at www.accion.org.
About GRID Impact
GRID Impact is a global collective of strategists, researchers, designers, and facilitators working at the intersection of social impact and economic development. Founded in 2014, GRID partners with foundations, multilaterals, and mission-driven organizations to navigate complexity, align diverse stakeholders, and translate ideas into actionable, human-centered strategies and investments. With a network spanning five continents, GRID brings deep expertise in areas including women’s financial inclusion, digital financial services, and inclusive economic systems. Learn more at www.gridimpact.org.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Open to all fintechs, represented by an applicant at least 18 years old at the time of entry. Begins 12:00AM EDT on April 20, 2026 and ends 11:59PM EDT on July 17, 2026. For more information and to enter visit https://www.accion.org/trustbydesign. Enter by 11:59PM EDT on May 22, 2026. Winners will be selected by a panel of qualified judges based on highest scoring evaluations. Total ARV of all prizes: $94,000. For full Official Rules, visit Accion-2026-Trust-by-Design-Fintech-Challenge-Official-Rules.pdf. Sponsored by Accion.
[1] World Bank, Global Findex 2025