HiiL Innovating Justice Challenge 2023 for Entrepreneurs in Africa and Middle East

Applications are currently open for the Hague Institute for the Innovation of Law (HiiL) Innovating Justice Challenge 2023. We are welcoming applications from justice innovations, and talented individuals willing to be leaders in justice innovation.

Application Deadline: 31st March 2023

Eligible Countries: The HiiL Justice Accelerator particularly encourages applications from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands.

To be taken at (country): The Hague, The Netherlands

About the Award: The HiiL Justice Accelerator finds and supports the world’s best justice entrepreneurs in order to create access to justice for all.

Between 40-50 startups, selected as semi-finalists, will be invited to pitch at local Boostcamps. This year’s Boostcamps will take place in Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Kampala, Kyiv, and The Hague. In some cases, startups may pitch by Skype or be brought to the nearest Boostcamp. Additionally, these semi-finalists will be guided through a “market validation” process.

Eligibility: We look for ventures with strong potential to prevent or resolve pressing justice needs. Examples of such eventures are those that deliver concrete justice solutions for many people, including micro, small and medium-sized businesses, and initiatives within existing justice systems or public institutions, spearheaded by driven intrapreneurs.

• Innovative justice initiatives who can make significant social impact
• Ventures that have a business model and the ambition to scale across a country or internationally
• Ventures that have a business model that enables them to become financially sustainable
• Ventures led by a motivated and strong team that includes experienced and inspiring founder(s)

Criteria: who can apply?

• The founder and applicant should be 18 years of age or older.
• The venture must be committed to providing access to justice underpinned by evidence showing justice needs.
• The person(s) with whom we engage should be the founder or a co-founder of the organization and should be able to make key, high-level, and direction-shifting decisions (such as whether or not to take investments and who to partner with) on behalf of the entire organization.
• We can only accept innovations to be incorporated with a bank account in the name of the legal entity by the time they receive our grant funding.

Selection Criteria:

• Scope (is it a justice innovation? is it solving pressing justice problem)
• Impact
• Uniqueness
• Sustainability
• Scalability
• Team

Value of Award: HiiL’s Justice Accelerator offers you a 4-month long programme that provides you with:

• €10,000 non-equity seed funding.
• Full training program delivered by industry specialists: business growth, marketing, team & leadership, impact measurement and much more.
• Coaching sessions and mentorship on topics of your choice.
• Access to HiiL’s global network of justice leaders, legal tech organisations and top level researchers.
• International exposure and potential investment opportunities.
• Chance to win up to €20.000 at the pitch event of the Innovating Justice Forum.

How to Apply: Click here to apply

Visit Program Webpage for details