HRA INVESTOR TANK
Igniting Diaspora Innovation
Presented by Diaspora Partnership Accelerator (DPA) and funded by USAID
USAID is launching the “HRA INVESTOR TANK: IGNITING DIASPORA INNOVATION,” an initiative offering diaspora organizations with existing projects in Haiti an opportunity to pitch their concepts to a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) during a live virtual event for a chance to win $150,000 USD. As part of this initiative, HRA is recruiting diaspora organizations with projects in Agribusiness, Health and Shelter (housing development) to participate for a chance to win. Fifteen (15) finalists will be selected to pitch their projects at the live virtual event to be held in OCTOBER 2021. During the event, the TEC will select three winners—one from each sector—based on feasibility, scalability, and impact. USAID will award $150,000 USD to each winner to implement their respective project in Haiti. The Haitian diaspora community at large is also invited to join and vote for their favorite projects during the live virtual event.
HRA is hosting a session via Zoom on July 27th at 6-7PM EST. We will provide more information and answer questions about the competition and the initiative. Registration is required to participate.
Applications are now closed!
Winners will be announced on September 8th! Stay Tuned!
Key Dates!
The Diaspora Partnership Accelerator (DPA) is a pilot project designed to bring new voices and perspectives to the Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA) at the USAID overall diaspora engagement strategy. Putting Diaspora in the driver’s seat…” Haiti Renewal Alliance (HRA) is rolling out a diaspora outreach and communications strategy to recruit applicants with projects in Shelter (housing development), Health and Agribusiness from the larger Haitian diaspora community to participate in a virtual pitch event, “HRA Investor Tank: Igniting Diaspora Innovation”, presented by Diaspora Partnership Accelerator (DPA) and funded by USAID
Key Dates!
July-November 2021
Diaspora organizations working in Haiti have a huge opportunity to benefit from this initiative. This model follows HRA’s signature “Investor Tank” series, inspired by the hit show “Shark Tank.” HRA’s “Investor Tank” has been a constant feature of its annual expo and conference. The “Investor Tank” targets diaspora organizations with existing businesses or development projects, seeking funds from grantors, diaspora investors, or venture capitalists.
Apply on
Apply on Jul 1st until Aug 16th
Announcement
Announcement of 15 projects Sep 8th.
Pitch
Pitching of projects on October 2021
Winners
Announced during the Live Event on November 2021
RSVP to the LIVE Pitch Events
Attend
Shelter, health and agribusiness
Nonprofit, as well as For-profit, diaspora organizations are invited to apply to be on the HRA INVESTOR TANK: IGNITING DIASPORA INNOVATION for a chance to be selected to pitch your projects. Applicants must adhere to the eligibility requirements outlined.
To participate, diaspora organizations will submit an online form which includes a two to three page executive summary addressing specific questions on their existing in-country projects including humanitarian assistance features. HRA and partners have developed the project selection criteria based on the TEC proposed guidelines including, but not limited to:
- Must be a diaspora organization located in North America (USA and Canada)
- Must operate outside of PAP metropolitan area
- Must be a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) or For-Profit
- Must be in one of these sectors:
- – Health
- – Agribusiness
- – Shelter (housing development)
- Must have a minimum two (2) years in business
- Must be an existing project looking for funding for growth and expansion
$150,000 Per Project
Project
Diaspora Partnership Accelerator
The Diaspora Partnership Accelerator (DPA) is a pilot project funded by USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and and implemented in
partnership with Haiti Renewal Alliance (HRA).
Institutional humanitarian actors and donors find themselves at a crossroad where new approaches, innovative voices, and dynamic partnerships must be explored in order to deliver the most efficient and impactful humanitarian aid. The Diaspora Partnership Accelerator is situated against this backdrop and, through this initiative, we aim to (i) better identify and prioritize the humanitarian needs affecting vulnerable communities in Haiti, (ii) design and implement better solutions to those problems, and (iii) test an innovative partnership model with new and non-traditional actors.
Our Event Structure
INVESTOR TANK: IGNITING DIASPORA INNOVATION
The Diaspora Partnership Accelerator is recruiting applicants from the Haitian
diaspora with projects in Agribusiness, Health and Shelter (housing development). Eligible projects must fall into three Humanitarian Assistance(HA)/Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)/Disaster Risk Management (DRM) sectors: Health, Shelter, and Agribusiness. Three diaspora associations whose projects offer the most innovative and impactful solutions will win prize money of $150,000 towards project implementation, as well as tailored capacity building/mentorship support.
- 13 finalists will pitch their projects in a live virtual event to a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC)) composed of representatives from BHA, PM Consulting Group, and HRA.
- The TEC developed standardized criteria and indicators to select three winning diaspora-led micro-projects for implementation. The TEC is composed of technical/sectoral experts, BHA, PMCG, HRA, and private sector investors. Transparent selection criteria and partnership terms are shared with all parties in advance of the event.
- Members of the Haitian diaspora at large vote for their favorite projects during the live virtual event. This popular vote will be taken into account for the final selection made by the TEC. Ideally there will be a feature for live audience reactions and an instantaneous vote tracker.
- Pitches will also be recorded and broadcast so that and the members of the Haitian diaspora at large will have a chance to vote on their favorite projects. The public will have 5 days after each live pitch event is completed to watch the show and vote on their favorite.
- The TEC developed standardized criteria and indicators to select three winning diaspora-led micro-projects for implementation. Transparent selection criteria and partnership terms are shared with all parties in advance of the events. The TEC’s vote will comprise 75% of the score and the popular vote will account for the remaining 25% of the final score.
1
BHA
Bring new voices and perspectives to the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)
3
Solutions
Design and implement better solutions to those problems
2
Needs
Better identify and prioritize the humanitarian needs affecting vulnerable communities
4
New Actors
Test an innovative partnership model with new and non-traditional actors
SUBMIT THE FORM
How do I apply?
HRA’s signature session, “Investors’ Tank”, inspired by the hit show “Shark’s Tank“, is for diaspora organizations with existing businesses or development projects seeking funding from grantors, Diaspora investors or venture capitalists.
To participate, diaspora organizations will submit a two (2) to three (3) page executive summary addressing specific questions on their existing in-country projects including humanitarian assistance features. HRA and partners will develop project selection criteria based on the TEC proposed guidelines including, but not limited to:
- HEALTH
Includes the hospitals, sanatoriums, nursing and care homes, medical and dental practices, ambulance transportation, complementary medicine and other health activities, such as medical laboratories and scientific and research services,
- Must be a diaspora organization located in North America or Haiti
- Must operate outside of PAP metropolitan area
- Must be a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) or For-Profit
- Must have a minimum two (2) years in business
- Must be an existing project looking for funding
- SHELTER
The shelter sector during emergencies supports people affected by disasters and internally displaced people affected by conflict with the means to live in safe, dignified and appropriate shelter, such as buildings and structures that provide shelter, privacy, and protection from danger or bad weather.
- Must be a diaspora organization located in North America or Haiti
- Must operate outside of PAP metropolitan area
- Must be a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) or For-Profit
- Must have a minimum two (2) years in business
- Must be an existing project looking for funding
- AGRIBUSINESS
A combination of the words “agriculture” and “business” and refers to any business related to farming and farming-related commercial activities.
- Must be a diaspora organization located in North America or Haiti
- Must operate outside of PAP metropolitan area
- Must be a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) or For-Profit
- Must have a minimum two (2) years in business
- Must be an existing project looking for funding
ORGANIZERS
