Call for Proposals: Tech Solutions For Climate Resilience In Colombia
In brief
Mercy Corps Ventures is seeking early-stage startups in Colombia developing tech-enabled solutions that strengthen climate resilience for vulnerable communities. Selected ventures will receive equity-free grants (up to $40,000), technical assistance, and access to our global network of partners and investors.
Deadline: February 9, 2026, 9:00 pm (Colombia time)
Info session: January 29, 2026, 9:00 am (Colombia time). Register here.
Questions: Contact Maria Gomez at margomez@mercycorps.org
Language: Applications accepted in Spanish or English
The Problem
Colombia’s diverse geography makes it highly vulnerable to climate shocks – droughts, floods, landslides, heatwaves, and rising seas. These impacts hit the hardest in hard-to-reach locations, such as San Andres and Providencia and the Amazon region and among smallholder farmers, microenterprises, and marginalized communities, deepening the inequality and threatening food security, livelihoods, and homes.
The Opportunity
Technology offers a powerful way to address these challenges. Through this call, Mercy Corps Ventures aims to test first-of-a-kind innovations, prove sustainable business models, and generate insights on what works for building climate resilience in Colombia.
Scope
Geography: Startups operating in Colombia
Stage: Early stage (pre-seed or seed)
Solutions: Tech-enabled innovations that help communities prepare for, adapt to, or recover from climate shocks. We support solutions that fit within our Resilient Futures Thesis, including
Adaptive agriculture & food systems. How can we help farmers adapt to climate variability and shocks? How can technology improve food security while protecting ecosystems? We seek tech-enabled solutions that help smallholder farmers in Colombia improve yields, protect the environment, transition to sustainable practices, and reduce waste, among others.
Inclusive climate fintech. How can financial tools help vulnerable communities prepare for and recover from climate shocks? How can we unlock access to finance for climate resilience? We seek fintech models that enable climate adaptation and risk management, such as microinsurance for farmers, low-income households or MSMEs, credit and asset financing for climate-smart technologies, and payment and savings solutions that support resilient investments.
Climate-smart technologies. How can we better anticipate, monitor, and respond to climate risks and disasters? How can technology strengthen infrastructure and systems for communities at risk? How can we protect ecosystems and enable sustainable resource use? We seek innovations that help better anticipate and manage climate risks, reshape fragile systems, and enable efficiency of ecosystem monitoring and protection.
Primary beneficiaries: Underserved populations, such as low-income populations, internally displaced people, smallholder farmers, and MSMEs.
What we are looking for
We seek early-stage, for profit startups in Colombia developing tech-enabled solutions for climate resilience. Solutions should be aligned with Mercy Corps Ventures’ Resilient Future Thesis, focusing on adaptive agriculture, inclusive fintech, and climate-smart technologies.
Selected ventures should demonstrate:
Impact: Clear, actionable plans to benefit vulnerable communities such as smallholder farmers, displaced people, low-income households and/or small businesses.
Innovation: Solutions that are transformative and first-of-a-kind in the Colombian context.
Scalability: A pathway to replicate and scale with sustainable unit economics.
Strong team execution: Capacity and track record to deliver the proposed solution effectively.
Benefits for selected startups
Equity-free grants up to $40,000
Technical assistance and mentorship
Access to Mercy Corps Ventures’ global network of partners and investors
How to apply
Deadline: February 9, 2026, 9:00 pm (Colombia time)
Info session: January 29, 2026, 9:00 am (Colombia time)
Register here.
For questions, contact Maria Gomez (margomez@mercycorps.org)