SafeStart Global Inc.
SafeStart expands access to safe drinking water through a community-based chlorine access model in rural Kano State, Nigeria.
CUSTOM CHALLENGE; Nigeria
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Distributing safe water treatment (point-of-use chlorination).
Learn more about the Custom Challenge and why we only fund ideas that focus on distributing proven poverty interventions.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
SafeStart’s mission is to accelerate proven, cost-effective maternal and child health innovations from evidence to real-world delivery.
SafeStart expands access to safe drinking water through a community-based chlorine access model in rural Kano State, Nigeria. The model combines community engagement and behavior change activities with reliable last-mile access to chlorine products through trusted local distribution points. By addressing both knowledge and access barriers, SafeStart helps households consistently treat drinking water and sustain safer water practices over time.
SafeStart expands access to safe drinking water through a community-based chlorine access model in rural Kano State, Nigeria. The model combines community engagement and behavior change activities with reliable last-mile access to chlorine products through trusted local distribution points. By addressing both knowledge and access barriers, SafeStart helps households consistently treat drinking water and sustain safer water practices over time.
SafeStart was founded in 2026 by Elisa Maffioli and Grant Edmond to help proven global health interventions reach families at scale. Elisa leads research and partnerships while continuing her academic role; Grant serves full-time and leads operations, finance, monitoring and evaluation, and implementation.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Reach 139,000 people.
Distribute safe water treatment (point-of-use chlorination).
Raise ~$700k.
FOUNDING TEAM
Elisa Maria Maffioli - Founder
Grant Edmond - Founder
Miti Mitaani
Kiswahili for ‘trees in our neighborhoods’, Miti Mitaani pays urban youth to establish community forests which mitigate the impact of climate change.
CUSTOM CHALLENGE; Kenya
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Reforesting trees and providing work for young people
Learn more about the Custom Challenge and why we only fund ideas that focus on distributing proven poverty interventions.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Kiswahili for ‘trees in our neighborhoods’, Miti Mitaani pays urban youth to establish community forests which mitigate the impact of climate change.
Miti Mitaani pays urban youth to establish community forests. By engaging unemployed youth in African cities as tree stewards (they plant and maintain the trees monthly), there is huge potential to rapidly scale tree cover in African cities. Miti Mitaani currently operates in Nairobi, Kenya.
Trees are the most scalable and affordable solution to mitigate the effects of climate change, especially in resource-constrained countries. Community forests can transform cities by making them cooler and greener, in addition to other benefits such as cleaner air, habitat for urban wildlife, improving the rain cycle, reducing flash floods etc.
A youth participant enrolled in Miti Mitaani’s program has the opportunity to earn up to $375 annually. Their pilots to date show that stewardship payments are invested in businesses (ex. light motorcycle transportation) and meeting basic needs such as food and healthcare. 100% of the participants in their initial pilot reported they would join Miti Mitaani again.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
30 at-risk youth from a low-income neighbourhood of Nairobi will be engaged as tree stewards.
Each of these 30 hired youth will be responsible for planting and maintaining 500 trees, bringing the total number of trees planted to 15,000.
Raise an additional $10 - 15,000 USD from new donors within the pilot period.
FOUNDING TEAM
Ronny Mutua - Founder, Strategy & Partnerships Lead
Maria Omulubi - Co-Founder, Program & Operations Lead
Leaf Global Fintech
Leaf provides digital financial services to refugees so that they can store and transport assets across borders from a feature phone, avoiding cash.
CUSTOM CHALLENGE; RWANDA and DRC
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Improving access to financial services for refugees through mobile phones.
Learn more about the Custom Challenge and why we only fund ideas that focus on distributing proven poverty interventions.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Leaf Global Fintech provides digital financial services to refugees so that they can store and transport assets across borders from a feature phone, avoiding cash.
Leaf stores and transports assets across borders from a mobile device—no smartphone required. Refugees and migrants can journey without cash, knowing accounts are safe and accessible globally. Digitizing the process drastically reduces exchange and transfer fees. Friends and family abroad can also contribute into the Leaf customer’s account in a convenient and affordable way. Leaf protects customers’ savings through blockchain technology without exposure to cryptocurrency. By allowing customers to retain more value and increasing accessible funds through contributions from abroad, Leaf gives customers a better start with financial security and lessens their dependence on host countries and foreign aid.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Serve 10,000 customers during the pilot period
FOUNDING TEAM
Nat Robinson - Co-Founder and CEO
Tori Samples - Co-Founder and CFO
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