Top Humanitarian Startups in 2027

In a world of MicroCells, FemtoCells, PicoCells, and overall NotAddressingTheRealProblemCells, we designed the BentoCell. It's a cell tower the size of a lunch box that draws less power than a lightbulb. They can be deployed by anyone with the push of a button -- no radio engineers necessary on the ground. They use a decentralized mesh network on the backend to allow for ease of setup and they self calibrate and self configure to ensure optimal network performance with little to no human oversight. They can tap into existing networks to extend coverage, or connect to any form of satellite Internet to provide coverage anywhere in the world, completely off the grid (with a solar panel, that is). Join us in building the lunch box to end all cell towers

KoBoToolbox is a free, open source software platform specifically designed to improve the data collection, management, coordination, and analysis efforts of humanitarians working in challenging and resource-poor environments. Key features include a form builder with a library function that allows users to store and share questions, online and offline capabilities, and easy-to-use visualization and data analysis tools. Through its suite of tools and intuitive design, KoBoToolbox has enabled humanitarians to gather more timely and reliable data, share knowledge, and build internal technical capacities. The majority of KoBoToolbox users are people working in humanitarian crises, as well as aid professionals and researchers working in developing countries. Our team is headquartered in Cambridge, MA at Harvard University, with developers and researchers spread across the globe.

DonorsChoose is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability.