Entries Open for Good Start Challenge

This global challenge, backed by the Van Leer Foundation and delivered by Challenge Works, seeks innovative solutions that improve wellbeing and support for parents and caregivers of babies, toddlers, and young children in underserved communities. It offers funding, mentorship, and global exposure for impactful early childhood initiatives.

🔍 Quick Snapshot

Provider: Van Leer Foundation (with Challenge Works, FEMSA Foundation, Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal, LEGO Foundation)
Opportunity Type: Innovation Challenge / Award & Prize
Deadline: 17 September 2025, 1 pm UTC
Geographic Focus: Global (Southeast Asia strand including Malaysia)
Themes: Parental & Caregiver Wellbeing; Early Childhood Support Systems; Innovation in Services, Policies, or Products
Funding: €50,000 development grants + €200,000 scaling grants for winners

🌍 About the Challenge

The Good Start Challenge invites innovations that strengthen parental wellbeing through scalable, ethical, and user-centered interventions. Focused on underserved populations in Southeast Asia (including Malaysia), finalists receive funding, coaching, and access to a global network—with opportunities for additional investment to implement and scale their solutions.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Local/community-based organizations, start-ups, SMEs, or individuals/teams with lived parenting experience
Solutions must address caregiver wellbeing in low-income or marginalised communities
Must align with judging criteria: impact, innovation, scalability, implementation capacity, user connection, ethics/safeguarding
Open to Southeast Asia strand including Malaysia

🎁 Benefits

€50,000 development grant plus six months of mentorship and coaching
Global networking and access to experts
Invitation to Good Start Summit in Kenya (February 2026)
Eligibility for €200,000 scaling grants for up to 6 winners
Recognition on international platforms

📝 How to Apply

Create an account on the Submittable platform.
Complete the entry form with team details, solution description, and judging criteria alignment.
Refer to the Entrant Handbook and submit before 17 September 2025, 1 pm UTC.
Contact support via email at goodstart@challengeworks.org or WhatsApp +44 7785 464598.
For multi-region or multi-solution entries, submit separate forms per strand.