Reimagining our future through innovation
We boost startups and nonprofits, leveraging technology and innovative practices, to drive and accelerate sustainable development across Europe and Central Asia.
BOOST is on a mission to tackle complex development challenges and create a more sustainable future for all.
We are an impact acceleration programme, powered by UNDP Europe and Central Asia. We design and launch calls for bold innovations to boost changemakers in the region. Open to startups, SMEs, social enterprises, nonprofits, and academic institutions, our intensive online programme, led by the world’s leading experts, prepares innovators to reimagine, roll out and scale their high-impact innovations for our people and planet.
APPLY FOR A CHALLENGE
Explore our open challenges for changemakers working to reduce inequality and poverty, promote resilience and gender equality, or tackle issues related to governance, energy, and the environment.
PARTNER WITH US
Looking to launch your own challenge? Using our unique BOOST approach, we work with corporations and international organizations to co-design and unroll challenges and programmes.
Why join BOOST?
Amplify
Learn how to define your impact vision and theory of change, and how your business model can amplify your contribution to sustainable development.
Boost
Access our groundbreaking training programme and equity-free grants to boost, reimagine and scale your innovation while being supported by our pool of top international mentors.
Connect
Tap into UNDP’s partnership network & global presence in 170 countries and territories, and join a growing vibrant BOOST community of changemakers in Europe and Central Asia.
Innovation spotlight
Airly
Airly set up an ultra-local network of sensors in Belarus to collect real-time data in neighborhoods on air pollution. The gathered data will improve communities’ understanding of health risks and what measures can be taken to improve air quality.
Digital Bee
DigitalBee created Flourish, a mobile app that allows you to develop your social and emotional intelligence affordably via inter native fully personalised games. It addresses a series of challenges – from staying competitive in the labor market to addressing various mental health issues.
Young Guru Academy
The Young Guru Academy developed a mobile app called Twin, which offers STEM content, allowing students to participate in science experiments and online sessions about the environmental and socio-economic challenges of the 21st century.
What people are saying
Participation in the BOOST programme was a very interesting experience for our team. The networking workshops helped us efficiently build lasting relationships with business partners from all over the world.
We knew from the very beginning that Flourish will have a positive impact on people’s lives. BOOST helped us understand that this impact will be much bigger and broader. It’s a great honor to be a startup supported by UNDP and its partners.
Achieving promising results against large-scale issues such as the climate crisis and growing inequalities will only happen if civil society organizations become stronger and leverage their digital transformation journeys.