Do you have an idea for solving a specific social problem with the help of digital technologies and are you a non-governmental organization? Apply to the Sector 3.0 Fund by October 26 and receive funding and support from mentors to implement your product or service.
The fund is part of “Sector 3.0” program of Polish-American Freedom Foundation, managed by the Information Society Development Foundation. For years, it has been supporting the creation of new socially useful digital tools in line with the #TechForGood idea. This is a very broad concept that can apply to issues such as environmental protection, equal opportunities, sustainable development, assistance for people with disabilities, and the daily activities of social organizations. The necessary condition is the use of technology to solve a specific social problem.
“As part of the Sector 3.0 Fund, we primarily offer support in the development of new concepts. We also have funding for best teams, which will enable them to quickly implement their solutions on the market. The amount earmarked for this year’s round is PLN 170,000,” says Dr. Dawid Szarański, director of the “Sector 3.0” program.
What support does the Sector 3.0 Fund offer?
As part of the incubation process, which is carried out in a hybrid format, teams will take part in a three-month training and consulting cycle that will enable them to refine their ideas, create a coherent concept, and launch a digital product or service on the market. The process includes developing and acquiring skills in areas such, as: experimentation and research tools, creating a business model for a social project, designing user paths, prototyping and sketching product concepts, communication and promotion, intellectual property in IT projects, and presenting ideas (i.e. pitch).
During incubation meetings, experts from various fields will support the teams participating in the incubation, sharing their knowledge and experience. The mentors for this year’s round of the Fund include: Paweł Nowak, Katarzyna Drożdżal, Agata Nowak, Bartosz Narzelski (Future Finance Venture Lab), Van Anh Dam (social entrepreneurship educator), Aleksandra Maciejewicz (LAWMORE), Anna Orzech (Láska nebeská), Adam Liwiński (Seriatim Foundation), Ula Mitas-Drozdowska (ING), and Martyna Bielak.
“What distinguishes the participants of this program and their ideas is a genuine desire to solve real problems. In business, things can vary – sometimes artificial needs are created in order to sell a product. Here, it’s different. The teams focus on real social challenges, which makes their solutions more concrete and easier to verify in practice,” says Van Anh Dam, one of the Fund’s mentors.
The culmination of three months of work is a presentation of the projects by the participants to the Expert Committee, which will decide on the allocation of financial support. The committee consists of: Mirosław Czyżewski (Polish-American Freedom Foundation), Bartosz Borowiec (Deloitte Digital), Patrycja Walencik (Zendesk), Jacek Królikowski (Information Society Development Foundation), and Dr. Magdalena Andrejczuk (mBank). The highest-rated teams can receive up to PLN 170,000 in funding for further project development.
“The Sector 3.0 Fund is an amazing space to share all kinds of inspiration with people from different backgrounds. We notice growing awareness among non-governmental organizations in the context of using new technologies for the common good,” says Mirosław Czyżewski, PAFF Program Officer and member of the Fund’s Expert Committee.
Who can apply?
We invite the originators of new social solutions to participate. The Sector 3.0 Fund is addressed to any social organization that has an idea for a new technology in the spirit of #TechForGood, but does not know where to start or does not have the financial resources to do so. The project team should consist of 2 to 5 people and have the status of an association or foundation. We also encourage mixed teams, composed of representatives of organizations, companies, or independent specialists from the technology industry, working in partnerships, to apply.
How to apply?
Applications for this year’s incubation process are accepted via the form on the Sector 3.0 Fund website until October 26, 2025. For more information, please contact the Project Coordinator, Karolina Walecka: karolina.walecka@frsi.org.pl.
Join the group of Sector 3.0 Fund Winners!
In previous years, the Fund’s winners included such creators of products as:
- FireX (OSP in Wiśniowa)
- Muzeana (Niezła Sztuka Foundation)
- Obieg (BRDA Foundation)
- ArchiveMaster (Pravda Association)
- Baza Historii Kobiet Women’s History Database by the Women’s History Museum Foundation
- Mam Głos created by the Euforis Artists Association
- Dizajn na wynos (the Bochinskis Foundation)
- CoZaTo (Terra Futura – a platform supporting barter exchange of goods)
- Portal stypendialny (Saint Nicholas Foundation)
- Pacjenci Pacjentom – a virtual platform for patients to support other patients with chronic and oncological diseases
- Tu Możesz – a database of induction loop accessibility for people with hearing aids
- 2do2 – an application for project managing and accounting with a particular focus on the needs of social organizations
Partners of the Sector 3.0 Fund in the 2025/2026 round
- Honorary patronage: Kozminski University
- Content partner: WUD Silesia
- Media patrons: Mam Startup, Startup Voice, ngo.pl
- Partners: Landingi.pl, Láska nebeská, LAWMORE
