Organization · Grant Maker
The RISA Fund
The RISA Fund is a multi-country initiative established in 2021, focused on strengthening research and innovation systems across six African countries. It supports various stakeholders through grants aimed at addressing social, economic, and health challenges.
Overview
What The RISA Fund does
What The RISA Fund is
The RISA Fund is a multi-country initiative established in 2021, focused on strengthening research and innovation systems across six African countries. It supports various stakeholders through grants aimed at addressing social, economic, and health challenges.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports grantor capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Grant Maker
- Founded
- Founded in 2021
- Approximate age
- About 5 years
- Structured capabilities
- Grantor
- Last reviewed
- March 19, 2026
Official channels
Find The RISA Fund elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
The RISA Fund as a grantor
Grant thesis
The RISA Fund aims to strengthen research and innovation systems across six African countries to address complex social, economic, and health challenges through actionable research and innovation.
Focus narrative
The RISA Fund focuses on enhancing the capabilities of research institutions, scaling new technologies to reduce poverty, and improving the integration of research and innovation systems. It supports a variety of stakeholders, including research institutes, universities, and NGOs, by providing grants that facilitate access to knowledge, partners, investors, and markets.
Value and support
Beyond funding, the RISA Fund provides access to a network of partners, investors, and markets, as well as training and mentorship programs to enhance the capacity of researchers and innovators.
Grant economics
- Dilutive
- No
- Nonprofit only
- Yes
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
- Application cycle
- rolling
Eligibility and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Audience
- Researchers · Founders
- Regions
- Africa
Process and recipient context
Application process
The application process for the RISA Fund involves submitting a proposal that outlines the project's objectives, expected outcomes, and alignment with the fund's goals. Stakeholders can access resources and support through the fund's website, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Recipient context
Notable past grantees include Impact Investing Ghana, which developed digital platforms for connecting investors with SMEs; Heritors Labs, which established the Ghana Research and Innovation Support Programmes Coordinating Office; and DIMA Health, which improved maternal health access through a low-tech appointment booking system.
Common questions
What to know about The RISA Fund
Upseed classifies The RISA Fund under the Grant Maker organization type. Its current public profile includes grantor capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 19, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.