Washington, D.C., April 10, 2014 - The Vodafone Americas Foundation has announced that TaroWorks™ is one of seven finalists finalists for its sixth annual Wireless Innovation Project Competition™ (WIP). A product of Grameen Foundation, TaroWorks is a mobile field force management tool. Built for organizations working in the most difficult places on the planet, and where connectivity is limited, TaroWorks provides real-time data and feedback loops that connect the head office directly to field staff and beneficiaries.
Since its inception in 2009, WIP has provided funding for a range of outstanding mobile and wireless technology innovations, awarding more than $2 million to universities, not-for-profit and non-governmental organizations. WIP offers applicants the opportunity to win a total prize fund of $600,000 for innovative mobile solutions that have potential to solve critical global issues.
Previous competition winners have received additional funding that has enabled them to further develop and grow their innovations, as well as hire additional talent. Some of the innovations -- in the market and also in beta testing -- are already impacting people and countries around the world.
Winners will be announced during the Social Innovation Summit 2014 being held at the United Nations Plaza, May 28-29.
Chair of the Vodafone Americas Foundation and Head of Vodafone xone, Vodafone's innovation, incubation and venture arm based in the Silicon Valley, Fay Arjomandi said, "This is an exciting stage for many start-up organizations that are seeking to bring their applications and technologies for social good to the people who need it the most. In a few short months, the organizations our judges have selected as the most cutting edge and viable concepts will not only receive financial support, but will be able to draw on the cutting-edge labs and expertise of a global leader in mobile technology. Some of our past WIP winners have already gone to market to make and have started to make a difference in people's lives."
For more details on the Wireless Innovation Project, visit vodafone-us.com.
About Grameen Foundation
Grameen Foundation is a global nonprofit organization that helps the world's poorest people achieve their full potential by providing access to essential financial services and information on health and agriculture that can transform their lives. Founded in 1997, it delivers solutions that respond to the needs of the poor, as well as tools that help poverty-focused organizations become more effective. It focuses on initiatives that can achieve widespread impact and uses an open-source approach that makes it easy for other organizations to adopt them broadly. Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and the Grameen family of companies, is an inaugural member of its Board of Directors, and now serves as director emeritus. Grameen Foundation is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in the U.S., Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. For more information, please visit www.grameenfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter @GrameenFdn.