Established in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has a vision of a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity collaborates with local communities in more than 70 countries and has supported more than 35 million people to gain access to decent shelter through a number of housing-driven initiatives.

Despite an alarming global affordable housing deficit, innovation and investment in startups and scaleups addressing housing have been conspicuously absent from the flourishing ecosystems that support other impact sectors such as FinTech, HealthTech, and AgTech. Habitat developed ShelterTech to respond to that gap.

ShelterTech

Launched by Habitat’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, ShelterTech is the world’s leading platform for affordable housing innovation, advancing entrepreneurial housing solutions that can radically improve access to decent and affordable housing. At the heart of the platform are ShelterTech accelerators that play a crucial role in bridging the gap between housing innovations and real-world impact.

Accelerators within ShelterTech serve as catalysts, connecting groundbreaking housing solutions with the resources and support needed for meaningful impact. These programs provide a structured environment where startups and scaleups can refine their innovations, access mentorship, and gain insights into navigating the complexities of the affordable housing sector.

Apart from facilitating accelerator programs within the ShelterTech platform, active engagement has evolved into track partnerships. These tracks serve as an avenue for ongoing or existing accelerators or other startup support programs in sectors closely related to ShelterTech, to seamlessly integrate sheltertech into their offerings.

Having successfully implemented sheltertech Tracks in India and Peru, Habitat seeks to forge partnerships with external startup support programs globally. This expansion initiative aims to amplify the impact, creating a global network of startup support entities collaboratively addressing the challenges and opportunities in affordable and sustainable housing solutions.

To date, ShelterTech programming has supported over 110 start-ups and scaleups and invested in eleven of them via Habitat’s in-house impact investment fund, Shelter Venture Fund.

Scope of Work

• The Terwilliger Center seeks track partners to run tracks between 2024-2025.
• Partner organizations may work alone or in consortia. Partners will be primarily responsible for the following:
• Identification, selection, and recruitment of 2-5 sheltertech startups to be part of their startup support program.
• Identification, onboarding, and managing mentors and the mentorship journey.
• Integration of affordable housing content into curricula.
• Running all phases of the support program.
• Support implementation of the sheltertech monitoring, evaluation, and learning agenda, as well as the dissemination of key learnings and good practices up to one year after the conclusion of the ShelterTech Track, this will include:
• Quarterly monitoring reports with key indicators to be agreed with the team.
• An assessment of the startup engagement and satisfaction throughout the ShelterTech Track phases through routine surveys.
• Case studies of startups demonstrating successful innovations addressing low-income households.
• In close coordination with Habitat for Humanity’s Communication team, co-design, develop, and implement communications for the ShelterTech Track.
• Deliver progress and end-of-program impact reports as shall be agreed with the client.
• Applicant qualification and proposal details

Qualifications

• Applications are welcome from firms, organizations, accelerators, networks, and other actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Each applicant firm should have a strong and readily demonstrable track record of running startup support programs both in-person and virtually and preparing startups and scaleups to be investment-ready. Applicants should also be adept at mobilizing a network of mentors, partners, and investors to support entrepreneurs’ needs.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Proven record and accomplishments demonstrating high-quality results-oriented startup support programs.
• Proven record in promoting and facilitating investment partnerships for startups and scaleups that come out of their programs.
• Ability to co-create a remote/hybrid startup support offering.
• Ability to identify and attract potential partners for the ShelterTech track: corporations, foundations, investors, government entities, co-sponsors, networks, etc.
• Proven report writing skills in English.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate.
• Proven record in successfully promoting startup support programs to target audiences.

Proposal Details

• Interested firms must submit proposals covering the following details:
• Execution strategy, detailing steps to ensure success.
• Critical activities, timeline, milestones, and deliverables, providing details where possible.
• Detail of critical communication activities to promote the support program, including partner networks, potential reach, and channels.
• Estimated budget, including personnel, travel, etc.

Evaluation Criteria

• Proposals will be evaluated based on their technical soundness and financial viability. The criteria will include:
• Industry Focus: This criterion assesses how closely the industry focus of the program aligns with the challenges and goals of affordable housing. It emphasizes the importance of a strategic alignment that directly addresses the unique needs within the affordable housing sector.
• Design and Strategy for the Support Program: Evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed design and strategy for the program. This includes the structure, curriculum, and overall plan to ensure it aligns with the objectives of ShelterTech Tracks.
• Resources & Funding: Assesses the partner’s financial capabilities and available resources. This criterion emphasizes the capacity to offer catalytic funding and additional support, including direct investment into cohort startups.
• Track Record: Examines the support entity’s proven track record in effectively supporting startups. Evidence of successful mentorship, resource allocation, and the creation of meaningful opportunities for program participants is crucial in demonstrating the partner’s ability to drive tangible outcomes.
• Budget/Breakdown of Costs Related to the Program: Assesses the transparency and comprehensiveness of the proposed budget. This includes a clear breakdown of all costs associated with the program, ensuring financial feasibility and accountability.
• Network: Evaluates the breadth and influence of the support entity’s network, particularly in terms of mentors, investors, corporate partners, and alumni.

Timeframe

• This call for proposals will be open until December 2024, to receive and evaluate incoming proposals. This is an “invitation-only” call for proposals.

Please submit proposal via email to TCIS@habitat.org

Please submit proposal via email to TCIS@habitat.org