Asfari Challenge for Social Innovation (ACSI4)
Launching the Next Wave of Social Enterprises
Get Started with ACSI4
Fill in your details, and we’ll send you the link to start your ACSI4 application to your inbox!
ACSI4 Open House Registration Form
Welcome to the 4th edition of the Asfari Challenge for Social Innovation (ACSI4). Communities facing crisis need support to rebuild and create positive change. The ACSI4 program helps early-stage social enterprises in Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and the Syrian diaspora make a lasting impact in their communities.
ACSI4 provides training, mentorship, seed funding, and trauma-informed support. We support entrepreneurs working across sustainability, governance, independent media, civic engagement, lifelong learning, innovation, and systems change. These challenges need new solutions now more than ever.
If you have ideas to help your community, ACSI4 can provide the support you need to turn them into reality.
During these challenging, tumultuous, and critical times, we are especially honored to support idea-stage and prototype-stage social enterprises. With compassion, resilience, and trauma-informed guidance, we are here to empower entrepreneurs as they adapt, heal, recover, and rebuild their communities.
Why Join ACSI4?
Get funded with up to $3,830 to develop an essential aspect of your social enterprise.
Grow your skills through weekly training sessions, mentorship, and a supportive global community.
Expand your network with curated partner connections, mentors, alumni, and investors.
Showcase your work at Demo Day with potential funders, ecosystem partners, and media outlets.
Program Overview
A Community of Practice
Connect with fellow social innovators across Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and the Syrian diaspora. Join expert-led discussions, share resources, get wellbeing support, and foster new collaborations within a supportive and compassionate community. Grow your network and expertise through ongoing support from mentors and peers.
Bootcamp (March–April 2025)
Shortlisted enterprises will join a high-intensity Bootcamp, refining pitches, improving prototypes, continuing wellbeing support, and strengthening their business models through hands-on workshops and mentorship sessions.
Accelerator (April–August 2025)
Select Bootcamp graduates advance to the Accelerator, receiving seed funding, dedicated mentorship, and deeper training to develop functioning business ideas. The Accelerator concludes with a Demo Day to pitch to potential partners and investors.
Before applications close, we’re hosting three virtual Open House sessions. These events are a chance for:
- Prospective applicants to meet program managers, mentors, and alumni.
- Live Q&A about application requirements, eligibility, and program benefits.
- Networking with other social innovators interested in joining ACSI4.
February 13: Fuel Your Personal & Startup Growth
A deep dive into the ACSI4 program and Bloom’s framework for supporting social enterprises. This session will introduce key team members and provide insights to help participants maximize their growth.
Date: Tuesday, February 13
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (GMT+2)
Speakers: Dara Mouracade, David Munir Nabti
February 18: Accelerate Your Social Impact Enterprise in a Day
A practical session designed to help participants identify their immediate growth priorities and outline actionable steps to accelerate their impact.
Date: Sunday, February 18
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (GMT+2)
Speaker: David Munir Nabti
February 20: Resilience in Action — Tools for Growth and Renewal
An interactive workshop exploring resilience, covering:
- The four types of resilience: recovery, adaptive, transformative, and spreading resilience.
- The SSRI toolkit: a scientifically backed approach to improving mood and performance.
Date: Tuesday, February 20
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (GMT+2)
Speakers: Fadi El Halabi, Mirna Abi Aad Abi Nassif
ACSI4 Open House Registration Form
You'll get a confirmation email with Google Calendar invites for all sessions—please also check your junk/spam folder if you don’t see it.
Who Should Apply?
We welcome idea-stage and prototype-stage social enterprises that:
Have at least two team members working part-time or more.
Focus on sustainability, good governance, independent media, active citizenship, lifelong learning, innovation, or systems change.
Are based in Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, or among the Syrian diaspora (individuals outside Syria).
Female-led enterprises and teams with diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Unfortunately, we CANNOT support single-founder enterprises or teams that are already fully engaged in another accelerator (unless there is a clear distinction in roles and no time conflict).
Our Focus Themes
We welcome social enterprises advancing positive change in these areas:
Sustainability
Projects focused on climate action, environmental protection, waste reduction, and resource efficiency. Examples include renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-friendly supply chains.
Good Governance
Initiatives promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. This covers policy advocacy, anti-corruption efforts, and platforms for community participation.
Independent Media
Ventures supporting press freedom, investigative journalism, and fact-checking. We value solutions that combat misinformation and amplify diverse voices.
Active Citizenship
Programs fostering civic engagement and social responsibility through community initiatives, advocacy campaigns, and citizen organization tools.
Lifelong Learning
Solutions expanding education access through e-learning platforms, vocational training, and inclusive educational programs.
Innovation
New approaches using technology, creative business models, or unique problem-solving methods to address social challenges.
Systems Change
Comprehensive solutions addressing root causes of societal issues by connecting multiple stakeholders - government, nonprofits, and businesses.
Important Dates
How to Apply
1- Check Your Eligibility
Make sure your team meets the criteria listed above.
2- Fill Out the Application Form
Complete the online application between Feb 3 and Feb 24, 2025.
3- Selection & Notification
Our selection panel reviews each application based on our scoring matrix (team, impact, value proposition, traction, etc.). Shortlisted teams are invited to the Bootcamp phase.
4- Participate in the Program!
The Bootcamp delivers high-intensity training, mentorship, and a Demo Day showcase, followed by the Accelerator’s deeper coaching, seed funding, and advanced training.
Apply Now to ACSI4 and Accelerate Your Impact!
The application deadline is February 24, 2025. Complete our short interest form, and we'll email you a link to start your ACSI4 application.
Get Started with ACSI4
Fill in your details, and we’ll send you the link to start your ACSI4 application to your inbox!
Join Us as a Partner
Are you an organization dedicated to fostering innovation and social impact? We invite nonprofits, social enterprises, foundations, private companies, ecosystem enablers, and those alike to collaborate in empowering social enterprises across Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and the Syrian diaspora. Your partnership will help scale impactful initiatives and strengthen the regional ecosystem for social innovation.
Become a Mentor
Join ACSI4 as a Bloom mentor and help shape tomorrow's social enterprises. Share your experience with ambitious founders, guide their growth, and be part of a community of changemakers. You'll strengthen your leadership skills, stay connected to innovation, and make a lasting impact—all while doing what you love.
ACSI4 (Asfari Challenge for Social Innovation) is a three-month accelerator for 13 social enterprises (idea-stage or prototype-stage) in Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and the Syrian diaspora. We provide training, mentorship, and funding to help teams launch and grow impactful, sustainable business ideas.
- Feb 3, 2025: Applications Open (via Bloom Platform)
- Feb 13, 18, & 20, 2025: Three Open House Sessions
- Feb 24, 2025: Application Deadline
- Mar 13, 2025: Bootcamp Begins (2-week program)
- Apr 3, 2025: Bootcamp Demo Day
- Apr 22, 2025: Accelerator Begins (3-month program)
- Aug 12, 2025: Final Demo Day
- Seed funding of up to $3,830 to boost your enterprise’s growth.
- Training & Mentorship from experienced experts.
- Networking with partners, investors, and other entrepreneurs.
- Demo Day to showcase your solution to potential funders and collaborators.
While ACSI4 offers seed funding during the accelerator, we also provide exposure to investors, grants, and potential partners at Demo Day. We’ll coach you on pitching effectively and help you build valuable connections to secure follow-on funding.
Our main language is English, but we have mentors/trainers who can support in Arabic and French when needed.
Expect 1–3 live sessions per week (workshops, check-ins, optional discussions), plus ongoing work on your enterprise. Required sessions ensure you don’t miss the fundamentals; optional sessions let you dive deeper into specific areas. We tailor the experience to each team’s needs.
Social enterprises addressing:
- Sustainability
- Good Governance
- Independent Media
- Active Citizenship
- Lifelong Learning
- Innovation
- Systems Change
- Idea-stage (still defining the solution, early development)
- Prototype-stage (low-fidelity or high-fidelity prototype with early adopters)
- Teams with existing revenue may apply if they’re building a new product or branch aligned with ACSI4’s focus areas.
We usually do not accept teams fully engaged in another accelerator unless there’s a clear distinction in workload and you can fully commit to ACSI4.
Unfortunately, single-founder enterprises aren’t eligible. At least two people should be actively committed to the enterprise to ensure a solid foundation for growth.
For any questions not covered here, feel free to contact us. We’re excited to see your vision come to life in ACSI4!
ACSI4 Is Powered by
The Asfari Foundation is a UK-based grant-making charity set up by Ayman and Sawsan Asfari in 2006. The Foundation focuses its efforts in the Levant and UK.
Through its grant-making programs, the Foundation invests in, and supports the sustainability of, a resilient and empowered civil society infrastructure and innovative youth, who can collectively lead a transformational positive change in their communities and countries.
Together with its valued partners, the Foundation is determined to realize its vision for a just world where people have equal opportunities to transform their lives, invest in their communities, and shape the future of their countries.
Bloom has supported entrepreneurship programs in the EuroMENA region for over 14 years and online and hybrid online & offline programs for 6 years, continually innovating our methods and tools to improve the learning experience for the participants, the growth of the enterprises, and our collective impact on our communities.
