Scale X Design Accelerator

Cohort 3 2018/2019

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. I work in a part of CARE International that already has significant resources, grants and commitments; what is the benefit of this challenge?

This challenge provides unique funding and ongoing post-challenge support to invest in new aspects of proven innovation work that in order to scale up (for example, a policy-influencing goal or partnering with a new CARE team or organization). By receiving financial support that is 100% committed to CARE’s vision and by participating in accelerator labs through CARE’s Scale X Design Accelerator Program and support from external experts, teams will broaden their design and innovation capacities to take proven innovations from impact to scale.

  1. Since this is Cohort 3, where can we find more information about previous Cohorts?

You can find more information about Cohort one on the Scale X Design Accelerator blog at Top applications from previous Cohorts can be found on the Cohort 3 Scale X Design Accelerator application website using the Example Applications button.

  1. How many teams can apply from the same division, country office, or CARE Member?

There is no limit to how many teams can apply from the same CARE member or country office.

  1. Is there a minimum or maximum team size requirement?

There is no minimum or maximum team size requirement; the team size is up to the judgement and analysis of the team based on what is required to make the most compelling case for proven innovation and scale-up.

  1. Do the team members have to all be in the same place/CO/CARE Member?

No. The proposed team can represent whatever group is best positioned for taking the proven intervention to scale. Teams can reflect a global, regional, country, district and/or community level combination.

  1. Does everyone on the proposed team have to work for CARE?

Yes, but this is for direct team members proposed on the application only; external partnerships are of course expected to have been a core part of the proven impact achieved. Partnerships are also expected to be a core part of taking the intervention to scale. External stakeholders just cannot be listed as core proposed team members at this time.

  1. Can we talk to a real person for support with the applications and design?

While we recognize that informal conversations and consultations will take place, ensuring equitable access and support is a top priority for this challenge. Therefore, the main source of support will be the following:

-Detailed information at

-Send any questions or comments to:

-A series of global support calls/WebEx will be provided during the application process. A schedule of those calls/WebEx will be provided at the SXD Accelerator webpage, after the application launch.

Throughout the application period there will be a rotating team of CARE staff monitoring and responding to the e-communication and also participating in and fielding questions through the global calls. These forums are also the best way to provide input and feedback regarding how to improve future challenges.

  1. What is the CARE’s Scale X Design Accelerator?

The CARE’s Scale X Design Accelerator is a program at CARE that seeks to tackle the world’s biggest problems at scale by arming CARE’s development practitioners with the skills, mentorship, resources and connections they need to do so. Through the Scale X Design application, the Accelerator will search within CARE International to identify ideas that hold promise at tackling the world’s biggest problems and multiplying CARE’s impact.

The Accelerator program will start with an assessment of the specific needs of the team and the next steps required for the innovation to achieve impact at scale. This will allow the accelerator staff to tailor the accelerator program to meet the innovation team’s needs. Starting in April 2018, those chosen for Cohort 3 of CARE’s Scale X Design Accelerator will participate remotely in the online curriculum running from May 2018 until Summer 2019.

Over the course of the program, each team will build new skills through this online curriculum of labs. Each lab will be a blend of online classes and assigned exercises and outputs. Teams will go through 4 core labs, which include: Mindsets/Methods for Innovation, Designing for Scale, Business Model Generation and Pitching. These labs will support teams to create their pitch and their business model, which will then be judged at the Scale X Design Challenge event. After the event, finalists will continue to be supported through elective labs, based on their priorities. These might include policy and advocacy, movement building, marketing and branding, fundraising or other needs.

  1. I understand that applications can be in any of CARE’s operational languages, but will the labs and the boot camp require that team members be fluent in English?

We allow for submissions in any of CARE’s operational languages: English, Arabic, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Team Captains are required to be fluent in English, due to the nature of fundraising that goes along with becoming a Scale X Design innovation. Additionally pitches will be required in English.

Other participants will be expected to work with the Accelerator team to find a volunteer language mentor to ensure that the Scale X Accelerator modules, labs, and boot camp are accessible in these languages, depending on the profile of the finalist group. As such, all participants do not have to be fluent in English, but rather must be comfortable in one of the languages above.

  1. Who will bear the cost of participation of team members at USA at CARE’s Scale X Design Challenge?

The Scale X Design Accelerator has funds to support the travel costs for 2 representatives per Cohort 3 team for the Scale X Design Bootcamp and the Scale X Design Challenge. In addition, Cohort 3-selected teams will participate online in the Accelerator’s core labs from May 2018 to June 2019. We do not provide funds to cover the time of staff participating. Instead, our goal is to make Scale X Design activities relevant and create value added to your donor-funded project that is currently supporting staff salaries. We also strive to make learning and activities fit the day-to-day realities of staff with limited time.

scale x design accelerator