NextGen Higher Education Program

Anthony Andrews, student at Bowie State University

Grants of up to $50,000 USD are available to higher education institutions that seek to inspire their students to advocate, champion and innovate solutions for inclusive digital financial systems.

The 2025 application window has closed, stay tuned for new opportunities in 2026.

Program Overview

The Interledger-NextGen Higher Education Program advances research, curriculum development, and hands-on training, equipping students and educators with expertise in open-payment technologies and inclusive digital finance while exploring emerging fintech career pathways.

The program seeks to:

Transform Education, Transform Lives

Support institutions in creating hands-on learning experiences in open-source payments systems and inclusive digital finance creating clear pathways from classroom to impactful careers in fintech, open-source innovation and financial inclusion.

Be a Catalyst for Change

Empower faculty to lead change by designing programs that place digital financial literacy and inclusion at the core, equipping students to innovate and expand access for the 1.4 billion people currently excluded from traditional financial systems.

Bridge Theory and Practice

Boost student engagement by creating immersive experiences that blend research, curriculum development, student-led prototypes, hackathons and other student-oriented experiences that let students apply theory to practice.

Program grantees

“We empower the next generation of entrepreneurs with the necessary skills in order to build the applications that are going to power the future.”
–Alan Davids, Senior Lecturer at University of Cape Town

”Interledger is acting like a bridge now in making payments easier. Wherever you are in the world, you can make your payment as if you are sending an email.“
–Anthony Owolabi, Bowie State Student

Western Sydney University

Australia

University of Cape Town

South Africa

USIU-Africa

Kenya

Covenant University

Nigeria

Bowie State University

Maryland, USA

Alabama A&M University

Alabama, USA

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