100weeks
100WEEKS is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that runs a 100-week unconditional cash-transfer plus training program for women in extreme poverty, operating in Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, and Ivory Coast and serving more than 8,000 families through mobile-money distribution and externally validated impact measurement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersKlein Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What 100weeks does
100WEEKS (legal entity Stichting 100WEEKS) is a Dutch ANBI-registered nonprofit foundation founded in 2014-2015 by Jeroen de Lange and Gitte Büch, headquartered in Amsterdam at Mauritskade 64. The organization operates a single core program: a 100-week unconditional cash transfer combined with financial-literacy training and Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) participation, designed to graduate women in extreme poverty to sustainable self-sufficiency. Participants receive €8 per week (approximately €800 total) via mobile money; women are sent an SMS code each Monday that can be redeemed at a local mobile-money kiosk, with transfer costs as low as 25 Rwandese Franc per transaction.
The operating model relies on a small Netherlands-based core team (11-50 employees) coordinating with country-level staff and 52 local interviewers across Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, and Ivory Coast; local implementation partners include Caritas Rwanda. The technology stack combines mobile-money distribution with a cloud-based monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system that conducts approximately 12,000 phone-based interviews annually across 63 indicators, with measurement at baseline, mid-program, endline, and 2 and 4 years post-program. Independent impact validation has been produced with Laterite, VU Amsterdam, Wageningen University & Research, and a multi-institution consortium (University of Toronto, University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University).
Funding is diversified across approximately 50% foundations and charitable grants (including a €500,000 grant from the Nationale Postcode Loterij in 2020), 30% corporate partnerships (Tony's Chocolonely, Magnum/Unilever, Hands Off My Chocolate, HereWeGrow), and 20% private individual donors. Corporate partners are typically anchored in cocoa and coffee supply chains, where women beneficiaries are concentrated. Direct-to-consumer fundraising runs through 100weeks.nl with one-time, monthly, and annual recurring donation tiers ranging from €10 to €400. Independent published evidence cites a 2.99 ROI per dollar over ten years, an €2.96 local economic multiplier, an 80% sustained one-year poverty exit rate, and a 9-16x faster poverty reduction versus comparable communities. As of 2025 the program has reached more than 8,000 families (approximately 48,000 people); 2026 initiatives include a flagship 1,800-participant RCT with African Parks and Wageningen University & Research in Nyungwe National Park (Rwanda) testing whether poverty reduction contributes to nature conservation.
100weeks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 100weeks
- Legal name
- Stichting 100WEEKS
- Website
- https://100weeks.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 100WEEKS is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that runs a 100-week unconditional cash-transfer plus training program for women in extreme poverty, operating in Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, and Ivory Coast and serving more than 8,000 families through mobile-money distribution and externally validated impact measurement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
100weeks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Poverty alleviation programs
- NAICS
- Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Social Assistance (624)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cash Assistance & Social Safety Net Delivery for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAH), Instant Payouts & Earned Wage Access (EWA) (FSAMAKAM)
Keywords
Where 100weeks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Klein Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
100weeks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Foundation/Charitable Grants: Approximately 50% of income comes from foundations and charitable funds. Includes grants from organizations like the Nationale Postcode Loterij (€500,000 donation), HereWeGrow, and other development funds.
- Corporate Partnerships: 30% of income from corporate partners including Tony's Chocolonely, Unilever (Magnum), and Hands Off My Chocolate. Companies fund groups of women in their supply chains as part of their social responsibility programs.
- Private Donations: 20% of income from individual private donors. Includes one-time donations, monthly giving programs, and legacy bequests.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | One-time donation: €20, €50, €100, or custom amount |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly recurring donation: €10, €20, €40, or custom amount |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual recurring donation: €100, €200, €400, or custom amount |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
100weeks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
100weeks runs a 100-week unconditional cash transfer program for women living in extreme poverty in African countries. Each participant receives €8 per week via a mobile money SMS code (totaling approximately €800), along with weekly training in accounting, saving and planning, and participation in Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) savings groups. The offering combines direct cash delivery, financial coaching, and data-driven monitoring through phone surveys to support a sustained exit from poverty.
Product overview
100weeks is a charitable organization (not a technology product company) that operates a single program-based offering. The core 100weeks Program provides 100 weeks of weekly unconditional cash transfers (€8/week via mobile money) combined with financial training and Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) participation to women living in extreme poverty. The organization supports approximately 8,000+ families across Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. Their 'product' is the cash transfer methodology combined with a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system that tracks participant outcomes through regular phone surveys. No separate commercial products, modules, or SaaS offerings exist.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 100WEEKS Program (Unconditional Cash Transfer Program) A 100-week program providing unconditional weekly cash transfers (€8/week, ~€800 total) via mobile money SMS codes to women living in extreme poverty in Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. Participants also receive weekly training in accounting, saving, and planning from local coaches, and join Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups. Designed to enable sustained, permanent exit from poverty.
- Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) Program Component Group-based savings and small-loan program component integrated into the 100WEEKS cash transfer offering, enabling participating women to save collectively and access small loans within their cohort to support income-generating activities and financial resilience.
- Impact Measurement and Learning Service Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) service that tracks program outcomes across 63 indicators through regular phone surveys, supported by a cloud-based MEL system and partnerships with independent research institutes (Laterite, VU Amsterdam, Wageningen University).
Quantifiable outcome
- 80%+ sustained poverty exit rate
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use 100weeks
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
100weeks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
100weeks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- African ParksflagshipCollaboration for large-scale conservation research in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. 1,800 participants in RCT studying whether poverty reduction can contribute to nature conservation. African Parks manages the national park.
- Wageningen University & ResearchflagshipAcademic partner in Nyungwe National Park research project. Also previously collaborated on child development research showing cash transfers improve brain development in children.
- HereWeGrowcoreHereWeGrow supports coffee farming families in Uganda and Ethiopia. Funded independent Laterite review of 100WEEKS' program effectiveness, demonstrating commitment to learning and evidence-based impact.
- LateritecoreIndependent data and research firm that reviewed 100WEEKS' monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system and program effectiveness. Findings: 2.99 ROI, 69% to 17% poverty reduction.
- Magnum (Unilever)coreMagnum donated €250,000 to support 200 women in Ivory Coast cocoa communities. Also ran digital exhibition 'Pleasure Imagined' to raise additional funds and awareness for cocoa farmers.
- Chocolonely FoundationcorePartnership to support women in Ghana's cocoa sector. 60% of world's cocoa comes from Ghana and Ivory Coast. Cocoa farmers often live below poverty line. The foundation funds 100 women to receive 100 weeks of €8 weekly transfers plus financial training.
- University of TorontocoreResearch collaboration on child development impacts. Study with 2,015 mothers and 4,701 children in Ivory Coast showed cash transfers improve maternal mental health and children's brain development.
- University of PennsylvaniacoreCo-researcher on groundbreaking study showing cash transfers affect not only poverty but family well-being, children's learning, and brain development.
- Carnegie Mellon UniversitycoreResearch partner in study on cash transfer impacts on child brain development in cocoa communities of Ivory Coast.
- PwCminorWon Social Impact Lab 2016 challenge. PwC provides intensive coaching, office facilities, and access to funding up to €50,000. Also provides pro bono financial and strategic expertise.
- Tony's ChocolonelycoreChocolate company launched special chocolate bars to support 100WEEKS. Connected to Ghana operations through cocoa sourcing regions.
- SPARKminorCollaboration for Jordan pilot testing whether Syrian refugees can escape poverty within 100 weeks. Five Syrian families received approximately €50 weekly.
- Caritas RwandacoreLocal implementation partner for Rwanda programs. Caritas represents 100WEEKS in Rwanda.
- UNICEFcorePaul Quarles (UNICEF regional social policy advisor) participated in events discussing 100WEEKS research. Described as 'Mr. Cash' with 20+ years experience in cash transfer programs in Africa and Asia.
- Hands Off My ChocolatecorePartnership to support women in cocoa communities of Ivory Coast. Committed 20 women to the program helping them escape poverty on their own terms.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
100weeks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BRAC: Large anti-poverty organization operating graduation/cash-plus programs across multiple African and Asian countries. Comparable in mission (extreme poverty, women's economic empowerment) and program design (graduation model combining cash with training).
- Mercy Corps: Major humanitarian organization implementing cash transfer and livelihoods programs across Africa, including in countries where 100WEEKS operates. Comparable on program type (CVA) and target population, though broader in scope.
- CARE International: Global humanitarian organization with extensive cash and voucher assistance (CVA) and women's economic empowerment programming, particularly in African agricultural value chains. Comparable on mission and donor base.
- UNICEF (Cash Transfer Programming): UN agency operating large-scale cash transfer programs in humanitarian contexts; 100WEEKS' advisor Paul Quarles links the organizations directly. Comparable on methodology (unconditional CVA) and target geographies, though UNICEF operates at vastly greater scale.
Emerging players
- GlobalGiving: Crowdfunding marketplace for nonprofits, enabling direct donations to social enterprises including poverty alleviation programs. Comparable as a donor acquisition and transparency platform, though operates as an intermediary.
- The Life You Can Save: Effective giving organization curating high-impact poverty charities, similar in advocacy and evidence-based positioning to 100WEEKS. Comparable donor base and emphasis on transparency and rigorous impact measurement.
Direct peers
- Kiva: Crowdfunding platform for microloans and financial inclusion, including to women in agricultural value chains in Africa. Comparable on mission (financial access for the extreme poor) though different mechanism (loans vs. unconditional grants).
- GiveDirectly: The most direct comparable: GiveDirectly provides unconditional cash transfers to people in extreme poverty, primarily in East Africa, via mobile money. Operates a similar donation-funded model with rigorous M&E and a focus on direct giving.
- Heifer International: Poverty alleviation nonprofit focused on women in agricultural communities, including cocoa/coffee regions comparable to 100WEEKS' Ghana and Ivory Coast operations. Uses a 'Pass on the Gift' model with multi-year program duration similar to 100WEEKS' 100-week approach.
Others
- Tony's Chocolonely Foundation: Mission-aligned corporate funder and partner of 100WEEKS rather than a direct competitor. Comparable on agenda (living income in cocoa supply chains) and serves as a channel partner funding 100WEEKS cohorts of women in Ghana.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
100weeks social profiles
Digital presence100weeks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
100weeks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
100weeks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
100weeks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 100weeks
What does 100weeks do?
100weeks runs a 100-week unconditional cash transfer program for women living in extreme poverty in African countries. Each participant receives €8 per week via a mobile money SMS code (totaling approximately €800), along with weekly training in accounting, saving and planning, and participation in Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) savings groups. The offering combines direct cash delivery, financial coaching, and data-driven monitoring through phone surveys to support a sustained exit from poverty.
Is 100weeks a public or private company?
100weeks is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was 100weeks founded?
100weeks was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 100weeks based?
100weeks is headquartered in Klein Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does 100weeks make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation/Charitable Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and private Donations.
Who are 100weeks's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BRAC, Mercy Corps, CARE International and UNICEF (Cash Transfer Programming). Emerging players are GlobalGiving and The Life You Can Save. Direct peers are Kiva, GiveDirectly and Heifer International. Tony's Chocolonely Foundation is listed as an others.
Does 100weeks have an API?
No public API is recorded for 100weeks.
What industry is 100weeks in?
100weeks's product category is Poverty alleviation programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAJ, Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support, with a secondary code of BPADAHAH, Cash Assistance & Social Safety Net Delivery for Displaced Populations. Its NAICS code is 62423 and its SIC code is 8300.