Meta Global Accelerator

The Challenge

Lack of real-world impact from traditional hackathonsGaps in support for early-stage AI foundersLimited AI product deployment in underserved regionsAbsence of structured pathways from prototype to productionThis initiative was designed to close the gap between early innovation and scalable implementation—especially in areas where social equity and digital access are most needed.

Launch

Meta AI, in partnership with lablab.ai and NativelyAI, launched the Meta Global Accelerator to discover and scale AI solutions that address urgent global social challenges. Through a series of four international hackathons and an exclusive acceleration program, this initiative fast-tracked AI projects from concept to go-to-market readiness—creating a global impact platform for responsible innovation.

The Solution

• Digital Incubation Program. High-potential teams were invited to join an accelerator guiding them through MVP development and GTM execution.

• Llama Impact Grant. Selected teams qualified for up to $500,000 in grant funding to scale their solutions beyond the lab.

• AI Infrastructure + Mentorship. Participants gained access to cutting-edge Llama model capabilities, technical guidance, and a global support network.

The Results

• 4 global hackathons executed

• Dozens of MVPs created

• Top teams accelerated into real-world deployment

• $500,000 in grant funding available for product scaling

• Solutions ranged from public service automation and low-resource language translation to healthcare triage and disaster response.

Key Partners

Meta AI: Program design, grant funding, and AI infrastructure

NativelyAI: Platform provider and global AI community mobilization

Global AI Builders: Innovators across 4 continents

Technical + Strategic Mentors: Supporting teams from prototype to GTM

Partners Ecosystem

The Meta Global Accelerator brought together a powerful ecosystem of technology and innovation partners to support AI builders worldwide.

NativelyAI: Platform provider and global AI community mobilization

Global AI Builders: Innovators across 4 continents

Technical + Strategic Mentors: Supporting teams from prototype to GTM

Winning Projects Showcase

Doctor Llama. An AI-powered medical assistant that helps diagnose and triage patients in low-resource settings.

FirstGen. A platform that supports first-generation college students with personalized guidance, resources, and mentorship.

Earthshot AI. Uses satellite imagery and local data to help communities track environmental changes and develop adaptation strategies.

Lingua Bridge. Translation tool focused on indigenous and low-resource languages, helping preserve cultural heritage while enabling digital inclusion.

Impact Metrics

200+ teams participated across the hackathon series

40% of projects continued development post-hackathon

12 projects received follow-on funding or support

5 projects launched full-scale pilots in target communities

Participant Testimonial

“The Llama Impact Hackathon wasn’t just about building cool tech—it was about creating solutions that matter. The mentorship and support we received helped us transform our prototype into a real product that’s now helping hundreds of users. The accelerator program that followed gave us the structure and resources to scale in ways we couldn’t have done alone.”

— Sofia Chen, Founder of Doctor Llama

What It Tackles

Public service delivery innovation

Digital inclusion for underrepresented languages

Scalable AI for health, education, and safety

Application of Llama models for social impact

What’s Next

From MVP to Market – Incubated startups continue to deploy in live environments

Impact at Scale – Llama Grant recipients expanding into new regions

Cross-Sector Collaboration – Ongoing partnerships across tech, government, and civil society

New Cohorts & Cities – Additional hackathons and accelerators planned for 2025

The Bottom Line

The Meta Global Accelerator proves that socially responsible AI innovation can happen fast, globally, and with lasting impact. With the right ecosystem, funding, and mentorship, builders around the world are turning powerful ideas into scalable solutions that matter.

Want to learn how NativelyAI can drive similar results for your organization?