Start barefoot.
The name comes from the “barefoot” tradition — solutions built by the people closest to the problem, with what they have on hand. No big budget, no engineering team. Just the right accessible tools and the determination to solve something real. Barefoot brings that mindset to young impact entrepreneurs.
The perfect tools for an (un)perfect product.
Cheap (freemium), accessible, fast to test, able to scale. A participant goes from idea to a working MVP — without writing traditional code. AI shows up in three ways alongside no-code:
Assistant
AI as a co-pilot — explaining concepts, drafting copy and unblocking builders as they go.
Automation
Connecting tools and APIs so the product runs itself — notifications, data, workflows.
Vibe coding
Describing what you want in plain language and letting AI generate the working build.
One simple architecture, taught the same way every time.
From “I have a cause” to “I have something people can use.”
Builders close to the problem — and their backers.
Impact project holders
Students and young people building social or environmental solutions.
Underserved entrepreneurs
People from disadvantaged backgrounds starting a business of their own.
The organisations behind them
Schools, incubators, foundations and accelerators that support them.