Co-founders Rithvik Musuku and Zahir Abdul started Advancing Science Worldwide as they believed that all countries should be able to study science and engage with the scientific community. They were appalled by what was essentially a discouraging of science in many developing regions worldwide. In some regions, science funding is extremely low and science can be frowned upon unless it has a short term, practical impact.

On the surface, it may seem like science has no place in regions that are not wealthy. It is commonly argued that these regions should focus on using their money for more practical things. However, there are many long term science problems such as climate change and antibiotic resistance and the world needs as many scientists as it can get to solve such problems.

For instance, many developing regions are constantly ravaged by natural disasters. If scientists in such regions received sufficient funding, they may be able to find creative, innovative solutions to reduce the destruction caused by such events.​

They may not be able to receive support from their home region and its citizens and that is the problem ASW hopes to alleviate, not only for professional scientists, but for people of all ages and skill levels. For those that are underprivileged in their availability of scientific knowledge and materials, ASW does as much as possible to provide equipment, books, journals, facilities, and other materials that serve a great use in scientific fields.