World Food Forum (WFF) Startup Innovation 2024 Awards.

The WFF Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) are a global startup competition established to support and showcase innovators and entrepreneurs who are harnessing the power of technology to drive the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems in support of ending global hunger and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Made possible through a strategic partnership with XTC, the world’s largest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges, these awards aim to elevate the next generation of entrepreneurs who are creating new technologies and innovations to benefit our planet and the agrifood systems we need to thrive.

Agrifood systems specialists, innovators and entrepreneurs from around the globe have volunteered to become experts and judges for the WFF Startup Innovation Awards.

Benefits

The WFF Startup Innovation Awards will provide the finalists travel allowance to the finals during the flagship event in Rome, global visibility, the chance to raise capital, network with global entities (governments, United Nations agencies, corporations, investors, partners), the chance to join WFF startup accelerator programmes to scale up their innovative solutions and technological breakthroughs, and a total of USD 30 000 in prizes.

Requirements

The competition is open to startups whose work impacts the four categories explained below:

Selection Process

Timeline

8 May 2024: Launch of the WFF Startup Innovation Awards, powered by XTC, during UN STI Forum via our website and social media.
8 June 2024: Deadline for new applications.
June – October 2024: The WFF-XTC selection team will narrow down the list of entrants to an initial group of shortlisted startups to be highlighted on our website and participate in the September semi-finals.

The eight finalist startups across the four categories will then give their pitches to the panel of judges in the Startup Innovation Awards Finals during the World Food Forum flagship event on World Food Day, 16 October, with the final award for each of the categories, as well as one overall winner, the WFF Startup Innovation of the Year Award.