Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Zayed Sustainability Prize is a prestigious international award that recognizes and rewards impactful, innovative, and inspirational sustainability solutions across the globe. Established in 2008 and named in honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, the prize aims to continue his legacy of environmental stewardship and sustainable development. The prize is awarded annually in five categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, and Global High Schools, each designed to address critical challenges facing the world today.
The Health category honors solutions that improve physical, mental, and social well-being, with a focus on projects that can be scaled to benefit large populations. The Food category targets innovations that enhance food security, sustainable agriculture, and nutrition. The Energy category recognizes initiatives that increase access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. The Water category focuses on projects that offer sustainable water management solutions. Finally, the Global High Schools category encourages and empowers young people to develop sustainable projects within their schools and communities.
Winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize receive not only financial support but also global recognition, which helps them to scale their projects and maximize their impact. The prize fund totals $3 million, distributed across the categories, with each winner receiving up to $600,000. This financial boost, combined with the prestige of the award, has enabled past laureates to expand their initiatives, foster new partnerships, and influence policy. Through these efforts, the Zayed Sustainability Prize continues to drive significant advancements in sustainability, directly contributing to the global effort to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
THRIVE Global Impact Challenge
The THRIVE Global Impact Challenge is an annual competition aimed at fostering innovative solutions in the agri-food sector to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Organized by SVG Ventures THRIVE, a leading agrifood investment and innovation platform, the challenge seeks to identify and accelerate the development of breakthrough technologies that can significantly enhance the sustainability and resilience of the global food system.
Open to startups from around the world, the THRIVE Global Impact Challenge invites participants to present their cutting-edge technologies and business models in areas such as food security, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. The competition focuses on five key areas: Sustainable Food Production, Food Quality & Safety, Food Waste Reduction, Smart Agriculture, and Supply Chain Management. Startups are assessed on their potential to drive positive social, economic, and environmental impacts.
Winners of the challenge receive a suite of benefits designed to propel their startups to the next level. These include access to THRIVE’s extensive network of mentors, investors, and industry partners, as well as participation in the THRIVE Accelerator program. This program offers tailored support, including business coaching, strategic guidance, and opportunities for pilot projects and collaborations with leading corporations in the agrifood sector. Additionally, winners receive significant visibility and recognition through THRIVE’s media channels and events.
The THRIVE Global Impact Challenge not only provides a platform for groundbreaking innovations but also fosters a collaborative ecosystem where entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders can work together to solve critical issues in the food system. By supporting innovative startups, the challenge aims to drive transformative changes that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for agriculture and food production worldwide.
She Loves Tech 2024 Global Competition
She Loves Tech is the world’s largest startup competition focused on women and technology. Founded in 2015, this global platform aims to bridge the gender gap in technology and entrepreneurship by providing female-led and female-impact tech startups with opportunities for investment, mentorship, and global visibility. The She Loves Tech Global Competition is the centerpiece of this initiative, showcasing innovative tech solutions that have the potential to create a positive impact on women and society.
The competition is open to early-stage startups that have a viable product or service and demonstrate significant potential for growth. It specifically targets startups that either have at least one female founder or a product designed to address a problem faced by women. The competition spans multiple rounds, starting with regional rounds held in various countries around the world, culminating in a global final where the top startups compete for the grand prize.
Participants in the She Loves Tech competition benefit from a comprehensive support system. They receive mentorship from leading experts in technology and business, access to She Loves Tech’s extensive network of investors and industry partners, and exposure to media and public relations opportunities. Winners receive cash prizes, investment opportunities, and spots in accelerator programs designed to fast-track their growth and development.
She Loves Tech goes beyond the competition by fostering a global community of female entrepreneurs and innovators. Through its various programs and initiatives, it provides continuous support and resources to help women-led startups thrive. The competition has grown exponentially since its inception, now operating in over 40 countries and partnering with major corporations and investors to drive its mission. By highlighting and supporting female tech entrepreneurs, She Loves Tech aims to create a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem, ultimately driving economic growth and innovation.
Global Innovation Fund (GIF)
The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) is an international, nonprofit investment fund that supports the development, rigorous testing, and scaling of innovations aimed at improving the lives of people living on less than $5 a day. Launched in 2014, GIF operates with a mission to accelerate evidence-based solutions that address global development challenges, with a focus on innovations that have the potential to transform the lives of the world’s poorest people.
GIF offers a unique approach to funding by providing flexible financial support through grants, loans, and equity investments. This allows GIF to back a wide range of innovations at different stages of development, from early-stage ideas to proven interventions ready for scaling. The fund prioritizes innovations that are cost-effective, scalable, and have a strong potential for measurable social impact. GIF’s portfolio spans various sectors, including education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation, and energy.
Applicants to the Global Innovation Fund undergo a rigorous selection process where their innovations are evaluated based on their potential impact, evidence of effectiveness, and scalability. Successful applicants receive not only financial support but also technical assistance, monitoring, and evaluation support to ensure their solutions are effectively implemented and scaled. GIF’s funding is designed to be catalytic, providing the necessary resources to bridge the gap between proven solutions and widespread adoption.
The impact of GIF’s investments is significant, as the fund leverages a venture capital-style approach to drive social impact. By focusing on high-impact innovations, GIF aims to achieve sustainable improvements in the quality of life for the world’s poorest populations. The fund’s emphasis on evidence and results ensures that its investments lead to tangible benefits and contribute to the broader goals of poverty reduction and sustainable development. Through its innovative funding model, GIF plays a crucial role in fostering breakthroughs that have the potential to create lasting change on a global scale.
