Open Call: Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge

Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge is designed to give young impact founders a platform; providing project funding, unique leadership learning, and exclusive exposure through some of the world’s biggest brands.

Goals

• No Poverty
• Zero Hunger
• Good Health and Well Being
• Quality Education
• Gender Equality
• Clean Water and Sanitation
• Affordable and Clean Energy
• Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• Reduced Inequalities
• Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Responsible Consumption and Production
• Climate Action
• Life below Water
• Life on Land
• Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Partnerships for the Goals

Benefits

• Mentorship opportunities
• Peer support
• Continued access to competition resources
• Potential future funding opportunities

Funding Information

• Multiple grant awards available from $3,000 to $15,000 USD.

Uses of the Funds

• Project development and implementation:
  • Equipment or materials
  • Technical resources
  • Marketing and communications
  • Team capacity building
  • Other project-related costs

Eligibility Criteria

• Age Requirements:
  • The Global Innovation Challenge is exclusively open to individuals who:
    • Are between 18 and 30 years old on or before the submission deadline
    • Can provide official government-issued identification to verify age
    • Represent the primary driving force behind their project’s development
• Leadership by Young People:
  • Entrants must be able to demonstrate that young people hold a majority stake (51% or more) in the group or startup behind the project, and that clear decision-making authority is held by individuals in the eligible age range.
  • Special Provisions for Organizational Projects Subdivisions of larger nonprofits or businesses are eligible only if:
    • Young founders have complete autonomy
    • The project has distinct operational independence
    • Leadership and strategic direction are primarily youth-driven
• Geographic Accessibility
  • Entrants and projects can be located anywhere in the world.
  • Country Restrictions Submissions will not be accepted from the following countries, which are subject to UK government financial sanctions:
    • Russia
    • Belarus
    • Syria
    • North Korea
    • Iran
    • Cuba
    • Venezuela

Evaluation Criteria

• Submissions will be evaluated based on:
  • Genuine youth leadership
  • Measurable social or environmental impact
  • Innovative approach to addressing global challenges
  • Potential for meaningful, scalable change

Disqualification Conditions 

• Submissions will be immediately disqualified if they:
  • Fail to meet age requirements
  • Lack clear social impact focus
  • Operate in restricted countries
  • Are not primarily youth-controlled
  • Provide false or misleading information

For more information, visit Social Shifters.