Young innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who have businesses that focuses on solving social and environmental issues in their community, the Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge is offering you an opportunity.

The challenge is designed to give young impact founders a platform and provide them with funding for their projects. You will also get unique leadership learning and exclusive exposure through some of the world’s biggest brands.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge, your social startup must be:

• 100% YOUTH-LED – Founders leading the startup or project must be between 18 and 30 years old and have clear decision making authority.
• IMPACT FOCUSED – Startups and projects must address a clearly defined social or environmental issue and have measurable social outputs and impact.

The key requirements are that your project:

• Has clear social or environmental impact
• Aligns with at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal
• Is genuinely led by young people (18-30)
• Takes an innovative approach to addressing challenges

These project activities can come from:

• A registered startup (nonprofit or for-profit)
• An unregistered group or initiative
• A new solution within an existing organization (with some conditions).

Benefits

1. GRANT FUNDING AWARDS

Multiple grant awards available – from $3,000 to $15,000 USD – one submission makes you eligible for multiple award opportunities.

2) FREE Founder & Project Support

We’ll help founders to develop a strong submission, provide access to exclusive learning materials and a pitch coach to all finalists.

3) GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES NETWORK

Applicants gain exclusive access to all-year-round opportunities including more grants, paid work and training opportunities.

Application Timeline

• JUNE 2ND: Submissions Open
• JULY: Get your submissions in!
• AUG 29TH: Submissions Close
• FROM SEPT: Social Shifters Global Opportunities Network
• SEPT: Submission Scoring Begins
• OCT: Submission Scoring Ends
• OCT: Finalists Announcement + Pitch Coaching Begins
• NOV: FINALS! Pitching Begins
• DEC: Winning Projects Announced

Application Deadline: 29 August 2025

For more details and to apply, kindly visit the official website of the Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge