Extreme Tech Challenge

See Event Recap UN World Food Forum
Startup Innovation Awards 2024

The Peace, Justice &
Inclusive Society Startup
Competition See Event Recap The Peace, Justice &
Inclusive Society Startup Competition

Global Deep Tech
Startup Competition See Event Recap Global Deep Tech
Startup Competition

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Global Impact

The world’s largest ecosystem for founders tackling global challenges.

Tech for Purpose

Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) ignites startups tackling humanity’s toughest challenges. As the world’s largest ecosystem for positive change, inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we connect visionary founders with the resources they need to make a real difference. We believe commercial viability and social good are not mutually exclusive. Through a variety of startup competitions, thought leadership initiatives, and networking events, we create pathways for impactful partnerships that empower founders and drive sustainable change. Backed by committed investors, multinational corporations, industry titans, governments, knowledge institutions and philanthropists, XTC propels disruptive startups that can scale massively while making a meaningful impact on our planet.

10,000+

Startup Applications across 120+ countries, covering a wide spectrum of tech verticals and funding stages

US $4.4B

Venture Capital Funding Raised by XTC Startup Finalists (2015-2023)

400+

VCs and CVCs on the XTC Evaluation Committee, Global Partners

36%

Female Founded Finalists

XTC x Consensus by Coindesk: Web3 Pitch Fest 2022

xtc20 August 21, 2022

XTC’s inaugural Web3 Pitch Fest in collaboration with Consensus showcased finalists & announced four lucky winners.

Extreme Tech Challenge & ACTAI Global host inaugural Neckerverse Summit

xtc20 August 2, 2022

Bringing together leaders in technology, venture capital, and blockchain, with creators, conservationists and social impact professionals to catalyze Web3 projects focused on global good.

XTC 2022 Global Winner Announcement

xtc20 June 23, 2022

XTC Co-Founder Young Sohn’s Opening Remarks

xtc20 June 23, 2022

XTC 2022 Highlights

xtc20 June 23, 2022

XTC Co-Founder Bill Tai’s Remarks

xtc20 June 23, 2022

Global Finals Pitch Session 1

xtc20 June 23, 2022

Global Finals Pitch Session 2

xtc20 June 23, 2022

XTC Panel Session: Powering the Future Through Transformative Tech

xtc20 June 23, 2022

Enabling Collaboration between Startups and Global Corporations

International Space Station National Laboratory

Mawsonia Media/Global Corporate Venturing

Latest News

Startup Innovation Awards at the UN FAO World Food Forum 2024 Event Recap

November 12, 2024

Left to right Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director General Detelina Vassileva, COO Altered Carbon Victoria Slivkoff, XTC Executive Managing Director and Head of Ecosystem for Walden Catalyst Ventures For the 4th year in a row, XTC was proud to have produced the WFF Startup Innovation Awards competition which attracted hundreds of applicant companies from every continent. We enjoyed a great collaboration with the FAO and with Awards sponsors ADM, Kilburn & Strode, Next Tech Food Factories, Smart Sensors 4 Agri Food, High Five consortium, Qing Engineering and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Innovation Lab. The essential strength of XTC’s ecosystem is the top caliber of […]

Startup Innovation Awards at the UN FAO World Food Forum 2024 Event Recap

Beep November 12, 2024

Extreme Tech Challenge at the Forefront of Semiconductors and AI with Startup Cup and Innovation Forum

John Martin November 8, 2024

Left, Bill Tai, Angel Investor; Partner Emeritus CRV; Co-Founder, Extreme Tech Challenge and Young Sohn, Chairman of the Samsung Semiconductor Advisory Board, Founding Managing Partner at Walden Catalyst Ventures and Co-Founder of Extreme Tech Challenge Extreme Tech Challenge put itself at the forefront of today’s hottest venture market around the accelerating pace of innovation in Semiconductors and approaches to and uses of AI at XTC’s Semiconductor & AI Innovation Forum which was held on October 28 concurrent with the annual TechCrunch Disrupt Conference. Thank you to Forum sponsors Foley & Lardner LLP and CBRE who hosted us in CBRE’s 46th […]

Winner and Finalists Announced for Peace, Justice & Inclusion Startup Competition

Beep September 24, 2024

Held by Extreme Tech Challenge with in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea and the UN Development Programme. During the UN Summit of the Future Action Days Programme held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Government of the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the Finalists and Winner of their Peace, Justice & Inclusive Society Startup Competition, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge. Extreme Tech Challenge is the world’s largest startup ecosystem showcasing technologies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This competition focused on worldwide innovations addressing […]

Announcing the finalists of the World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards 2024!

xtc20 September 20, 2024

We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2024 UN World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards, showcasing innovative solutions that are transforming the future of food and agriculture.

Extreme Tech Challenge Welcomes Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) as Sponsoring Partner

xtc20 July 29, 2024

29 July 2024, Taipei, Taiwan – Hon Hai Technology Group (“Foxconn”) (TWSE:2317), the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, and Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), the world’s largest innovation ecosystem for founders tackling global challenges, announce their partnership, set to invigorate the tech-for-purpose space. Foxconn’s involvement in this partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing global innovation for sustainability and environmental impact. At the heart of this collaboration is the Extreme Tech Challenge Semi & AI for Climate Startup Cup. This pioneering competition is scheduled to launch this summer, with its semifinals to be held during TechCrunch Disrupt on October 30, 2024. The […]

Announcing the semi-finalists of the World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards 2024!

xtc20 July 25, 2024

In partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and sponsored by ADM, Kilburn & Strode, Next Tech Food Factories, Smart Sensors 4 Agri Food, HIGHFIVE, QING Forward Engineering and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Innovation Lab, we congratulate the semi-finalists of the fourth annual World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards! 🎖️ World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards semi-finalists in four new categories This year we introduce four new categories: Digital Innovation in Food Processing, Empowering Women in Agrifood Systems, Food Loss and Good Food for All, for Today and Tomorrow. 🚀 DIGITAL INNOVATION IN FOOD […]

Inaugural Extreme Tech Challenge program at 2024 TNW Conference a ‘really big success!’

xtc20 July 18, 2024

TNW Conference on June 20, 2024 one of Europe’s leading tech festivals, was THE place to be with 10,000 attendees, more than 190 speakers and 200+ companies exhibiting. Our first startup competition at TNW Conference 2024 was, as LUMO Labs’ Andy Lürling put it, a “really big success.” This was our first program collaboration at TNW Conference, and, once again, we found ourselves at the nexus of innovation, entrepreneurship and impact. Our mission at TNW was three-fold: Strengthen and expand the deep tech ecosystem, including connecting founders, corporate executives, industry experts, investors, governments and knowledge institutions. Share knowledge from global […]

Extreme Tech Challenge joins the U.S. Department of State Coalition for Climate Entrepreneurship public-private partnership

xtc20 July 2, 2024

In an agreement aimed at driving innovative climate solutions, the U.S. Department of State and Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for XTC to join the Coalition for Climate Entrepreneurship (CCE) public-private partnership. This strategic partnership will amplify the efforts of climate-focused entrepreneurs worldwide by providing unparalleled access to expertise, resources, and networking opportunities. Joining Forces with Industry Leaders XTC now joins an esteemed cohort of CCE partners, including Google, LinkedIn, Salesforce, Microsoft, Good Machine, General Electric, NVIDIA, and over 20 other industry leaders. These organizations bring a wealth of subject-matter expertise, resources, and […]

Top 5 Finalists Announced for the Global Deep Tech Startup Competition

xtc20 June 6, 2024

The anticipation has been palpable as the Global Deep Tech Startup Competition reached a pivotal milestone this week. From a pool of hundreds of ambitious applications, five standout startups have risen to the top. These finalists are set to pitch their groundbreaking innovations in AI, robotics, and semiconductors to an esteemed audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders at 4:20 pm, June 20, on the Growth Quarters stage at the TNW Conference. The competition has been fierce, underscoring the depth and breadth of talent within the deep tech sector. Each of the finalists brings a unique vision and technological prowess […]

"We’re currently in the fifth wave of technology evolution – an era driven by data and AI, which are accelerating the number of applications that can disrupt every industry due to the timely availability of actionable data-driven insights."
Young Sohn
CO-FOUNDER, EXTREME TECH CHALLENGE
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, HARMAN INTERNATIONAL
"The world's financial markets now recognize that unless businesses do something good for this planet, that this planet may not exist – and that there are investable companies that can be part of the solution."
BILL TAI
CO-FOUNDER, EXTREME TECH CHALLENGE
PARTNER EMERITUS, CHARLES RIVER VENTURES
"We are balancing between the challenges of economic damage versus potential public health damage. This will define our generation depending on how we deal with it and how agile we can be. I think it’s clear that innovation will come out of necessity."
JERRY YANG
CO-FOUNDER & FORMER CEO, YAHOO! AND FOUNDING PARTNER, AME CLOUD VENTURES
"The good news is that entrepreneurs can lead us out of this period. Entrepreneurs are the ones who create value and jobs in our economy. This is your opportunity as an entrepreneur right now to take the big risks. This is your time."
TIM DRAPER
FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER, DRAPER ASSOCIATES
"The experience of finding go-to-market fit is like going from paddling to surfing. You are burning a huge amount of energy to go a very short distance. On the other hand, when you catch the wave, what you feel is momentum."
TAE HEA NAHM
CO-FOUNDING MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STORM VENTURES AND CO-AUTHOR OF SURVIVAL TO THRIVAL
"As a global startup, you have to think about how the world is changing today... It’s important to think how trillion-dollar industries are digitally transforming themselves because of Covid-19. You need to think about how you can ride these waves of change."
SHANKAR CHANDRAN
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CO-HEAD, SAMSUNG CATALYST FUND
"I often tell entrepreneurs what they really need is the right amount of money from the right VCs for the right business plan. You need to unpack each of those elements. Don’t raise more money than you need."
RICHARD IRVING
CO-FOUNDER AND GENERAL PARTNER, POND VENTURE PARTNERS
"Investors don't like surprises. They don't want to learn something from someone else that they should have learned directly from the entrepreneur. My advice is to always be transparent. Building trust and transparency starts with setting expectations."
RAFAÈLE TORDJMAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND INVESTOR, JEITO CAPITAL
"I like to get to know the founding team anywhere from 12 to 24 months before actually investing. Building that relationship over time, getting to know each other, and seeing the progress, that makes things much easier when the time is right to invest."
PHILIPPE BOTTERI
PARTNER, ACCEL
"We found that diversity drives innovation. You need a broad range of voices and perspectives to chip away at the biases that still exist in the workforce. And that will make your products even better."
PEGGY JOHNSON
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MICROSOFT
"Some people are worried that when a corporate investor comes in, they will start controlling your roadmap. When I ran my startup, I didn’t find that. Nobody controlled our roadmap or asked us to do things unnatural to us. They are not there to make sure you only succeed for them..."
OMAR TAWAKOL
VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER OF CISCO CONTACT CENTER, CISCO SYSTEMS
"Using technology to solve global problem is a factor in our investment decisions. We do focus on areas that relate to sustainability and community. We have a focused area on healthcare. We have seen that a lot of our companies have been useful in the Covid-19 situation."
MARK LYDON
MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTEL CAPITAL
"I’ve always invested in people who have a background in disruptive technology. I like to identify the most talented people with the most relevant experience. That is always the starting point. Once you have the right leadership, then you can build a team around those people."
LIP-BU TAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS AND CHAIRMAIN, WALDEN INTERNATIONAL
"As a startup, you want access to capital as well as to investors who can help you with follow-on rounds, with hiring, and with access to management talent. And you also want the strategic advantage of having investors who really understand your space and have experience developing technology and products."
DAVID JOHNSON
MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTEL CAPITAL
"If your business is a technology-born business, then you are in good hands. The disruption is in front of us. The question is how do you convert it into opportunity? If you chose to disrupt, if you chose to scale up, this is your day. This is the time to prioritize. This is what will make you successful on this bumpy ride. "
CP GURNANI
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, TECH MAHINDRA
"Telemedicine and telepathology are here to stay in a post-Covid world. It’s clear that patients have wanted this to happen. We have gone from near zero telemedicine usage at the beginning of the year to now, where 40% of our encounters are completed with telemedicine."
ATUL BUTTE
MD, PHD, CHAN ZUCKERBERG DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR, UCSF AND CHIEF DATA SCIENTIST, CALIFORNIA HEALTH SYSTEM (UC HEALTH)
"Even though, with corporate venture capital, you are dealing with big companies, it always comes down to the people and the personal relationships you build. Finding the right person within the corporation you want to work with makes a big difference."
PHILIP KIRK
VICE PRESIDENT, CISCO INVESTMENTS
"Diversity has to be part of your culture and process. Creating a diverse team from the beginning will create a better product. At Microsoft, the more diverse teams we have working on our solutions, the better our products have been."
TAMARA STEFFENS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, M12