Inclusive Society Startup
CompetitionApply By May 13The Peace, Justice &
Inclusive Society Startup Competition
Global Impact
The world's largest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges
The world's largest startup
competition for entrepreneurs
addressing global challenges
Tech for Purpose
XTC is a non-profit organization behind the world’s largest startup competition that aims to help startups change the world for the better. In our quest, we are supported by leading corporations, VCs, foundations, policymakers, universities and tech conferences.
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, 2022XTC’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, 2022Bringing together leaders in technology, venture capital, and blockchain, with creators, conservationists and social impact professionals to catalyze Web3 projects focused on global good.
Latest News
March 27, 2024
AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – March 27, 2024 – The Next Web The Next Web (TNW) Conference, one of Europe’s leading tech festivals and subsidiary of the Financial Times, and Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), the world’s largest startup ecosystem for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges, are excited to announce their program partnership. The TNW Conference, a two-day technology event where industry leaders and tech enthusiasts alike come together to explore how tech will help us reclaim the future, takes place June 20–21, 2024. Global Deep Tech Startup Competition Finale: Thursday, June 20, 4:20 – 5:00pm | Growth Quarters Stage Startups aligned with […]
Extreme Tech Challenge Launches a Global Deep Tech Startup Competition with TNW Conference 2024
xtc20 March 27, 2024AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – March 27, 2024 – The Next Web The Next Web (TNW) Conference, one of Europe’s leading tech festivals and subsidiary of the Financial Times, and Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), the world’s largest startup ecosystem for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges, are excited to announce their program partnership. The TNW Conference, a two-day technology event where industry leaders and tech enthusiasts alike come together to explore how tech will help us reclaim the future, takes place June 20–21, 2024. Global Deep Tech Startup Competition Finale: Thursday, June 20, 4:20 – 5:00pm | Growth Quarters Stage Startups aligned with […]
Republic of Korea, UNDP and Extreme Tech Challenge launch tech startup competition to drive SDG 16 solutions
xtc20 March 17, 2024The Government of the Republic of Korea, in collaboration with Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), announces a new and impactful initiative: The Peace, Justice & Inclusive Society Startup Competition, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge.
Extreme Tech Challenge Announces Event Partnership with NVIDIA for the 2024 GTC AI Conference
xtc20 March 2, 2024Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is thrilled to announce it will be an event partner for the upcoming NVIDIA GTC AI Conference, scheduled to take place in San Jose March 18-21, aiming to drive innovation and transformative solutions in the field of AI and computing. The GTC AI Conference, hosted at the San Jose Convention Center, is set to be a pivotal gathering for AI and computing professionals. The conference will feature a keynote by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and includes over 900 sessions, more than 200 exhibits, and a variety of technical workshops and unique networking events. Attendees will have […]
Shaping a Sustainable Future Through Innovation in Climate Tech: CES 2024 Recap
Beep February 12, 2024CES® 2024, the apex of tech innovation and entrepreneurship, concluded recently, provided a unique opportunity for networking, showcasing finalists from the Deep Tech Climate Innovations Startup Challenge.
Extreme Tech Startup Spotlight: EarthEn
Beep February 1, 2024This week in our Startup Spotlight blog series is our 2024 Winner of the Deep Tech Climate Innovations Startup Challenge - EarthEn!
Extreme Tech Startup Spotlight: Sustainable Planet
Beep January 26, 2024This week in our Startup Spotlight blog series is our 2023 World Food Forum Startup Innovation Award Winner -Sustainable Planet!
Extreme Tech Startup Spotlight: Stellapps
Beep January 19, 2024This week in our Startup Spotlight blog series is our 2023 Winner, Better Life Category, UN World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards by XTC -Stellapps!
Extreme Tech Startup Spotlight: Zebra CropBank
Beep January 8, 2024This week in our Startup Spotlight blog series is our 2023 Winner, Better Production Category, UN World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards by XTC - Zebra CropBank!
Register to Attend the CES Networking Reception and Deep Tech Climate Startup Challenge!
Beep December 20, 2023We’re putting the final touches on our first big event of 2024: the Extreme Tech Challenge Networking Reception and Deep Tech Climate Startup Challenge at CES®, the world’s largest tech expo and global stage of innovation.
"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
Global Visibility
Pitch your startup to thousands of tech leaders and investors at regional and global competitions.
Opportunity for Investment
Top finalists will get an opportunity to pitch to a panel of leading global investors.
World-Class Mentorship
Work with industry leaders and experts who can help shape your startup for success.
“The world’s largest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing the globe’s most serious challenges.”
The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals that serve as the framework.
Empowering Startups to Innovate in 10 Key Categories inspired by the 17 SDGs
- Advanced Materials
- Agtech & Food
- Biotech & Medical Devices
- Cleantech, Energy and Environment
- Climate Tech
- Deep Tech
- Digital Health
- Edtech
- Enabling Tech
- Fintech
- Mobility
- Sustainability
- Sustainable Smart Cities
- Web3
Special Awards
- Female Founder
- HARMAN-XTC
- People's Choice
- UNICEF EdTech