About Extreme Tech Challenge

Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is the world’s largest startup competition and ecosystem for showcasing the most innovative tech founders addressing the UN SDGs. Founded by legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalists, Young Sohn and Bill Tai, our mission is to empower entrepreneurs building innovative technologies that improve the world. The goal is to identify potential market-leading companies that can impact the world in a big way and provide the rocket fuel to help them scale faster. We partner with a number of leading tech conference on our programming (i.e. CES, TechCrunch, Vivatech, Slush, Harman Tech Forum) as well as our own standalone events and dinners (i.e. Neckerverse on Richard Branson’s Necker Island).

XTC is unique in the breadth and depth of innovations covered. Every year, XTC attract thousands of applications from startup founders across 120+ countries, covering a wide spectrum of tech verticals and funding stages. We’ve had approximately a dozen startups exit, and collectively, XTC startup finalists have raised $4B+ as of 2023.

Tech Verticals: Advanced Materials | Agtech & Foodtech | Biotech | Cleantech, Energy and Environment | Digital Health | Edtech | Enabling Tech | Fintech | Mobility | Sustainable Smart Cities | Web3 & Blockchain – and more, including sub-tech and horizontal themes such as Climate Tech, Sustainability, Deep Tech, and AI.

The XTC innovation ecosystem is comprised of Fortune 500 corporations, VCs, startup founders, policymakers, foundations, universities, and leading tech conferences working together to create a better tomorrow.

Check out what our community members (VCs, corporate executives and founders) say about their experience with XTC (video playlist).

Explore the highlights and key moments of our competitions and events (2023 video playlist) (2022 highlights playlist).

Check out a mini documentary (5 minute video) on Extreme Tech Challenge (released in June 2023).

Extreme Tech Challenge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation.

CO-FOUNDERS OF THE EXTREME TECH CHALLENGE (XTC)


Pursuing Tech for Impact through global Entrepreneur communities

Young Sohn
Young Sohn
Bill Tai

HISTORY

The XTC® Competition was founded to empower entrepreneurs and their companies with resources and networking so they can scale at low to no incremental cost. Previous iterations of the XTC® Competition have welcomed thousands of applicants from all corners of the globe, and incubated rising startups such as Lynq, Elevian, Doctor on Demand, Wanderu, Cresilon, and Bloomlife, which have raised a combined $440m since the competition. The new XTC® Competition will draw on those life-changing experiences while expanding the scope and scale of the mission.

Previous Finalists

CONTACT

The team at Extreme Tech ChallengeSM would like to hear from you. If you have any questions, please contact us at the email addresses below.

For general questions and partnership requests around the Extreme Tech ChallengeSM Global Competition:
hello@extremetechchallenge.org

For questions around the challenge, your startup application, or technical questions related to the website:
support@extremetechchallenge.org

For press related inquiries:
press@extremetechchallenge.org