Overview

The Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) competition is the world’s largest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges. Drawing from the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, XTC connects innovators with a network of investors, corporations, and mentors to help them raise capital, launch corporate collaborations, and scale their world-changing startups.

Who is eligible to enter?

The XTC Competition is open to all product or service submissions based on a new technology or an innovative application of an existing technology built by the submitting company that has potential address one of XTC’s Tech for Good categories. Applicants must be legally incorporated – or registered – in an eligible country. The proposed business cannot be in violation of any intellectual property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trade secrets. See the Official Rules for more details.

XTC does not have any restrictions on current revenue level or capital raised to date.

All non-public information in submissions will be kept confidential and will only be shared in compliance with XTC’s privacy policy.

How competitors are evaluated?

XTC competitors will be evaluated by a team of highly experienced investors, entrepreneurs, and executives. Submissions will be judged based on their quality, ability to address the corresponding U.N. Sustainability Development Goals, and long-term viability. Each application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Team
  • Product/Service Innovation
  • Product Market Fit
  • Tech for Good and Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals of both the product and the Company’s operations

CATEGORIES

Competitors will submit their startup in one of 10 categories which bundle the UN SDG’s. These are, in alphabetical order only:

  • Advanced Materials
  • Agtech & Food
  • Biotech & Medical Devices
  • Cleantech, Energy and Environment
  • Digital Health
  • Edtech
  • Enabling Tech
  • Fintech
  • Mobility
  • Sustainable Smart Cities

In addition, competitors will be considered for three special awards in 2022

  • Female Founder
  • HARMAN-XTC
  • People's Choice
  • UNICEF EdTech

Finalists

The Finalist Cohort will be invited to the virtual XTC Bootcamp and Global Finals in June to meet the VC and corporate executive evaluators, including ~50+ XTC Partners comprised of Ford, Intel, Cisco, ARM, Samsung, etc.

Selected Finalists will also pitch to XTC judges at the Category Finals, who will select the winner of each Category and the winner of each Special Award. These Category Winners will then advance to the final event, the Extreme Tech Challenge 2021 Global Finals Presented by TechCrunch.