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The World Food Forum (WFF) Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), is a global competition that identifies, supports and scales young innovators using technology to transform agrifood systems in support of ending hunger and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For its fifth edition, the Awards received 1,507 applications from 102 countries across four categories: Equitable and Sustainable Nutrition – Recognizing inclusive innovations that improve access to more sustainable, affordable and nutritious diets. Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security – Spotlighting solutions that strengthen community resilience to climate change and water scarcity. Digital Innovation in Food Processing […]

The World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative’s Startup Innovation Awards (SIA), powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), is a global competition that supports and showcases young innovators and entrepreneurs using technology to accelerate the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Now in its fifth edition, the SIA received 1 507 applications from 102 countries across four award categories: Equitable and Sustainable Nutrition – Recognizing inclusive innovations that improve access to more sustainable, affordable and nutritious diets. Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security – Spotlighting solutions that strengthen community resilience to climate change […]

Bakar Climate Labs is a new program, just 3 1⁄2 years old, spun off from the research and incubation program launched under the Biology segment (QB3) of the California Science and Innovation Institutes created at the turn of the century/millenium. Within that, a core activity is the Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet or BIDMaP and during April, BIDMap held their first symposium “AI and Climate Symposium: From Cutting-Edge Research to Commercialization” to showcase how the massive advances in large learning models are having a positive and accelerating impact on innovations in chemistry, material sciences and business tools […]

XTC Startup Cup Drives Sustainable Innovation at CES 2025   As Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC)Founder Young Sohn put it, “Ten years ago, if you said you had a chip startup, everyone would run away. Now, it’s taking center stage in venture investing.” This seismic shift was on full display at the XTC’s Semiconductors & AI Innovation Startup Cup, sponsored by industry giants Arm and Hon Hai Technology Group (better known as Foxconn). Chips are now an essential part of modern technology—without Arm, there would be no mobile phones; without Intel, no PCs; and without NVIDIA, AI training would be far […]

Shaping a Sustainable Future Through Innovation in Climate Tech Las Vegas, NV, USA At CES® 2024, XTC spotlighted innovation and collaboration at a networking reception which featured a keynote address by Lars Reger, a fireside chat with Dr. Vanessa Chan, and the Deep Tech Climate Innovations Startup Challenge pitch session with a welcome from Nicole Johnson of Cadence Giving Foundation, our sponsoring partner. 🎉 Winner: EarthEn 👏 Startup Finalists: 7Analytics, Barrow Green, BioEsol, Dynamic Air Cooling (DAC), EarthEn, EH Group, SeaO2, and Water Warriors 🎥Watch the Videos: Fireside, Pitches, Interview with the Winner 🔗 Full Event Recap Technology Has No […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]