Global Call: 2025 Innovate For Impact Challenge By World Food Prize Foundation For Early Startups

Global Call: 2025 Innovate for Impact Challenge by World Food Prize Foundation for Early Startups

Innovate for Impact Challenge

About Innovate for Impact Challenge

The World Food Prize Foundation, in collaboration with America’s Cultivation Corridor, is proud to launch the Innovate for Impact Challenge, a pioneering initiative dedicated to accelerating agricultural technology (AgTech) innovation.

Innovate for Impact Challenge seeks to identify and support early-stage, tech-driven startups whose transformative solutions address the critical challenges of global food security and sustainability.

Unveiled at the 2024 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, the Innovate for Impact Challenge invites forward-thinking entrepreneurs from around the globe to present breakthrough technologies aimed at revolutionizing agriculture.

This initiative aligns with the World Food Prize Foundation’s mission to elevate innovations and inspire action toward alleviating global hunger.

Summary of the 2025 Innovate for Impact Challenge by World Food Prize Foundation

Type: Contest
Sponsor: World Food Prize Foundation

Eligible Countries: All
Perks: $50,000 winning prize, Live Pitch Event showcasing, Unmatchable global exposure
Deadline: April 15, 2025

Requirements

The Innovate for Impact Challenge is open to early-stage, for-profit startups in the AgTech space. Eligible companies must meet the following requirements:

Demonstrate innovation, market potential and alignment with sustainability goals
Be in early stages of development, from validated concepts to pre-Series A funding.

Have at least one founder working full-time on the project.

Benefits of the 2025 Innovate for Impact Challenge

Global Call for Startups: Open to startups worldwide, with a special emphasis on innovation and sustainability
Live Pitch Event: Finalists will showcase their AgTech solutions during the 2025 Borlaug Dialogue

Top Prize: The winning startup will receive $50,000 to further their impact on global food security

The top three finalists will receive:

1st Place: $50,000

2nd Place: $10,000
3rd Place: $5,000

All finalists will gain:

Unmatchable global exposure by presenting their solutions at the 2025 Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, which anticipates a gathering of over 1,500 food and agricultural leaders from more than 70 countries
Unique opportunities to engage with investors, industry experts, fellow entrepreneurs, policymakers and potential partners from around the world.

Selection Criterias

Startups will be evaluated on:

Innovation Impact: The novelty and significance of the solution
Market Potential: Viability and demand within the agricultural industry

Sustainability Contribution: Alignment with environmental and social goals
Scalability and Replicability: Ability to expand and adapt across diverse contexts

Timelines

Applications Open: January 21, 2025
Submission Deadline: April 15, 2025
Top 10 Announced: June 2025 at DialogueNEXT India

Virtual Public Voting: June-July 2025
Top 3 Announced: August 2025
Final Competition: October 21-23, 2025, at the Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa