Deadline Date: May 22, 2025 

 The WFF Innovation Lab has launched the Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge, and is now accepting applications.

The WFF Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is a global competition showcasing entrepreneurs who are using the power of technology to transform agrifood systems to end global hunger and achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Made possible through a strategic partnership with XTC, the world’s leading platform for fostering collaboration and innovation among startups, corporations and governments to address global challenges stemming from the SDGs, the Startup Innovation Awards spotlight the next generation of innovators developing solutions for a sustainable future.

Awards Mission

• Technological and digital innovations play a critical role in the future of agrifood systems. To address the unprecedented challenges they are facing, they need to find new, actionable, scalable, investable, innovative and inclusive solutions that respond to the complex, interrelated nature of global agrifood systems.

Categories

• Through the Startup Innovation Awards, they are seeking to identify, elevate and accelerate the youth-led startups who show the greatest potential for a positive impact to transform agrifood systems across the four categories for 2025:
  • Digital Innovation in Food Processing Award:
    • Startups developing cutting-edge solutions to enhance the sustainability, efficiency and resilience of food processing systems. This award celebrates innovations transforming how raw food materials are processed, preserved, and packaged using data-driven insights, smart equipment and connected platforms that optimize every step of the food processing chain.
  • Equitable and Sustainable Nutrition Award:
    • Startups driving inclusive solutions to ensure access to nutritious, sustainable food for all. This award recognizes innovations across food production, distribution and consumption that promote health and well-being, making nutritious food more accessible, affordable, and equitable for communities everywhere.
  • Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security Award
    • Startups developing innovative solutions to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change and water scarcity. This award recognizes technologies and practices that promote sustainable water management, strengthen resilience to climate change and support the long-term sustainability of agrifood systems and the communities that depend on them.
  • Driving Innovation in Agrifood Systems Award:
    • Startups developing digital innovations that enhance the sustainability, efficiency and resilience of agrifood systems. This award highlights the use of technologies such as IoT, AI, blockchain, automation, drones, robotics and advanced data analytics to optimize resource use, reduce environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability across the agrifood value chain.

Prize and Benefits

• Cash prize of up to USD 15,000 for the winner;
• Potential inclusion in a Startup Accelerator Programme offering implementation support to
• Startup Innovation Awards winners;
• Travel support for two finalists to attend the WFF flagship event in Rome;
• Comprehensive virtual communication and pitch training boot camp;
• Extensive visibility and promotional opportunities via WFF global communication platforms and
• FAO and United Nations networks; and
• Qualified semi-finalists can compete for the MassChallenge Switzerland: Fighting Malnutrition and Enhancing Food Security Prize (more information here) on an additional prize of EUR 10000.

Eligibility Criteria

• Digital Innovation in Food Processing Award:
  • Focus on food processing: The solution must directly address food processing, including methods like sorting, grinding, cooking, preserving or packaging;
  • Youth-led startups: They seek youth-led startups, with a founder or C-level executive between 18 and 35 years old at the time of submission; and
  • Small Business Focus: Startups must demonstrate how their solutions can be adopted by smallscale food processors and cooperatives.
• Equitable and Sustainable Nutrition Award:
  • This award is open to youth-led startups (pre-seed and seed stage) innovating in nutrition, food accessibility, sustainable agriculture, and digital agrifood chains. They are looking for youth-led startups with a founder or C-level executive between 18 and 35 years old at the time of submission of the application. Applicants must provide validated evidence or data demonstrating the effectiveness and impact of their innovations. Priority will be given to inclusive and scalable solutions from the Global South. 
• Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security Award:
  • The award is open to youth-led startups (pre-seed and seed stage) developing technological innovations, sustainable practices or management strategies addressing climate resilience and water security. They are looking for youth-led startups with a founder or C-level executive between 18 and 35 years old at the time of submission of the application. Applicants must present validated evidence demonstrating the effectiveness and tangible impacts of their solutions. Priority will be given to scalable innovations addressing the needs of marginalized populations, including smallholder farmers, rural communities and Indigenous groups, especially in the Global South.
• Driving Innovation in Agrifood Systems Award:
  • This award is open to youth-led startups (pre-seed and seed stage) demonstrating effective application of digital technologies, including but not limited to IoT, AI, data analytics, blockchain, automation and robotics, in agrifood systems. They are looking for youth-led startups with a founder or C-level executive between 18 and 35 years old at the time of submission of the application. Applicants must provide validated evidence of their solutions’ practical impacts and effectiveness on their beneficiaries. Priority consideration will be given to scalable solutions with clear potential for widespread adoption, and substantial impacts on agricultural sustainability.

For more information, visit WFF.