Extreme Tech Challenge 2021

Do you want global visibility? The ability to raise capital? Collaborate with corporates and receive world-class mentorship?

Atlantica Ventures and EchoVC are pleased to launch the first XTC Africa, a new regional competition of Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), which is the largest global competition for entrepreneurs addressing UN sustainable development goals through purposeful technology.

Mission

The Extreme Tech ChallengeSM (XTC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to elevating the next generation of entrepreneurs creating new technologies and innovations to benefit humankind.

Inspired by the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the XTC supports and showcases the innovators harnessing the power of technology to address the greatest challenges facing humanity and our planet. Through its global startup competition, XTC provides top contenders the potential for global visibility, the ability to raise capital, network with global entities (corporations, VCs, partners), and gain mentorship opportunities they need to pioneer technological breakthroughs and help power a sustainable future.

ELIGIBILITY

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 the potential to 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 the 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.

EVALUATION

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:

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

CATEGORIES

Competitors will submit their startup in one of 7 categories that bundle the UN SDG’s. These are, in alphabetical order only:

• AGTECH, FOOD, & WATER
• CLEANTECH & ENERGY
• EDUCATION
• ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES
• FINTECH
• HEALTHCARE
• TRANSPORTATION & SMART CITIES

In addition, competitors will be considered for two special awards in 2020

FEMALE FOUNDER AWARD
We will be awarding this recognition to the top startup with at least one female founder, whose innovations are driving solutions to global challenges.

COVID-19 INNOVATION AWARD
We want to recognize how startups around the world are responding to this global crisis through innovation, from testing kits to online education, and promote their successes through an award to an XTC applicant addressing challenges brought on by COVID-19.

TIMELINE

APRIL 30 – MAY 3 EST.
Finalists will be announced and invited to participate in the XTC Virtual Bootcamp and final judging for the Category Winners.

MAY 2021
– XTC VIRTUAL BOOTCAMP
– Startup engagement with senior investors, corporate leaders and industry experts
– 2020 XTC Bootcamp

MAY 2021
Category Winners announced and invited to pitch at the 2021 Global Finals 
at VivaTech in Paris.

JUNE 15-17 2021
– GLOBAL FINALS
– Top startups will pitch world-class judges at VivaTech in Paris.
– Global Winner and Special Awards Winners will be announced.
– 2020 XTC Global Finals

FINALISTS

50+ Finalists will be invited to the virtual XTC Boot Camp and Global Finals to meet 30+ XTC Partners including Ford, Intel, Cisco, ARM, and Samsung in May. Selected Finalists will also pitch to XTC judges, who will select each Category Winners, the Female Founder Award Winner, the COVID-19 Innovation Award Winner, and the XTC Global Winner. XTC 2020 judges included Young Sohn (President and CSO, Samsung Electronics), Rafaele Tordjman (Founder, Jeito Capital), Philippe Botteri (Partner, Accel), Bill Tai (Partner Emeritus, CRV), Tim Draper (Founding Partner, Draper Associates), and Jerry Yang (Founding Partner, AME Cloud Ventures).