Climate Tech Prize

Are you an entrepreneur scaling technology to enhance the climate-resilience of frontline communities? Are you a nonprofit innovator using technology to combat the adverse effects of climate change on your community’s health and well-being?

The Twilio.org Climate Tech Prize is investing $1 million from the Twilio.org Impact Fund in actionable technology solutions, addressing both immediate and enduring challenges faced by communities susceptible to climate-induced migration and displacement. At the core of the Twilio.org Prize, in collaboration with GreenBiz, lies a resolute commitment to a future where frontline communities not only survive but thrive in a climate-resilient world. This vision encompasses principles of equitable access to resources and technology, community-led innovations, resilient infrastructure, and unwavering dedication to climate justice and social equity.

This prize is your catalyst—empowering tech-forward nonprofits and early-stage companies with equity-free funding to bolster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in the face of climate change challenges. Apply today to expedite your path towards a future where innovation meets resilience, creating lasting positive impacts on the communities that need it most.

Selected winners will be awarded prize money from a pool of $1,000,000. Five (5) winners will be selected to receive a cash prize of $200,000 each. This is unrestricted funding, and we reserve the right to request additional information on progress, fund use, and growth following selection.

Judging criteria

Submissions will be judged according to the following criteria:

• Climate Resilience Solution: Impactful solution, implementation, or value prop that enhances resilient outcomes of frontline communities in the face of climate change. The solution should also respond to shifting customer demand or unlock new business opportunities across the value chain.
• Tech/Solution: Implementation, or value prop that bolsters mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in the face of climate change challenges. Preference for software and digital communications technology solutions.
• Impact: Clear demonstrated impact with specific metrics. Company has thoughtfully addressed and mitigated the negative (or unintended consequences) of the solution.
• Financial Model: Committed financial support, documented and sound sustainability plan, or clear business model with ability to scale.
• Traction & Market Opportunity: Has a developed product or service with 2+ paying customers or projects and demonstrates early product/market fit.
• Team: Team contains experts or specialists in their field with a variety of backgrounds including representation from climate impacted communities.
• Inclusive Design: The solution incorporates inclusivity and equity in every step of the design process, and the team has deep knowledge of and presence in communities they plan to serve.

Following an interview, finalists will be evaluated and scored by the Judges based upon the following criteria:

1. Overall excellence in advancing climate resilience for vulnerable communities
2. Exceptional impact and evidence of potential reach and depth of impact
3. Ability of the team to deliver results and scale for even greater impact

Five (5) Winners will be selected to receive a cash prize of $200,000 each. Funding will be allocated by ImpactAssets based on Twilio.org’s recommendation.

Prize funds will be administered directly to winners upon receipt of relevant tax and other required due diligence documentation. Winners are responsible for applicable taxes.

Eligibility requirements

Any non-profit 501(c)(3); international 501(c)(3) equivalents that have obtained equivalency determination or operate under a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt fiscal sponsor; and for-profit organizations and their affiliates that meet the minimum requirements of:

• At least four full time employees or full-time resources
• Have demonstrated results in a real world application
• Technology must be a central part of the solution

Additional Climate Prize Solution Criteria:

• On-the-ground community-based resilience solution
• Support for vulnerable populations
• Proven traction with at least two customers or projects

Ineligibility:

• Individuals, government entities, and 501(c)(4)s are not eligible. 
• The prize competition is global, but we cannot currently make grants or prizes in countries with comprehensive embargoes/sanctions by the US Department of Treasury, such as: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea Region of Ukraine. Russia and Venezuela are also not eligible due to significant, though not comprehensive, sanctions. More details concerning these programs can be found at: http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/. 
• Employees and contractors of Twilio, its affiliates, or agents and family members of such employees and contractors are not eligible to participate.
• International charities who have not obtained equivalency determination or do not have US-based fiscal sponsors.
• Grant applications will only be considered from international nonprofits that have either obtained equivalency determination or have a US-based fiscal sponsor.

*Organizations do not need to be Twilio customers to apply.