Deadline: 15 April 2025

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.

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

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.

Benefits

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

Funding Information

The top three finalists will receive:

1st Place: $50,000

2nd Place: $10,000

3rd Place: $5,000.

Eligibility Criteria

±      The Challenge is open to early-stage, for-profit startups in the AgTech space.

±      Eligible companies must meet the following requirements:

ü Be in early stages of development, from validated concepts to pre-Series A funding

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

ü Demonstrate innovation, market potential and alignment with sustainability goals

Start-ups 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.

For more information, visit World Food Prize Foundation.