Twilio.org 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.

Application is now closed – see FAQ section for the timeline

At the core of the Twilio.org Prize, in collaboration with Trellis, 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.

Judging panel

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 here.
  • 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.

FAQ

How do I apply for the Twilio.org Climate Tech Prize?

Complete Round 1 Application by August 16, 2024

What is the timeline for the Twilio Prize?

Submissions Open (Application 1) – July 15, 2024

• Submissions Close (Application 1) – August 14, 2024
•. Notification to Semi-Finalists (Application 2) – Early September 2024

How will the $1 million prize funds be allocated?

5 Winners will be selected to receive a cash prize of $200,000 each, from the Twilio.org Impact Fund, that will be allocated by ImpactAssets based on Twilio’s recommendation.

When will I know if I’ve been selected as a winner?

Selected winners will be informed via the email address used in their submission form in the first week of December, 2024.

Can I submit more than one application?

Your application should represent one innovative climate tech resilience solution with demonstrated results in a real world application. Multiple applications may only be submitted from the same organization if each submission represents a distinct project. If there was an error in your submission, please reach out to jake@greenbiz.com.

Do I get to keep ownership of my product’s code and IP?

Yes – the entrant remains the sole and exclusive owner of the submitted solution.

Will you accept submissions from organizations outside the United States?

Yes – as long as the entity is not registered in a U.S. sanctioned country.

Our company is based/headquartered in the US, but our project is outside of the US. Do we qualify?

Yes.

Our headquarters are based in a US territory. Do we qualify?

Yes.

If I’m selected as a winner, what’s next?

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.

Do you plan to offer support to the winners? If so, what kind of support i.e. Twilio business units help to develop the tech or reach new customers?

This will be a cash prize only and only on a very limited and case-by-case basis can we provide additional support in the form of product credits and/or pro bono volunteer support.

Do you want the funding to be used in a specific way?

Ideally, funding is being used to support the development and deployment of technology, supporting technical staff, or other technical infrastructure; however, we are flexible to the funding needs of the recipients and will consider a wide range of budget proposals.

What is the Twilio.org Impact Fund?

The Twilio.org Impact Fund provides grants and investments that help nonprofits and social enterprises accelerate digital transformation in order to make a bigger impact. We prioritize platforms and strategies that support displaced communities, spur climate action, and build equitable long-term wellbeing. The Twilio.org Impact Fund is managed by ImpactAssets as a Donor Advised Fund; as such, all grants and investments are administered by ImpactAssets.

Who is ineligible for this prize? Funding Exclusions:

• Individuals, government entities, and 501(c)(4)s are not eligible.
• We will not fund policy development, research endeavors, advocacy campaigns, or projects that lack a technology connection. Our goal is to invest in tangible, action-oriented technology solutions that address the immediate and long-term challenges faced by communities vulnerable to climate-induced migration and displacement.
• 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/.
• International charities who have not obtained equivalency determination or do not have US-based fiscal sponsors.

What are the rules of the Twilio.org Climate Tech Prize?

See Terms & Conditions here.