From Nepal to Canada. From seaweed cultivation to machine learning. From helping Ukrainian refugees to amplifying the voice of the East African Youth. Look how the future of mankind is being shaped at the hands of the Moonshot Awards 2022 winners.
Moonshot’s Awards 2022 is the inaugural year of our global ceremony recognizing exceptional young mission-driven founders and change-makers.
The Awards will reward leaders in sustainable development, helping them move closer to addressing the UN SDGs by providing prize money, connections, and PR exposure that allows them to inspire on the global scale. Additionally, the winners will be joining the Moonshot Youth Leaders Camp.
Moonshot ideas are catalysts of change. They have the power to set the course of world’s history (or rather, the future) in either a better or worse direction. To be on the right side of history, and ensure the prevalence of only the positive value-creating ideas, we seek to support evolutionary developments in natural sciences, humanities, arts, and ethics which are only mental seedlings, awaiting realization through physical acts.
Moonshot ideas are catalysts of change. They have the power to set the course of world’s history (or rather, the future) in either a better or worse direction. To be on the right side of history, and ensure the prevalence of only the positive value-creating ideas, we seek to support evolutionary developments in natural sciences, humanities, arts, and ethics which are only mental seedlings, awaiting realization through physical acts.
SPOTER is taking on one of the long-lasting master challenges in the machine learning research community: sign language recognition (SLR) and translation, seeking to create a holistic framework that unlocks user interaction with technology through sign language and underpins other applications. This could be later implemented into mobile apps, translators, video conferencing platforms, and other websites to yet again make technology and the internet accessible to more of us. Not just those who hear.
SDGs-related technological innovations.
Any ‘digital citizens’ (15-25 years old) with ideas serving other digital citizens.
1st place: 10.000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
No established organizations.
Startups are the future of business. Small in company size but massive in impact potential, these mission-driven organizations break molds, fix problems, and empower a more positive future. We aim to help them change a piece of the world in a positive way, particularly those who have yet to receive any formal support or funding.
Startups are the future of business. Small in company size but massive in impact potential, these mission-driven organizations break molds, fix problems, and empower a more positive future. We aim to help them change a piece of the world in a positive way, particularly those who have yet to receive any formal support or funding.
SDGs-related technological innovations.
Any startups led by ‘digital citizens’ (18-30 years old) with solutions serving other digital citizens.
1st place: 10.000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
No startups that have gone through an investment round.
Seaweed Culture is developing a novel land-based cultivation system to grow a seaweed species that can reduce methane emissions in livestock and help boost productivity. When said seaweed species (Asparagopsis Taxiformis) is incorporated into a ruminant livestock’s diet (cows or sheep) in amounts as tiny as 80g, it can reduce their methane emissions by up to 95% with no effects on the quality of meat or milk. As a tropical species, it cannot be cultivated in the waters around the UK and majority of the USA, and thus, land-based cultivation is the only possible way to grow this seaweed species in countries where it is not native.
The Covid-19 pandemic upended almost every aspect of school at once. ‘The school’ and education overall, an institution/industry too often in the background and almost taken for granted, has been changed forever, placing a lot of stress on students and educators alike. Particularly in the 21st century, a period of growing demands that students from preschool to college must keep up to date with, the world requires new ways to harness technology, spark students’ creativity, provide the services they need to succeed – let’s help accelerate these.
The Covid-19 pandemic upended almost every aspect of school at once. ‘The school’ and education overall, an institution/industry too often in the background and almost taken for granted, has been changed forever, placing a lot of stress on students and educators alike. Particularly in the 21st century, a period of growing demands that students from preschool to college must keep up to date with, the world requires new ways to harness technology, spark students’ creativity, provide the services they need to succeed – let’s help accelerate these.
EduBeyond is building an adaptive learning interface that accelerates the learning process in areas of English and technological literacy for youths in developing regions. The interface is set to be a centralized location for students to access expert-curated curricula and AI-based learning tools which can then be incorporated into any existing classroom, which makes it scaleable beyond borders and restrictions of internally hiring teachers. Currently, the project aims to halve the required hours for Southeast Asian youths to reach working proficiency in English.
Inclusive and equitable quality education. Mental Health of students. [SDGs 3 + 4]
Founders, inventors, and entire initiatives building the future of learning and aiding students’ mental health.
1st place: 10.000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
No governmental organizations.
A strenuous geopolitical situation in multiple parts of the world is causing disruption to the lives of over 2 billion people living in these conflict-affected areas and often causing major displacement of entire cultural groups. Civilian casualties and major destruction of civilian infrastructure has forced millions to flee their homes seeking safety, protection, and assistance – creating a new wave of refugees and destroying the cultural heritage of many indigenous communities. In light of the emergency and the scale of humanitarian needs, we look to support initiatives that serve minority communities on a “for the people, by the people” principle.
A strenuous geopolitical situation in multiple parts of the world is causing disruption to the lives of over 2 billion people living in these conflict-affected areas and often causing major displacement of entire cultural groups. Civilian casualties and major destruction of civilian infrastructure has forced millions to flee their homes seeking safety, protection, and assistance – creating a new wave of refugees and destroying the cultural heritage of many indigenous communities. In light of the emergency and the scale of humanitarian needs, we look to support initiatives that serve minority communities on a “for the people, by the people” principle.
The foundation of The Spear of African Peace (SoAP) utilizes the art of storytelling as a catalyst for change through productive discourse. SoAP's main activity is a yearly therapeutic essay contest that acts as a soul-mending safe space for sharing the often traumatic personal experiences of East African youth. Innovatively, SoAP draws upon these unique stories, amplifies them, and by connecting the winners with key partnered governmental institutions, provides a platform for the youth's opinions, viewpoints, and ideas.
Empowerment Collective’s goal is to end modern-day slavery in India and Nepal by advocating their 7 Keys for Global Human Rights Campaign. Empowerment Collective empowers women with the skills and knowledge they need to pull themselves and their families out of poverty. The focus is on women and girls in Nepal and India but Nasreen is investing 100% of her time and energy to scale up Empowerment Collective’s vision and projects, to address essential human rights issues.
Minority support. Philanthropy. Activism. [SDGs]
Individuals or teams from indigenous, migrant, internally displaced or refugee communities anywhere in the world.
1st place: 10.000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
No governmental organizations.
Responding to emergencies quickly and efficiently is a challenge of growing importance in today’s turbulent world full of looming natural, technological, geopolitical, and other threats. Thanks to a number of emerging innovations, it is becoming easier for everyday citizens to assess threats, share information, and plan responses to the most urgent of emergencies. We seek to help the most promising initiatives achieve scale for larger impact.
Responding to emergencies quickly and efficiently is a challenge of growing importance in today’s turbulent world full of looming natural, technological, geopolitical, and other threats. Thanks to a number of emerging innovations, it is becoming easier for everyday citizens to assess threats, share information, and plan responses to the most urgent of emergencies. We seek to help the most promising initiatives achieve scale for larger impact.
Martynka is a female-led Ukrainian grassroots organisation based in Poland that provides holistic informational, legal, and psychological support to Ukrainian evacuees around anything from human trafficking and sexual violence to safe accommodation, abortions and/or emergency contraception. Martynka offers in-person assistance through provision of safe accommodation and helping evacuees communicate with local authorities, but the flagship remains the digitally-scalable support through Martynka's Telegram chatbot + helpline which evacuees can contact 24/7 for general advice as well as personalized support.
Social innovation. [SDGs]
An initiative launched to respond to an emergency, seeking self-sustainability before scaling.
1st place: 10.000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
No governmental organizations.
Monumental changes require monumental efforts, great sacrifices, plenty of time, a couple of brilliant minds, and often significant resources and investments. Every idea, project, or initiative that makes it through a scrutinizing selection process all the way to the final is bound to possess almost all: a bright motivated team with a grand vision to make change and an innovative proposition to match. Let’s ensure the resource piece isn’t missing either for the single project that is crowned winner!
Monumental changes require monumental efforts, great sacrifices, plenty of time, a couple of brilliant minds, and often significant resources and investments. Every idea, project, or initiative that makes it through a scrutinizing selection process all the way to the final is bound to possess almost all: a bright motivated team with a grand vision to make change and an innovative proposition to match. Let’s ensure the resource piece isn’t missing either for the single project that is crowned winner!
The Empowerment Collective seeks to be the catalyst for female empowerment in the Darbhanga District of Nepal with ambitions to scale all across Nepal and then India. The unique "stipend + mentor" approach breaks the traditional caste moulds and gender inequalities by providing marginalized Nepali women with relevant knowledge and upskilling them as professional fashion designers and seamstresses, which provides financial independence and allows them to pull themselves and their families out of poverty.
All of the above.
Everyone who has applied for any of the previously mentioned categories is automatically considered for this award as well.
40.000 USD
Respective to each of the previous categories.
"I was impressed by the quality of world-changing ideas from all over the world but what really blew me away was the incredible progress these young people have made in such a short time."
"It's one thing to read applications, and quite another to meet the extraordinary young people who created these big ideas. Each candidate was such an inspiration and I can't wait to see how each of them will change the world. There was true diversity: diversity of thought, geography, and gender. I loved it”
"The range and breadth of applicants are very wide…from so many countries, and across so many topics. But, the commonality is that every applicant was so truly deeply passionate about their topic and so committed to making it work. I am very inspired by these young leaders, and all the impact they are already having, and the potential going forward too!"
“I believe that the current times are fracturing the attention of the population and it is necessary to rebuild community and share positive ideas in new ways. A key aspect inherent in Moonshot is also the pursuit of mutual inspiration across social groups and types of actors that can break social bubbles and contribute to the necessary cohesion and inclusion of society.
Department of Theater and Film Studies/Palacky University Olomoc“We had the opportunity to understand how academic institutions and leaders are dealing with our common challenges. The movement (Moonshot Platform) exposed for us the need to re-engineer our educational system including people (leadership), process, technology, and systems.”
“I think the main thing we learned is we need to take more moonshots. Moonshots are really a way that people imagine the problems can be solved and work together through dialogue and require people to hope and to really think forward about what can be done.”
Former US Secretary of State & Chair of Albright Stonebridge GroupTo understand our norms, values, standards, and what is expected of you from a moral and ethical standpoint, look at our Code of Conduct.
Code of ConductTo see how we treat your personal data, check our Privacy Statement.
Privacy StatementTo learn more about the underlying legal regulations and principles governing the competition and your participation within it, have a peek at our Contest Rules.
Contest RulesWhat are Inclusivity, Diversity, Self-Accountability, and others? Just click and find out more.
PrinciplesIt might be the end of the first Moonshot Awards and Festival.
However, our journey of supporting the leaders of tomorrow has only started!
Next stop: Moonshot Young Leaders' Camp!
Starting 2023.