Global Innovation Challenge
Grant funding & free support for young impact founders.
The Amazon x Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge supports young innovators and entrepreneurs (18-30 years) working to solve the social and environmental issues that matter to them most.
MULTIPLE GRANT FUNDING AWARDS OF UP TO $10,000 (USD) + FREE-TO-ACCESS FOUNDER & PROJECT SUPPORT!
ACT NOW. BE PART OF THE SOCIAL SHIFT.
Young minds everywhere are rising up to meet the ever more urgent challenges facing people and our planet. These young leaders now realise that change must be built ‘from the ground up’, and are taking action in their communities to address the social and environmental issues they see around them.
As the worlds most vulnerable communities continue to be impacted most by climate related extreme weather events, geopolitically induced conflict, financial inequality and exploitation – the time to act is now.
Backing the best youth-led
IDEAS & INNOVATION
The Social Shifters x Amazon Global Innovation Challenge is designed to support any innovative startups and projects that contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. To enter your initiative must:
1) Have demonstrable social or environmental impact.2) Align with at least one of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.3) Be genuinely led by young people (18-30).4) Take an innovative approach to addressing challenges.
We’re looking for lasting solutions that can be delivered on an ever-increasing scale, and which can be replicated in different geographies.
YOUR 2025 CHALLENGE JOURNEY!
WHY ME, WHY NOW?
1) GRANT FUNDING AWARDS
$10,000 USD, $5,000 USD and $3,000 USD grant funding awards available in this category.
2) FREE FOUNDER & PROJECT SUPPORT
We’ll help founders to develop a strong submission, provide access to exclusive learning materials and a pitch coach to all finalists.
3) GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES NETWORK
Applicants gain exclusive access to all-year-round opportunities inclusing more grants, paid work and training opportunities!
The Sustainable
Development Goals
To enter the Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge your idea must contribute to at least one of the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “shared blueprint” for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
MEET OUR
PREVIOUS WINNERS.
Lilian NAGIKOZI | 29 | UGANDA
Lilian is working to empower women in Uganda by equipping them with vertical farming techniques, equipment and access to a network of local buyers for their produce.
"Having lived in a slum, I understand the travail of women to feed and cater for their children. I was raised in hardship with my siblings by a single parent. My mother had no money to put food on the table and no land to grow crops to get us food."
GISELLE | 28 | UNITED KINGDOM
Giselle facilitates work opportunities for displaced individuals while bridging the gap between companies and skilled refugee teams.
"My mission is to scale this model so that every company has a clear pathway to send digital work to displaced talent, because I know the opportunity exists to replicate this success story 1,000 times over."
Mohamed Dhaouaf | 28 | Tunisa
Mohamed empowers amputees to regain mobility and independence by providing access to affordable and functional prosthetic limbs in low-income countries and areas affected by conflict.
"I met an 8-year child who was electrified and lost both his right hand and leg, was in great pain and whose family could not afford prosthetics for him. That day, I decided to act and to address the inaccessibility of much needed prosthetics for young children."
Your 2025 Challenge Journey
From 1st May
Pre-Register to access our program EXTRAS!
JUNE 2ND
Submissions Open
JULY
Get your submissions in!
AUG 29TH
Submissions Close
FROM SEPT
Social Shifters Global Opportunities Network
SEPT
Submission Scoring Begins
OCT
Submission Scoring Ends
OCT
Finalists Announcement + Pitch Coaching Begins
NOV
FINALS! Pitching Begins
DEC
Winning Projects Announced
AM I ELIGIBLE?
Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge is designed to give young impact founders a platform; providing project funding, unique leadership learning, and exclusive exposure through some of the worlds biggest brands.
To be eligible for this program your social startup must be:
100% YOUTH-LED – Founders leading the startup or project must be between 18 and 30 years old and have clear decision making authority.
IMPACT FOCUSED – Startups and projects must address a clearly defined social or environmental issue and have measurable social outputs and impact.
Since 2022, Amazon has partnered with Social Shifters in support of young people taking action on the social and environmental issues that matter to them most. Our mission to find and fund the young people changing our world would not be possible without the help of 1000’s of committed Amazon employee volunteers each year!
ABOUT SOCIAL SHIFTERS
We exist to support the next generation of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs – young people everywhere taking action on the social and environmental issues that matter to them most.
We operate on a non-profit basis to provide unique learning experiences, guidance and grant funding for young impact founders.
Learn more about Social Shifters.
