Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2026 for Young Entrepreneurs (Up To $15,000 USD Grant Funding)

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Applications are open for Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2026. Young leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs everywhere are rising up to take action on the social and environmental issues that matter to them most. If you’re a young founder (aged 18-30 years) leading a project or startup already delivering social impact on the ground – the Global Innovation Challenge 2026 is for you.

Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2026 is designed to give young impact founders a platform; providing grant funding awards, connection to a global community high performing young leaders, and exclusive exposure through some of the worlds biggest brands.

Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge Benefits

GRANT FUNDING AWARDS
- Multiple awards of up to $15,000 USD for genuinely youth-led, up-and-running projects and startups.
FREE Founder Support
- Social Shifters help you build a strong application before you submit. Free learning resources are available from the moment you register, alongside connection to a global community of young social leaders like you
YOUR OPPORTUNITIES GATEWAY
- Your journey with us doesn’t end with the competition. As you progress, you’ll unlock incremental access to opportunities including paid work, fellowships, networking and learning experiences!

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply your social startup must be:

100% YOUTH-LED – Founders leading the startup or project must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of submission and have clear decision making authority.
IMPACT FOCUSED – Startups and projects must address a clearly defined social or environmental issue and must already be delivering some measurable social outputs and impact.