The Financial Times and Seedstars have announced the finalists for the FTxSDG Challenge finale, where they will compete for a chance to win $500K in funding and other prizes. On December 17, at 1 p.m. CET, the winners will be announced in a live broadcast.
From over 4,500 applications, 2,000 individuals were selected to participate in Investment Readiness Sessions and receive Seedstars’ tech perks. The final, which begins today (December 13) and ends on December 17, will provide 30 startups the opportunity to showcase their solutions.
The FTxSDG Challenge is a five-day event that begins on December 13 and ends on December 17 with the winner being announced.
Viewers can watch two days of expert panel discussions on each of the SDGs under consideration. Expert speakers, including global thought leaders and impact creation experts, will talk on each panel about how innovation and technology can help tackle the world ’s most challenging issues.
Six winners will be advanced to the Seedstars International Fund, where they will have the chance to secure funding of up to US$500,000. They’ll also have access to the Seedstars Growth Programme and a Financial Times visibility package.
Each company will have the opportunity to pitch to a team of judges, who will select a winner in each category.
The startup finalists for this year’s FTxSDF Challenge per SDG are the following:
- Gender Equality: Babybliss, Mujer Financiera, SHEROES, Pinky Promise, and Momby
- Climate Action: Kudoti, Ualabee, SafEarth, Ghoom.bike, and ePioneers
- Quality Education: Mohirdev, AlGooru, Anthem, Unschool, and Edu2Review
- Good Jobs and Economic Growth: ChapChap, trii, Metabeta, mBolsa, and HintEd
- Reduced Inequalities: abela.app, Tulix App, duhqa, Evolve Credit, TiendAPP
- Good Health and Wellbeing: 360Moms, medl, Sila Health, InstaCare, and Cogni
The FTxSDG Challenge was launched to find impact-driven entrepreneurs and ventures from over 90 markets around the world who are developing innovative solutions. The link with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals adds a new dimension to the startup competition.
The SDGs are being highlighted in order to raise awareness of global concerns while also encouraging entrepreneurs who are developing solutions to these problems.
The event brings together early-stage startups from emerging markets, as well as individual entrepreneurs, to collaborate in groups to solve real challenges for the different themes.