Start-ups, social enterprises, non profits and mission-driven teams are invited to apply for the QBE AcceliCITY Humanitarian Challenge, an initiative delivered through Humanitech and the Australian Red Cross. The challenge supports innovative, technology-enabled solutions that help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from climate-driven disasters.

The challenge provides an opportunity for participants to test their solutions against real-world humanitarian and resilience challenges, working alongside communities and humanitarian partners to create scalable impact that can be replicated in communities around the world.

For the 2027 challenge, applicants are invited to develop solutions that address one of the following focus areas:

• Turning preparedness into lasting resilience

• Helping communities make better use of climate and risk information

Winning startups will receive funded pilot opportunities valued at up to AUD $100,000, along with access to expert mentoring, innovation support, networking opportunities, and global connections to help scale their impact.

Eligible applicants include:

• Early- to mid-stage startups

• Social enterprises

• Nonprofit organisations

• Mission-driven teams from anywhere in the world

Applicants should have a technology-enabled solution that strengthens community resilience to disasters or climate-related risks and be ready to work collaboratively with communities and humanitarian partners to pilot and refine their solution.