2026
THRIVE
Global Impact
Challenge
Platinum Sponsors
Congratulations to our Global Impact Challenge Winners
Post-Harvest & FoodTech
Regenerative Agriculture
Water & Waste Management
AI & Automation
Animal Health & Nutrition &
Female Founder Award:
Dr. Annette Kleiser
Clean Energy & Climate Tech, People’s Choice Award & OVERALL WINNER
Overview
A Global Challenge transforming agrifood innovation
The challenges facing agriculture and food systems have never been more urgent. From climate resilience and food security to sustainability and equitable access, the future of our global food system depends on bold, scalable innovation.
The THRIVE Global Impact Challenge is a worldwide search for startups developing breakthrough solutions to the most critical challenges across the agrifood value chain.
Finalists compete for up to $1M in investment while pitching on stage in Silicon Valley at the THRIVE Global Impact Summit.
This is more than a pitch competition — it’s a platform to accelerate partnerships, capital, and global expansion
Applications are now open
We’re looking for ambitious, purpose-driven founders with solutions that can deliver real-world impact.
Finalists gain global visibility, direct access to corporate partners and investors, and the opportunity to present their innovations on a world stage at the THRIVE Global Impact Summit.
Aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Impact Challenge is focused on six key themes, each driving innovation to build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for agriculture and food systems.
Global Impact Challenge Themes
Regenerative
Agriculture
- Soil health monitoring & MRV
- Biological inputs (microbials, biostimulants)
- Novel fertilizers & nutrient efficiency
- Carbon farming & soil carbon solutions
- Biodiversity & ecosystem restoration
- Climate-resilient cropping systems
- Crop breeding & trait discovery
- Computational biology for ag inputs
Artificial Intelligence & Automation
- AI-enabled R&D / lab processes
- AI-driven seed genetics & crop diagnostics &
- AI-powered farm management
- Robotics & Automation
- Industrial IoT & edge intelligence
- Supply chain optimization & logistics
- Traceability & transparency platforms
- Data-driven decision making
- Financial intelligence
- Marketplace & embedded finance platforms
Animal Health
& Nutrition
- Precision nutrition & feed optimization
- Disease prevention & diagnostics
- Animal welfare & behaviour monitoring
- Sustainable livestock systems
- Genetic improvement & breeding
- Microbiome-based solutions
- Computational biology for animal health
- Alternative proteins for feed
- Methane mitigation
- Manure valorization
Climate
Resilience
- Climate risk forecasting & analytics
- Carbon capture & climate-smart agriculture
Renewable energy for agriculture - Electrification of farm equipment
- Energy storage & grid solutions
- Biofuels & green agricultural inputs
- Carbon markets & MRV platforms
- Energy efficiency in ag input production
Water & Waste
Management
- Precision irrigation & water efficiency
- Water quality & nutrient runoff management
- Circular water systems & reuse
- Waste reduction across ag & food systems
- Organic waste conversion & bioenergy
- Waste & side stream valorization
- Nutrient recovery & circular fertilizers
Food Security
& Nutrition
- Future crops & resilient ingredients
- Functional & healthy food ingredients
- Precision nutrition solutions
- Alternative proteins
- Food safety & traceability
- Post-harvest loss reduction
- Smart cold chain & logistics
- Advanced food processing technologies
- Sustainable packaging solutions
THRIVE Global Impact Challenge Timeline
Applications Open
Applications Close
Application Review
Virtual Pitch Days
Finalist Selection
Live Pitch THRIVE Summit
Selection Criteria
To be considered for the Global Impact Challenge, applicants must meet the following criteria, demonstrating the potential to deliver innovative, scalable solutions that tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing agriculture and food systems today.
Seed to
Series A
Applicants should be early-stage startups or entrepreneurs at the seed to Series A stage. We welcome innovative ideas and solutions that have the potential for growth and scalability.
Global
Applicants
We invite applications from around the world. Entrepreneurs and startups from any country or region are encouraged to apply, as we value diverse perspectives and global collaboration.
Alignment with
Summit Themes
Applicants should demonstrate a clear alignment with one or more of the above summit themes. Solutions should address the specific challenges within these areas and offer innovative approaches for positive impact.
Proven Climate &
Environmental Impact
Applicants should demonstrate clear climate or environmental impact. Solutions should deliver measurable outcomes in areas such as sustainability, carbon reduction, biodiversity, or resource efficiency.
Alignment with
Summit Themes
Applicants should demonstrate a clear alignment with one or more of the above summit themes. Solutions should address the specific challenges within these areas and offer innovative approaches for positive impact.
Proven Climate &
Environmental Impact
Applicants should demonstrate clear climate or environmental impact. Solutions should deliver measurable outcomes in areas such as sustainability, carbon reduction, biodiversity, or resource efficiency.
THRIVE Global Impact Summit
- Complimentary Summit passes & VIP networking access
- Pitch coaching with an expert pitch coach
- Direct exposure to leading corporate partners and investors during Virtual Pitch Day
- A dedicated booth at the Summit Startup Showcase
- Global visibility on one of the world’s leading stages for agrifood innovation
STARTUP & SCALEUP
Meet our Finalists
Judges
Meet the experts guiding the future of agri-food innovation. Our judges are distinguished leaders, investors, and trailblazers across agriculture, technology, and sustainability. With deep industry insight and a passion for impact, they bring rigor, vision, and integrity to evaluating the next generation of agtech breakthroughs.
Global Agricultural Research & Business Center / Strategy Development Office / Manager
Tom Greene
Sr. Director External Innovation Investment, R&D
Global Agricultural Research & Business Center / Strategy Development Office / Manager
Sponsors
We offer a range of sponsorship packages tailored to suit your organization’s goals and budget. Each package includes a variety of benefits designed to maximize your impact and visibility at the summit. If you are interested in Summit Sponsorship opportunities please connect with us here.
