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Pitch competition · Nairobi, Kenya

UNEP Young Champions of the Earth

The UN Environment Programme's yearly award for people aged 18 to 30 with an environmental project. Each winner gets US$10,000 in seed funding and mentoring, then pitches in New York for a US$100,000 grant.

Closed Run by UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with Planet A

Apply on the programme's site Programme website

Verified 19 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
US$10,000 US$10,000 seed funding for each Young Champion, to be spent on the project; the winners then compete in the Planet A pitch competition, where one wins a US$100,000 grant
Instrument
Prize
Equity taken
not published
Programme fee
not published
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
not published
Delivery
not published
Stages
Idea, pre-seed
Sectors
Climate, Social impact
Open to founders from
Anywhere
Perks
  • Mentorship, workshops and access to a network of environmental experts
  • Travel to the award ceremony, workshops and pitch competition in New York, with expenses covered
  • Smartphone multimedia kit and communications training

Winners share their progress through self-shot videos and short articles for up to a year and file a final report and budget on how the money was spent. Applications need a referee.

Application dates

Closed2026 cycle

Usual timing: Applications for the 2027 cycle are not yet open. The 2026 cycle took applications from 24 February to 15 April 2026 (extended from 31 March).

Who can apply

  • Aged 18 to 30
  • At least six months of work on the environmental project before applying
  • Individuals only: the award goes to a person, not a group
  • One entry per person per year; no application fee
  • Stage: idea, pre-seed

Companies it names as alumni

Banofi Leather, HyaPak

What founders should check

  1. The programme does not publish how much equity it takes. Ask before you accept a place.
  2. It does not publish a fee. Ask whether you pay for desks, services or the programme itself.
  3. It does not say whether it runs in person or remotely. Ask before you plan a move.
  4. The last window we track closed on 15 April 2026. Applications for the 2027 cycle are not yet open. The 2026 cycle took applications from 24 February to 15 April 2026 (extended from 31 March).

Similar pitch competitions

Other pitch competitions that share a sector with UNEP Young Champions of the Earth or run in Kenya.

Pitch competition · India

Aarohan Social Innovation Awards

Infosys Foundation awards for working social innovations in education, healthcare and environmental sustainability. Winners receive up to ₹50 lakh each from a ₹2 crore prize purse, plus mentorship and incubation.

Funding not published · equity not published

Closed

Pitch competition · Berkeley, United States

Big Ideas Contest

UC Berkeley's year-long contest for student-led social impact projects. Teams send a short pre-proposal in the fall and a full proposal in the spring; winners receive US$2,000 to US$20,000.

Funding not published · equity not published

Open · closes 2 Dec 2026

Pitch competition · Cambridge, United States

MIT Solve Global Challenges

MIT Solve's open innovation challenges for tech-based solutions in climate, health, learning and economic prosperity. Selected Solver teams join a nine-month programme and share more than US$1M in prize funding.

Funding not published · equity not published

Open · closes 6 Nov 2026

Pitch competition · India

Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge (India)

A national challenge for youth-led social enterprises run by UNDP and Atal Innovation Mission. Up to 50 startups join a virtual programme, 20 attend a bootcamp at T-Hub and the top six win seed grants of ₹2.2 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh.

Funding not published · equity-free

Closed

Pitch competition · United Arab Emirates

Zayed Sustainability Prize

A global prize for small and medium enterprises and non-profits with sustainability solutions in health, food, energy, water and climate action. Each category winner receives US$1,000,000.

US$1m prize · equity not published

Status unknown

Pitch competition · Meyrin, Switzerland

Cartier Women's Initiative

An annual award and fellowship for women-run impact businesses from any country. Regional winners receive grants of up to US$100,000 and join a year-long fellowship programme.

US$100k grant · equity not published

Closed

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