Real solutions. Real impact. Ready to scale.
Disasters are getting more intense, more frequent and more complex – but communities are adapting in real time, often without the tools they need.
The QBE AcceliCITY Humanitarian Challenge backs real-world solutions that help people prepare for, respond to and recover from climate-driven disasters.
We’re calling on global startups and entrepreneurs to bring forward ethical, scalable, tech-driven solutions that support disaster resilience – especially in communities facing the greatest risks. This is a global challenge designed to meet local needs – and it’s grounded in community insight, not just innovation hype.
What we’re looking for
We want early-stage innovations that can:
Why join this Challenge?
Pitch your idea – then co-create it with the people it’s built for.
Whether you win or not, you’ll gain exposure to real users, mentors who understand humanitarian complexity, and a network of problem-solvers building for long-term impact.
A different kind of innovation challenge
This is not your standard startup competition. It’s a partnership between:
Together, we’re creating a pathway to help early-stage solutions move fast, stay grounded and scale with impact.
These capabilities rarely sit in the same room. This collaboration is uniquely placed to help startups overcome the real-world barriers to scale – from compliance and procurement to community trust and systems integration.
Backed by results
Since 2018, the QBE AcceliCITY partnership has helped startups from over 70 countries raise more than $2.2B in capital and generate $1.5B in revenue.
In 2024, the Humanitarian Challenge attracted 128 global applicants. Winning startup WEO piloted its digital twin mapping technology in Dargo, Victoria – a town repeatedly hit by fires and floods – and is now exploring opportunities to scale across other high-risk communities.
This model – co-designed, locally piloted, globally supported – is already turning bold ideas into systems-shifting solutions.
Get ready to apply
Applications open 1 September 2025, Close 30 September 2025
Finalists will join a powerful global network and receive support to pilot in communities that need it most. This is your invitation to build for impact – not just innovation.
About QBE AcceliCITY Humanitarian Challenge
The QBE AcceliCITY Humanitarian Challenge is a unique cross-sector collaboration between Australian Red Cross, QBE Foundation and Leading Cities, focused on scaling community-led solutions for climate resilience since 2024.
The QBE AcceliCITY Humanitarian Challenge brings together capabilities rarely found in the same room:
Learn more: Joining forces for global climate solutions | Humanitech | Australian Red Cross