Deadline: 24 January 2020
Applicants are invited to submit their applications for Thought For Food (TFF) Challenge 2019-2020 which is an annual collaborative prize competition that creates successful, socially responsible food and agriculture startups in all parts of the world.
The Challenge is sponsored by the Thought For Food Foundation (“Foundation”), a non-profit charity incorporated in Delaware, USA. The foundation receives financial support from numerous organizations and businesses that help support Foundation’s mission.
The TFF Challenge calls on the next generation of changemakers from all parts of the world to create breakthrough solutions for sustainable and inclusive food systems. They are looking for locally-relevant solutions that address a wide range of pressing challenges across all parts of the food value chain from production to distribution through to consumption and waste.
Prize Information
- Finalists will receive an expense-paid trip for up to five (5) team members (“Trip”) to the location of the TFF Academy and TFF Summit.
- The prize includes (a) round-trip economy-class airfare from Finalists place of residence to the location of the TFF Academy and TFF Summit, (b) hotel accommodations for the duration of the TFF Academy and TFF Summit, (c) round trip airport transportation, and (d) meals during the TFF Academy and TFF Summit.
- Any taxes due on the Round 1 prize shall be the sole responsibility of Finalist.
- At TFF’s discretion, and if so directed by Finalists or required by applicable law, in TFF’s sole determination, all or part of the portion of the prize may be paid by TFF directly to the appropriate taxing authority on behalf of Finalist.
- Prize does not include assistance with other travel costs, document fees, application costs, or other expenses associated with obtaining a passport or visa, if required.
- No substitution of prizes is permitted. Prize is not assignable or transferable.
- Limit one prize per Finalist. If Finalist cannot take the Trip for any reason, Finalists will forfeit the prize and TFF may, at its option and in its sole discretion, select an alternate Finalist or the prize may not be awarded.
- All of the prize elements are subject to change and shall be determined by TFF in its sole discretion
Eligibility Criteria
- The Challenge is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 at time of entry (each, an “eligible participant”).
- In order to participate, teams must be comprised of at least 2 and no more than 5 eligible participants.
- Teams may be comprised of eligible participants from the same or different disciplines, communities, countries, universities, etc.
- Only one entry per team.
- Employees, vendors and contractors of Foundation and of Foundation donors or their affiliates are not eligible to enter or win.
Judging Criteria
- Innovative solutions: TFF commits to being on the cusp of new idea generation. Leverage breakthrough technologies and business models to create a project that is fresh and exciting, in a way that has never been seen before.
- Implementation & scalability: Food security solutions require short, medium, and long-term goals that shouldn’t end when their competition is over. The project should be implementable, with scalability potential that puts sustainability first.
- Uniqueness: The project should stand out among the wide-array of proposals they see, providing game-changing solutions and embodying a “wow” factor in terms of presentation, so that it gets noticed in a noisy world of innovation and startups.
- Team spirit: Being an innovator and an entrepreneur is one of the most exciting and rewarding things one can do. However, it is also a long and demanding journey. The team needs to demonstrate that it is able to withstand these challenges and deliver a solution that will improve lives.
Finalists will receive an expense-paid trip for up to five (5) team members (“Trip”) to the location of the TFF Academy and TFF Summit. The prize includes (a) round-trip economy-class airfare from Finalists place of residence to the location of the TFF Academy and TFF Summit, (b) hotel accommodations for the duration of the TFF Academy and TFF Summit, (c) round trip airport transportation, and (d) meals during the TFF Academy and TFF Summit.
Finalists from Round 1 will be judged at the Thought For Food Global Summit by a second group of independent judges selected by Foundation. Finalists will be judged based on innovation, implementation, uniqueness, scientific/technical feasibility, business potential, and team spirit.
Finalists who complete the TFF Academy will be required to present their project live on stage at the Thought For Food Global Summit, which will occur March 26, 2020. Several prizes will be awarded.
After the judges have made their decisions, the prize winners of Round 2 will be notified at the Summit, as well as via social media and press releases, where the winners and the names of the winners will be displayed. If the selected winners are not eligible, in TFF’s sole judgment, TFF will select a new winner from among the Finalists.
The Grand Prize winner will receive $10,000 USD in grant money to use solely for the purpose of their project. The Runner Up will receive $7,500 USD in grant money to use solely for the purpose of their project. Foundation partner organizations such will award additional cash prizes – these include: the Kirchner Award winner will receive $5,000 USD in grant money to use solely for the purpose of their project, selected by the Kirchner Food Fellows and their independent criteria.
The Borlaug Foundation Take it to the Farmer award winner will receive $2,500 USD in grant money to use solely for the purpose of their project, selected by an independent committee determining which innovation most impacts farmers. Other cash prizes may be added at a later stage.
For more information, visit https://tffdigitallabs.org/
We need funding for Agribusiness in Ghana and food security. Thank You.
Hi Charles Ashie,
Please find some great opportunities for Ghana by visiting https://www2.fundsforngos.org/tag/Ghana/
Good luck!
This is nice
This is good for TFF in countries
We have been searching for funds for organic agriculture in Nepal.
Hi Bhawana Luitel,
Please find some great opportunities for Nepal by visiting https://www2.fundsforngos.org/tag/Nepal/
Good luck!
we need funding for agriculture and food security in Afghanistan particularly northeast regions
Hi Noor Ali,
You can explore great opportunities in your areas of interest by visiting:
– https://www2.fundsforngos.org/category/agriculture-and-fish-farming/
– https://www2.fundsforngos.org/tag/afghanistan/
Good luck!
we are looking for funding to expand our mushroom production and packaging being run by a cooperative of poor women who are from the ultra poor house holds
Hi Jenipher,
You can find more good opportunities and programmes at https://www2.fundsforngos.org/
Good Luck!
Hello,
We are a Cameroon based cooperative and we need funds for innovative Agric business projects that will enable us to meet with our vision of meeting some of the SDGs like zero hunger-organic farming and transformation of Agric products etc,clean cities and environmental protection through waste management, etc. Please advise.
Mbongue
Hi Delphine Fohtung,
Please find some great opportunities for Cameroon by visiting https://www2.fundsforngos.org/tag/Cameroon/
Good luck!
Hello, I work at the Tajik National University at the Department of Geography and Tourism, we also need a grant to implement several projects. we
we are citizens of tajikistan.
Hi Davlatsho,
Please find some great opportunities for Tajikistan by visiting https://www2.fundsforngos.org/tag/Tajikistan/
Good luck!
Thank you for this opportunity. Is it open for funding for someone who wants to go into soap and detergent production?
Hi Nwachukwu Prosper Chisom,
For more information regarding eligibility criteria, application process and more, please visit the link provided at the end of the post.
Good Luck!