Deadline: October 31, 2025
Applications are open for the WSA Young Innovators Award 2025. The WSA Young Innovators Award is an open call for digital solutions (applications, projects, or products) driving positive change, created by young people under the age of 26 from all UN and UNESCO member states.
WSA (World Summit Awards) is a unique award system that selects and promotes local digital innovations aimed at improving society in line with the UN SDGs. Through a series of international events and a global network of startups, social entrepreneurs, mentors, jurors, speakers, experts, government leaders, academia, and civil society, WSA serves as an international platform showcasing how communication technologies can positively impact society. With 22 years of experience, WSA is a quality seal for digital content that drives societal impact across 182 countries.
Benefits
- At the Global Congress all winners get to present their solutions to a global audience of experts, impact entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors. There are workshops focused on winners’ skill-building, and the interactive program gives them many chances to build valuable connections.
- The world needs to know about your solution! All winning solutions will be celebrated and featured in WSA’s communications, including the WSA catalogue, website, social media, newsletters, and press releases. Additionally, you’ll get a WSA Winners Seal to show potential investors that your solution has been recognised on a global level.
- Get to know game-changing innovators and impact entrepreneurs solving social problems all over the world and transfer their solutions and learnings to your local context.
- Join a devoted multi-stakeholder community of changemakers and industry leaders driving positive impact through digital innovation. Be the first to know about amazing opportunities and learn, grow, collaborate, and exchange knowledge with network members.
- Fill in the application, explain the purpose and impact of your innovation, refine your presentation, and have it reviewed by a global WSA Jury. Attend the Congress and learn how to make the most of network capital to support your and your solution’s future.
Eligibility
- WSA Young Innovators is open to any start-up, social entrepreneur, company, NGO, student group, project team, or individual.
- At least one of the founding members and the majority of the team must be under the age of 26 (born on or after January 1, 1999).
- The solution must have a digital component, but there is no limitation regarding the platforms or channels the solutions work with – submissions can be for example mobile apps, web pages, applications for wearables, kiosk installations, SMS based products, games, and interactive productions.
- The solution should create positive changes in society or the environment and contribute to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- All submissions must be launched and on the market, with proven social impact. No ideas, drafts, prototypes, or incomplete solutions can be accepted.
Application
Do you have a solution that is currently on the market and that is creating a positive impact? Are you or at least the majority of your cofounders under 26? Apply to the Young Innovators Award!
For more information, visit WSA Young Innovators Award.
