Deadline: October 17, 2025
Applications are open for the Westly Prize for Young Innovators of California 2025-2026. The Westly Prize for Young California Innovators honors talent, creativity, and the daring humanitarian spirit of aspiring social entrepreneurs.
Innovations in any of the following categories are eligible for consideration:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Arts
- Civic Engagement
- Education
- Energy
- Environment
- Food Production/Distribution
- Health
- Safety
- Technology/Tech for Good
- Transportation
- Youth Development
Award
- The Foundation will award up to three Grand Prizes of $40,000 each to individuals or teams of up to four members. Grand Prize winners who applied as individuals will receive $40,000; winners who applied as teams will split the $40,000 award amount among the team members. Honorable Mention winners will receive $5,000, to be split in the same manner.
Eligibility
Innovators may apply as individuals or as teams of up to four members. If you are applying as a team, at least 50% of the team must meet ALL eligibility requirements (e.g. at least one member of a two-person team, and at least two members of a three- or four-person team).
- An individual founder must be under the age of 28 years during the calendar year in which they apply. If a team of co-founders applies, at least half of the founding team must be under age 28 in the year they apply.
- Live, work, or attend school in California, or come from California and attend school elsewhere. An individual founder, or at least half of the co-founders, must be resident(s) of or live in California at the time of the application (and throughout the selection process).
- Creator/founder or co-creator/founder. All co-founders must be listed on the application.
- Geographic scope of innovation: Any
- Issue Focus: Any, so long as the innovation addresses a community challenge and is grounded in a strong social purpose
- Stage of organization: Early-stage, but must have a working prototype
- Form of organization: Any, so long as social purpose is central
- At least one co-founder is able to present remotely on January 24, 2026.
Application
For more information, visit Westly Prize.
