Our Impact

Over 239 technologies, products or services have been created by problem-solvers competing in our challenge prizes. We aim to go where no one has gone before.

To find new solutions, develop new tech, serve new markets. It’s not about creating new things for the sake of it, it’s about solving the unsolvable to really change the world.

12,823 problem-solvers have entered our challenge prizes. That’s 10.9m people involved in developing solutions.

We work to enable every single one of them to do more. From the structure of our prizes to the package of financial and non-financial support available, we’re invested in our innovation talent every step of the way.

36.1m people saw coverage of our challenge prizes in 2020 alone. Our work is about more than inventing.

We amplify messages, raise awareness, and build momentum behind ideas.

By doing this we inform policy change regulation and develop better markets.

We find and engage the very best talent from across the world.

For example:

Over half of the finalists across our Dynamic Demand, Data Driven Farming, Open Up Challenge, and Longitude Prizes were new to the field, bringing with them fresh perspectives, new questions and bold new ideas.

And for 61% of the finalists on our CareerTech Challenge Prize, it was their first time innovating for adults who face barriers to accessing careers advice.

We know that for many of our problem-solvers, there are lots of reasons to get involved.

For example:

In our Fall Armyworm Tech Prize, the primary motivation for 72% of problem-solvers was to do something that could help people.

63% said they were involved to partner with more experienced people, and 53% wanted to learn how to apply their knowledge and ability to new purposes. Just 16% listed the prize money as their key motivator.

We believe it’s crucial to work with teams who have lived experience of the issue at hand.

For example:

Local teams on our Nepal-based Data Driven Farming Prize accounted for 83 out of 148 entrants, 6 out of 13 finalists and 2 of the 4 prize winners.

60% of teams on our Mobility Unlimited Challenge included people with lived experience of disability, including four of the five finalist teams. We were able to do this by structuring the challenge prize around Discovery Awards to widen the project’s reach.

Working on one of our challenge prizes is proven to enhance and upskill teams.

For example:

14 of 15 finalist teams on our Open Up 2020 Challenge said that working on it had improved the capabilities of their team. In fact, 12 team members agreed that, as a result of the challenge, they were able to access support they would not otherwise have been able to. And over on our Fall Armyworm Tech Prize, over 70% of finalists said their business skills and knowledge had improved.

The products our prizes develop make a real difference to those using them.

For example:

On our Open Up 2020 Challenge, participants saw a huge increase in user adoption with 23,000 leads for finalists.

They were also able to generate 351,000 clicks on the Open Up consumer website and those of the finalists, resulting in far more eyes on their challenge prize.

Our challenge prizes are designed to reach our partners’ goals faster.

For example:

7 out of 8 finalists on the Legal Access Challenge agreed that the prize accelerated development of their solution, which was to develop direct-to-user products, services and platforms in order to make legal services more accessible.

Without the prize, it would have been much harder to attract the right talent to the issue.

Many of our problem-solvers are able to secure huge increases in funding after working on a challenge prize.

For example:

Problem-solvers on our Open Up Challenge went on to secure £638.1m in subsequent funding after taking part. Only £102.7m was raised prior to the prize commencing.

And one of the entrants to our Dynamic Demand Challenge had raised more than £3m in grant funding and £6.7m  in equity finance three years after participating in the competition.

Research and work often continues long after the prize has ended.

For example:

After our Data Driven Farming Prize ended, 11 out of 13 finalists were still working on their solutions to improve agricultural productivity and smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in Nepal.

The prize brought their attention to the issue, but the work became important enough for them to continue once the prize was done.

Our challenge prizes have the power to shape policy and unearth new markets.

For example:

After our Legal Access Challenge, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) made the support of legal technology and other innovation one of their three strategic corporate objectives, continuing to provide bespoke support to prize applicants.

The SRA also became part of the Lawtech Sandbox, which aims to encourage and support innovative ideas in the legal sector.