Insurance group QBE has recently opened the 2022 edition of its annual AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge.
Start-ups and entrepreneurs working to help make cities more equitable, sustainable and resilient are invited to take part in the challenge.
Jon Fox, Chief Claims Officer, QBE Australia Pacific and Co-Chair of the Australia Pacific QBE Foundation, said the need to build urban resilience is critical as the world continues to transform at an unprecedented pace.
“As the world changes, so too do the risks we face. We need to be creating cities across the globe that are prepared for evolving and increasingly severe risks, to help people and businesses protect themselves. Through this challenge, we are looking to find and collaborate with creators of innovative solutions for city ecosystems that will help us build thriving, resilient cities, and change the world,” Fox said.
The competition is being run in partnership with non-profit organisation Leading Cities. Michael Lake, President and CEO of the organisation, said the challenge provides start-ups, entrepreneurs and city leaders with the opportunity to work together to build cities that will stand resilient against the social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century.
“There are many complex threats facing cities across the globe. By accelerating the deployment of innovative technological solutions, while also increasing the awareness and confidence that city leaders have in these new solutions, we are also accelerating the resiliency of cities everywhere.”
Participants will be given the opportunity to tap QBE’s resources through one-on-one expert mentoring, speed gatherings, and engagement with QBE Ventures, the venture investment and development arm of QBE.
This year will mark the first time a local program is being run for Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. A separate program will be run in tandem with entrants from North America and Europe, with ten finalists selected from across all regions to come together and compete in a final live pitch event.
Of these ten, one winner will be awarded USD$100,000 and two People’s Choice runners up will be awarded USD$25,000 in cash prizes, along with additional resources and introductions to valuable networks and collaboration opportunities to help scale their initiatives.
“The calibre of entrants in previous years has been incredibly high,” said Fox. “I’m looking forward to seeing the innovative new ideas that come from this year’s entrants, and to watch our finalists grow and develop their solutions as they progress through the challenge.”
Submissions close 30 April 2022, with finalists to be announced in September 2022
