Developing countries currently receive less than 10% of the funding needed to adapt to climate change, creating a staggering $310 billion annual finance gap by 2035. This massive shortfall is driving unprecedented demand for innovative climate solutions.
Recent data shows that 88% of climate tech startups in emerging economies are youth-led, demonstrating students’ critical role in developing contextually relevant solutions. They are the next generation of entrepreneurs who understand local contexts and emerging technologies.
$100,000 Prize Funding
The MIT Climate & Energy Prize represents one of the world’s most significant opportunities for university students to transform climate challenges into scalable business solutions.
This global competition is for student-led startups developing climate technologies that can address the urgent adaptation and mitigation needs across developing countries. Teams must have minimum two members and can include non-students focusing on nine comprehensive tracks
- Energy: renewables, storage, grid management
- Transportation: EVs, zero-emission vehicles
- Food & Land Use: sustainable agriculture, alternative proteins
- Built Environment: green buildings, efficiency
- Carbon Capture & Removal: carbon verifiers and ratings enablers
- Water Resources: wastewater reuse and treatment, harvesting rainwater
- Industrial Decarbonization: low-carbon cement, chemical and plastics
- Climate Services & Software: emissions reporting, climate intelligence
- Climate Adaptation: resilience infrastructure, wildfire management
This competition offers unparalleled opportunities to scale climate solutions globally, including mentorship from industry experts, access to AI tools for pitch development, networking with sponsors, and travel support for semi-finalists and finalists.
Apply Now: Deadline: January 11, 2026.
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