FAQ

 
What is XPRIZE?

XPRIZE is an established global leader in designing, launching, and executing large scale competitions to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. Launched in 1994 with the Ansari XPRIZE, we have launched 30 competitions in 30 years with more than half a billion dollars in cumulative prize purses. Our unique model democratizes innovation by incentivizing crowd-sourced, scientifically viable solutions to create a more equitable and abundant future for all.

 
What is an XPRIZE competition?

An XPRIZE is a competition that pushes the limits of what is possible in order to change the world for the better. From start to finish, XPRIZE competitions act as avenues for bringing together the world’s brightest minds around a specific challenge facing humanity, with the aim of solving that problem. An XPRIZE competition isn’t about one winner, it’s about creating a multitude of solutions that will continue to live on well beyond the awarding of the prize. To learn more about our seven active competitions, including three with prize purses of more than $100 million, head to xprize.org/prizes.

 
How does the XPRIZE Design Studio work?

As a participant, you will be asked to complete the XPRIZE Design Course video modules. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll have the opportunity to submit your own idea for an XPRIZE competition by responding to a series of prompts, wherein you will describe how a competition can be leveraged to produce solutions for a challenge facing one of five domains – Climate + Energy, Food + Water + Waste, Deep Tech, Learning + Society, or Space + Exploration.

Please note that only individuals, not pairs, groups, or teams, can submit ideas to the XPRIZE Design Studio.

What happens after I submit an incentive prize idea?

Your idea will be evaluated to determine its validity as an XPRIZE competition (see evaluation criteria below). If your idea meets the criteria for an XPRIZE competition, then it may be used as the basis for a more in-depth competition design. Please carefully review terms and conditions on the submission page below.

If your idea is selected to move forward, you will be notified by June 2, 2025.

Why submit an incentive prize idea?

Anyone who completes the XPRIZE Design Course and submits an idea will receive a certificate of completion signed by XPRIZE Founder & Executive Chairman Peter Diamandis and XPRIZE CEO Anousheh Ansari.  

If your idea is selected to move forward, the prize design process may include:

  • A virtual meet and greet with a domain expert
  • The possibility to participate in a more in-depth annual prize design discovery process
  • Promotion of your name and selected idea on LinkedIn*
    • *You will need to opt in during registration and provide your LinkedIn information to be tagged
  • XPRIZE swag

Can I submit an incentive prize idea with someone else?

While you may collaborate with others on your incentive prize idea, only the person listed on the submission form will be designated as the submitter. Therefore, if your idea is ultimately selected, only that individual would be eligible to receive the benefits listed above.

How will my submission be evaluated?

Your idea will be evaluated by the following criteria: 

  1. IS THERE A NEED?: Is there a clear need for this competition? Is the field stuck, or not moving fast enough? Is there a market failure such that the normal forces of capitalism will not solve the problem? Will this prize competition address the underlying market failure?
  2. ARE THE PRIZE RULES CLEAR & MEASURABLE?: Does the competition design make it crystal clear what a team needs to do to win the prize? Will it be clear to the public what a team has achieved if/when they are deemed the winner? Are objectives clearly expressed in measurable terms?
  3. IS THE PRIZE AUDACIOUS & ACHIEVABLE?: Is your goal bold, visionary, emotionally-charged, inspirational… but still achievable? Can you “dial” the competition parameters to make it audacious but achievable?
  4. IS THERE A COMPELLING FINISH?: Does that prize have a compelling finish that will attract the global media (and public) and help change the paradigm of what is possible?
  5. IS THERE A BUSINESS MODEL?: After the competition is over, will the teams be inspired to create a business with their technology? Is there market demand after the prize is won which will accelerate the intended revolutionary change that you desire?