Craig Matthews
Senior Innovation Consultant at Science Park Graz (UK)
Do you have what it takes to solve the world’s biggest challenges?
Ready to tackle climate change with groundbreaking ideas? Are you between 15 and 20? Then, join the Shape the Future Challenge and get a chance to collaborate with experts and like-minded peers to create real-world solutions.
We want you to THINK BIG! Whether you want to revolutionize energy, pioneer sustainable agriculture, or invent new eco-solutions, we believe you can drive change.
This is your opportunity to learn new skills, make lifelong connections, and become a real changemaker.
Plus, the winning team gets to head over to the heart of innovation, Silicon Valley, California!
HOW IT WORKS
01
APPLY
APRIL 4TH – MAY 5TH
Submit Your Application
– Apply as an individual or team, with or without an idea until May 5 (midnight UTC)
– Receive your acceptance email to the challenge on May 6
– Get invited to the challenge space on the Moonshot Pirates platform
02
TEAM UP
MAY 10TH – MAY 15TH
Finding a Kick-ass Team
– Join the Kick-off call on May 10 to learn about the winning criteria and milestones
– Join networking events to connect with other pirates joining the challenge
– Make sure to form a team of 2-6 people by May 15th and register in the challenge space
03
CHALLENGE
MAY 15TH – JUNE 4TH
Developing Your Ideas
– Develop a radical, feasible, and impactful idea contributing to solving climate change
– Book mentoring sessions, participate in workshops, and reach challenge milestones
– Submit your idea for the future of climate and a 1-minute pitch video
04
FINALS
JUNE 6TH – JUNE 19TH
Voting & Final Pitching
– Selection of 7 final teams through online and partners’ vote
– Final Pitching of team’s sustainable solutions for the future of climate
– Award ceremony and jury selection of the winning team
LET’S SHAPE
THE FUTURE
OF CLIMATE
TOGETHER
MEET THE MENTORS
From climate experts to innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, coders, and brand gurus, our experienced mentors and advisors can help turn your ideas into reality.
Selma Prodanovic
Startup-Grande-Dame, Founder & CEO 1MillionStartups (AT)
Daniel Drack
IT Infrastructure Specialist at AVL List GmbH (AT)
Kat Haber
Climate Changing Behaviorialist, TEDx Pitch Xpert, Social Profit Leading (US)
Salmine Sassi
Fractional CEO at Augmented Research (NL)
Karsten Hoyer
Head of HR at Bayer (DE)
Stefan Niedermair
Technology and Innovation Strategist at NBG Fiber Optics (AT)
Martin Binder
Strategy Expert Mobility at ASFINAG (AT)
Stefan Weder
PR Expert and Founder at Ram With a Plan (AT)
Nilay Aydogan
Co-founder & CEO at Studio Plus (TR)
Stefan Kainz
Impact Finance Activist, Chief Listener & Storyteller at crowd4projects GmbH (AT)
Verónica Celis Vergara
Architect, MIT Top Innovator under 35 & CEO at Valumia (CH)
Elisabeth Handl
Experience Designer & Cultural Manager at 1000AND1 studio (AT)
Alexandra Waldherr
Quantum Computing Expert (AT)
Lenny Leemann
CEO & Co-Founder at Greenspark (AT)
Randy Bretz
Storyteller, Communicator & Civic Activist (US)
Hari Kalymnios
Coach, Speaker, Author & Trainer at The Thought Gym (UK)
Lucas J Winter
Executive VP Digitalisation & Business Excellence at EBNER GROUP (AT)
Vlad Petrea
Self-Leadership Guide at Mister Clarity (AT)
Arne Schiefer
Innovation Manager at CARIAD SE (DE)
Sarah Straub
Innovation Manager (AT)
Tobias Micko
Graphic Designer, Brand Strategist & Creative Director (USA)
Thomas Ulram
Global Marketing Director at Givaudan (CH)
Gabriella Reynes Opaz
Business Leadership and Emotional Intelligence Trainer (PT)
Safet Rama
Managing Partner at Appstella (XK)
Tobias Schaller
Management Consulting & Product Development at mosaik Projects GmbH (AT)
Simon Best
Head of Innovation at Airbus (DE)
Dennis Kirpenstejn
Angel Investor, Founder & Director at Zollhof Tech Incubator (UK)
Niki Skene
Superconnector, Founder of IACy & Conference on Wheels (UAI)
Laura Falquez
Content Creator & Influencer (AT)
Erez Tsalik
Facilitator at Systematic Inventive Thinking (IL)
Nina Bauregger
General Manager at Austrian Leadership Academy (AT)
CHALLENGE KEY DATES
APRIL 4 – MAY 5
APPLICATION
MAY 10
KICK OFF CALL
& NETWORKING
MAY 10 – MAY 14
NETWORKING EVENTS
MAY 15
MILESTONE 1:
TEAM SET UP
MAY 21 – JUNE 3
MENTORING FROM EXPERTS
MAY 24
MILESTONE 2:
SUBMIT IDEA CANVAS
JUNE 4
MILESTONE 3:
FINAL SUBMISSION
JUNE 6 – JUNE 10
ONLINE VOTING
JUNE 11 – JUNE 18
FINAL PREPARATIONS
JUNE 19
PITCHING CEREMONY
AUTUMN 2024
SILICON VALLEY
TRIP
We are looking for young people between the ages of 15 and 20 with creative, innovative, and bold ideas and solutions for climate change. If you’re one of them, don’t wait! Apply for the challenge by May 5th. And don’t forget to tell your friends to shape the future with you!
Don’t miss the kick-off call on May 10 and hang out with your fellow pirates. You can also attend some cool networking events during the week to find your perfect team of 2-6 people to join the challenge! Make sure to set up your team by May 15 because only teams can participate in the challenge.
This is where the fun begins! You and your team are in for a treat during this online challenge where you will get to work on solutions to help save the planet from climate change. You will have access to international mentors who will guide you throughout the process. You’ll get educational and inspirational videos, brainstorming sessions, workshops, and insider tips to help you execute your ideas
Want to find out what happened in our previous challenges? Check out the ideas developed, the final pitch nights, and who were the winners here:
The team with the most votes online and six other teams chosen via assessment criteria and online voting position will advance to the Final Pitching Ceremony.
Online votes count for 30% of your score, with 70% coming from assessment criteria: feasibility, credibility, impact, and WOW effect.
Why? Having a groundbreaking idea is just the beginning of your journey towards making a real impact. To achieve your goal, it’s also crucial to spread your vision and get support from others.
In the online voting phase, you can share what you have developed during this challenge with the world. So it’s really important to plan how to promote your idea to get those votes early on.
Once your team reaches the finals, you’ll be supported by a professional pitch trainer to make the most out of your final presentation.
The top seven teams will be part of a final Shape the Future challenge pitching ceremony, presenting their solutions to the public and a jury. The team with the best solution will win a trip to Silicon Valley, California.
The team with the best idea selected during the final pitching will be invited to fly with Moonshot Pirates to Silicon Valley in California together. The trip includes flights, accommodations, a week of meetings with startups, workshops, visits to companies like Instagram, Apple, Pinterest, and Google, and exploring the University of Silicon Valley and Stanford campuses. The team will learn about the way of life and work in Silicon Valley while exploring the beauty of San Francisco. The exact travel dates will be aligned directly with the winners.
THE WINNERS’ TRIP
Win the Shape the Future Challenge and spend an unforgettable week in Silicon Valley! With a tailor-made program, you will immerse yourself in a world of innovation: dive into exclusive workshops, meet inspiring startups and founders, and visit giants like Meta, Apple, Amazon, and Google. You will also explore the campuses of Silicon Valley University and Stanford, soaking in the entrepreneurial spirit and moonshot thinking that define the area.
Watch our highlight video to catch a glimpse of what awaits you.
IN COOPERATION WITH
The following partners helped us put together this amazing experience for you!
EMPOWER YOUTH to fight climate change. Sponsor a seat today!
MERCH FOR FUTURE SHAPERS
Ready to make a difference and look epic doing it? Participating in the challenge is cost-free. However, you can support our mission of empowering young innovators by purchasing merch from our store.
ANY OPEN QUESTIONS?
