Did you know that women make up only 1% of leadership positions in tech today?
This alarming statistic shows that, well into the 21st century, women still don’t have a legitimate seat at the table in the tech and innovation space. However, the status quo is changing. More than ever, women are needed to champion key, disruptive innovations that will shape our future. They are an untapped reservoir of potential – particularly as it relates to solving the most pressing issue of our time: climate change.
Motivated by this potential and by the success of its first edition, the international C40 Women4Climate Tech Challenge, supported by C40 Cities and The VELUX Group, is back for the second year in a row. Its aim? To close the gender gap in the fields of green tech and innovation and to promote the role of women as leaders of climate action in cities.
“When women aren’t included in positions of power and influence, we all suffer from lost ingenuity that can help save our planet.” – Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles and Chair of C40
Women disproportionately face higher risks and burdens from the impacts of climate change, but they are also ideally placed to carry out innovative solutions to our climate crisis and to steer cities toward a sustainable, just and inclusive future.
C40’s Women4Climate Tech Challenge is working to challenge the under-representation of female innovators in the green tech space and to uplift women as the fierce, innovative climate leaders that they are, whether they be architects, developers, scientists, designers, engineers, or change-makers.
If this sounds like you or someone you know, and if you have a disruptive tech solution for climate action in cities, this challenge is for you.
Pilot your solution in one of the participating cities
Lisbon, Los Angeles, Stockholm, and Tel Aviv-Yafo have committed to pilot winning solutions across the following themes: adaptation and risk management, indoor air pollution, sustainable mobility, zero emission freight and last mile delivery solutions.
Winners of the C40 Women4Climate Tech Challenge will benefit from:
- Experimentation across the 4 participating cities;
- Over €36K in funding to be split amongst the winners;
- Customised support and urban space for experimentation depending on project needs;
- Media exposure;
- Becoming a member of the Women4Climate community.
In February, an expert jury panel will select the finalists who will pitch their solutions to the mayors of the four participating cities.
Winners of the 1st Tech Challenge are currently piloting their projects in Paris and Tel-Aviv Yafo.
The outcomes of the 2018-19 Tech Challenge stand as a testament to the success of female innovators and their ability to step forward and promote concrete solutions in the green tech space. The winners, Elodie Grimoin, co-founder of Urban Canopee and Inna Braverman, founder of Eco Wave Power, are now receiving assistance from the C40 Women4Climate program and the cities of Paris and Tel Aviv-Yafo, in the next phase of experimentation and implementation.
Apply before January 31, 2020
Applications are welcome from all adult women and anybody who identifies, has identified, or has been identified as female or woman. Applicants may be from anywhere in the world, as their solutions can be piloted in any city, but please note that cities will only select one winning project to be piloted in their city.
If you are a woman in tech looking to pilot and scale your solution for climate action in cities, don’t wait any longer: submit your application here.
You can read about the participating cities and selected themes for this year’s contest here. Terms and conditions of the contest are also available here.
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The deadline for applications is January 31, 2020, 11pm GMT.
