Bridging the Climate Finance Gap in Developing Countries – $100,000 Prize Funding

Developing countries currently receive less than 10% of the funding required to adapt to climate change, creating an estimated $310 billion annual finance gap by 2035. This funding shortfall is fueling an urgent demand for innovative climate solutions.

Excitingly, recent data shows that 88% of climate tech startups in emerging economies are youth-led, highlighting the critical role of students in creating locally relevant solutions. These young innovators are the next generation of entrepreneurs, uniquely positioned to leverage emerging technologies within their communities.

$100,000 Prize Funding

The MIT Climate & Energy Prize offers one of the world’s most significant opportunities for university students to turn climate challenges into scalable business solutions.

This global competition invites student-led startups developing climate technologies that address urgent adaptation and mitigation needs in developing countries. Teams must have at least two members and may include non-students, tackling solutions across nine 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 verification and ratings solutions
• Water Resources: wastewater reuse, rainwater harvesting, treatment solutions
• Industrial Decarbonization: low-carbon cement, chemicals, plastics
• Climate Services & Software: emissions reporting, climate intelligence
• Climate Adaptation: resilient infrastructure, wildfire management

Participants gain unmatched opportunities to scale their 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. HERE