5 Reasons To Apply For Fast Company's World Changing Ideas

Call for Entries! Final Deadline is December 11

Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards honors the projects, companies and concepts that have altered society and the planet for the better. We cannot wait to hear your ideas that helped shape the world in 2020 and far beyond.

This year, we have 34 categories including several new ones like Pandemic Response, Software, and separate categories for businesses at different levels of maturity. Entries will be judged on impact, design, scalability, and ingenuity.

Still not convinced? Here are the reasons you should apply right now:

Publicity —The winners and finalists will be featured in the May 2021 issue of Fast Company and online on Fastcompany.com.
Exposure — Every entry is reviewed by Fast Company editors. Finalists will be evaluated by our jury, an impressive list of designers, venture capitalists, thinkers, and social entrepreneurs.
Recognition — We are accepting entries in 34 categories. Each category will be judged separately by an elite group of judges giving you multiple chances to win. If you submit to two or more categories, you will also be eligible for the Company of the Year award.
Simplicity — Just answer a few questions, select your categories, and you’re done!
Subscription — You’ll receive a one year subscription to Fast Company included with your entry.

APPLY NOW →

Final Deadline:
December 11, 2020 ($295)

Advertising

Campaigns designed to draw attention to social issues and inspire people to act or to promote world-changing products or services.

Apps

Projects that live primarily in a mobile format, in any discipline.

Art & Design

Projects using design as the vehicle to shake up conversations surrounding society’s most pressing issues.

Consumer Products

Items for your house or office that help you live a more purposeful life, or fundamentally alter outdated business models or supply chains of our current consumer goods.

Developing World Technology

Products designed specifically for the developing world, both ones intended for the bottom of the pyramid and those intended to help create leapfrog innovation.

Energy

Solar, wind, and any other innovative ideas to create clean power (either for personal use or at a large scale) or new systems for better electricity distribution.

Food

Projects changing what we eat, how we eat, and how we get our food.

Impact Investing

Impact funds, social impact bonds, and other investments in change making organizations or initiatives that generate societal benefit along with financial return.

Pandemic Response (New!)

Programs, products, policies, or anything else designed to mitigate either the health effects of COVID-19 or the economic effects of lockdowns.

Spaces, Places, and Cities

Buildings, landscapes, urban designs, and policies that make cities and living in them cleaner, more efficient, more beautiful, and more equitable for their citizens.

Software (New!)

Projects whose main feature is a software component, in any discipline.

Transportation

Projects that get you places whether on two wheels or four in new, interesting, and fuel-efficient ways.

Wellness (New!)

Products and projects that improve either personal or global well-being, from equipment to apps to consumables.

Best World Changing Idea EMEA

The best world changing idea overall in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Best World Changing Idea LATAM

The best world changing idea overall in Latin America.

Established Excellence: 5-14 Years In Business (New!)

Companies that have achieved incredible impact and have been in business between 5 and 14 years.

General Excellence

The broadest ideas, be they new government policies, new business models, or entire new consumer categories. Anything that has the potential to effect true systems change or solve wicked problems.

AI & Data

Projects that harness the power of data, machine learning, or artificial intelligence to understand the world and empower change

Architecture (New!)

Buildings that change the way we live or work, making it more sustainable, more energy efficient, and more humane.

Creativity

Any creative project–photography, writing, visualization, film–that helps explain and publicize global problems and solutions.

Corporate Social Responsibility

For corporate initiatives that use a company’s platform and power to help advance change, either internally or for the community.

Education

Companies or initiatives that help inspire better and more equitable learning.

Experimental

Concepts, prototypes, and just-launched ideas that may not have clear impact but have the potential to change how we think about an issue.

Health (New!)

Medical innovations that save lives, extend longevity, or increase access to care.

Media & Entertainment

Movies, books, videos, and other projects that expose issues or create actionable change.

Politics & Policy

Innovative campaigns or policy initiatives that challenge the status quo for the benefit of the environment, equity, and society.

Social Justice

Projects that help advance the cause of civil rights for marginalized people or groups.

Students

Projects in any category, created by undergraduate or graduate students.

Urban Design (New!)

Landscapes, urban designs, and policies that make cities and living in them cleaner, more efficient, more beautiful, and more equitable for their citizens.

Best World Changing Idea APAC

The best world changing idea overall in the Asia-Pacific region.

Best World Changing Idea NA

The best world changing idea overall in North America.

On The Rise: 0-4 Years In Business (New!)

Companies that have achieved incredible impact and have been in business under 4 years.

Enduring Impact: 15+ Years In Business (New!)

Companies that have achieved incredible impact and have been in business over 15 years.

World Changing Company Of The Year

The most world changing company of the year, selected by Fast Company editors. Companies will be judged on the quality, breadth, and ambition of their submitted work.

LEARN MORE

See last year's winners here