FAQs

We're looking for early- to mid-stage startups, social enterprises, nonprofits and mission-driven teams from anywhere in the world with a tech-enabled solution that strengthens community resilience to disasters or climate risk.

Ideal applicants are developing scalable solutions with real-world impact, are open to working with communities and humanitarian partners, and are ready to grow through expert support, pilot opportunities and global networks.

No. Applicants do not need to be based in Australia, New Caledonia or Colombia. The QBE AcceliCITY Humanitarian Challenge is a global program and organisations from anywhere in the world are welcome to apply.

However, applicants must demonstrate how they will deliver and support a pilot in their chosen location. This may be through direct delivery, remote support, local partnerships or collaboration with Red Cross teams and partners.

Some compulsory program activities take place during Australian business hours between January and April 2027. Before applying, please ensure that you or another member of your team can participate in these sessions.

No. Applicants are not required to have previously deployed their solution in the pilot location.

Solutions should be sufficiently developed to be tested through a real-world pilot, and applicants should explain how they will deliver and support implementation in their chosen location.

We’re looking for solutions that are beyond the idea stage and ready to test, adapt or scale in a real-world setting. Applicants should have a working product, service or prototype with demonstrated potential.

You do not need to have raised funding or launched commercially, but you should be ready to work with users and partners to further develop, test and strengthen your solution.

Yes - we’re looking for tech-enabled solutions that help address the Challenge problem areas and strengthen community resilience in the face of disaster and climate-related risks.

What matters most is not the technology itself, but how effectively it addresses a real-world challenge. We are looking for solutions that are community-centred, ethical, scalable and capable of creating meaningful impact for the people and communities they are designed to serve.

Individuals may apply. However, successful applicants should have the capacity and capability to participate in program activities and deliver pilot-related work if selected.

We’re seeking early-stage tech solutions that aligns with the 2027 Challenge problem areas and their respective pilot opportunities.

View the problem statements in full »

In addition to responding to one of the above problem statements, applicants must submit tech-enabled solutions that strengthen community resilience in the face of disaster and climate disruption. Your solution should be:

• Address a real challenge - demonstrating a clear understanding of the problem, intended beneficiaries and community need.
• Create meaningful community value - with a credible pathway to strengthening resilience outcomes for individuals, households or communities.
• Be feasible and ready to deliver - supported by a capable team, realistic implementation approach and consideration of key risks and dependencies.
• Show potential for adoption and scale - with a credible pathway to implementation, sustainability and impact beyond a single pilot or location.
• Be responsible and inclusive - demonstrating consideration of ethics, privacy, safeguarding, accessibility and potential unintended consequences.
• Be community-centred - informed by community needs, lived experience and local context, with evidence of meaningful participation in the design process.

Yes. You may submit applications to more than one problem statement if your solution is relevant to each challenge area. However, each application should clearly demonstrate how your solution addresses the specific problem statement and community need. We encourage applicants to focus on the challenge area where they can create the greatest impact.

Applications open Thursday 1 October 2026 at 09.00AM AEST.

Applications close on Saturday 31 October 2026 at 11.59PM EST.

• All dates are subject to change.
• Applications open: Thursday 1 October 2026
• Applications close: Saturday 31 October 2026
• Offers made to semi-finalists: Late November 2026
• Semi-finalists onboarding: w/c 7 December 2026
• Challenge curriculum begins: w/c 7 December 2026
• Challenge curriculum finishes: Friday 19 February 2027
• Finalists selected: Late March 2027
• Bootcamp: Early April 2027
• Winner selection: March 2027
• Winner announcement: June 2027
• Pilot commences: June 2027

All semi-finalists are expected to:

• Complete self-paced curriculum modules between December 2026 and February 2027
• Attend six live 90-minute Q&A sessions with subject matter experts
• Participate in a one-hour QBE employee evaluation session
• Participate in a one-hour SmartUp Week session
• Complete key program activities and deliverables.

Finalists will also be required to:

• Attend a virtual bootcamp (approximately three hours in total)
• Participate in the Final Pitch event (approximately 90 minutes).

Most activities take place during Australian business hours. The curriculum Q&A sessions and SmartUp Week are delivered across two time zones to support global participation.

Applications are assessed by a diverse panel of experts from across the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and the QBE AcceliCITY network. Each application is independently reviewed by at least three judges, all of whom declare any conflicts of interest before participating.

Initial judging focuses on:

• Challenge alignment - how well your solution addresses the Challenge problem area, community need and intended beneficiaries.
• Community value and resilience impact - the potential for your solution to create meaningful outcomes for individuals, households or communities.
• Feasibility and delivery capability - the strength of your team, implementation approach and ability to successfully deliver the solution.
• Implementation and sustainability - the potential for your solution to be adopted, sustained and create value beyond a pilot.
• Responsible innovation - how well you have considered ethics, privacy, safeguarding, inclusion and potential risks.
• Community-centred design - the extent to which communities have informed and shaped the solution through participation, lived experience and local insight.

Selected semi-finalists will then complete a second-stage application with more detailed information. This may include interviews or follow-ups with the Challenge hosts. Between 10–15 finalists will be chosen based on the strength of this second submission, as well as their engagement in the program to date.

Applications are assessed through a competitive selection process. Approximately 30 semi-finalists and 10-15 finalists will be selected each year. Two funded pilot opportunities are available.

Yes - applying for one Challenge does not affect your eligibility or chances in the other. Each stream is assessed independently, based on how well your solution aligns with the specific focus of that Challenge.

Selected participants will take part in a structured support program designed to help refine, test and scale your solution in collaboration with humanitarian and civic partners.

The program includes:

• Web-based Humanitarian Challenge curriculum (December 2026 – February 2027): Participants complete a tailored learning program covering community resilience, humanitarian systems, co-design, ethics, impact measurement and responsible technology, alongside selected AcceliCITY modules on working with government, funding and scaling innovation. On completion, participants receive Leading Cities Bronze and Silver Accreditation, recognising capabilities in impact measurement, partnerships, government engagement, business growth and market expansion.
• Virtual bootcamp (April 2027): Finalists join co-design workshops, one-on-one mentoring and peer learning to sharpen their model and prepare for pilot implementation.
• Mentorship and collaboration: You’ll have access to tailored mentoring and opportunities to collaborate with community partners, Red Cross Red Crescent teams and industry experts.
• LaunchPad11 access: Participants will gain access to the virtual LaunchPad11 platform, a virtual platform allowing companies to interact with each other or with prospective customers or investors. Active engagement is encouraged but not mandatory.
• QBE AcceliCITY curriculum: The QBE AcceliCITY program, run by Leading Cities, offers a curriculum focused on building more resilient and sustainable urban environments.

Participation is free, but your commitment and engagement will shape what you get out of the experience.

Winners are eligible for a funded pilot, valued up to AUD $100,000 depending on pilot scope, location and delivery needs. The exact amount is determined through co-design with partners during the pilot planning stage. 

Pilot opportunities vary from year to year and are shaped by the Challenge focus, partner priorities and solution fit. Pilot scope, location and delivery arrangements are refined and co-created in collaboration with Red Cross programs throughout the Challenge. Access this year’s problem statements here. 

Not necessarily. Challenge winners may be considered for a funded pilot opportunity, but pilots are subject to factors such as solution fit, feasibility, funding availability, partner requirements and the successful completion of any necessary legal, procurement, supplier onboarding, privacy, cybersecurity or other due diligence processes.

If a pilot proceeds, its scope, location, budget and implementation arrangements will be developed collaboratively with the relevant Red Cross partners.

Yes. You retain ownership of any intellectual property, product architecture, technology and other assets developed prior to and independently of the Challenge. Participation in the Challenge does not require you to give up equity or ownership in your company or solution, nor does the Challenge require revenue sharing or exclusivity.

If a pilot or other implementation opportunity proceeds following the Challenge, any licensing, commercial or partnership arrangements would be discussed separately and agreed by the relevant parties.

We expect participants to:

• Attend weekly curriculum sessions (x6 January-February 2027)
• Engage in peer learning and mentoring
• Collaborate openly with program partners and communities
• Complete key deliverables (e.g. pilot plan, progress check-ins)
• Demonstrate commitment to co-design, adaptation and impact.

Completion of core deliverables is compulsory and required to progress through the program. These checkpoints ensure your solution is on track for pilot readiness and aligned with the Challenge’s goals.

No. The QBE AcceliCITY Humanitarian Challenge is generously supported by QBE and as such, there are no application fees.

Applications open on 1 October 2026 via the QBE AcceliCITY application portal. Visit the main Humanitarian Challenge website to access. You’ll need to complete an application outlining your solution, impact, and team, and submit before 31 October 2026. 

No, all applications must be submitted in English.

Please contact the Australian Red Cross Humanitech team at humanitech@redcross.org.au. This inbox is monitored Monday-Friday, 09.00-17.00 AEST.