CATEGORIES
Advertising
Campaigns designed to draw attention to social issues and inspire people to act or to promote world-changing products or services.
Campaigns designed to draw attention to social issues and inspire people to act or to promote world-changing products or services.
AI & Data
Projects that harness the power of data, machine learning, or artificial intelligence to understand the world and empower change.
Apps
Projects that live primarily in a mobile format, in any discipline.
Projects that live primarily in a mobile format, in any discipline.
Art & Design (New!)
Projects using design as the vehicle to shake up conversations surrounding society's most pressing issues.
Projects using design as the vehicle to shake up conversations surrounding society's most pressing issues.
Creativity
Any creative project–photography, writing, visualization, film–that helps explain and publicize global problems and solutions.
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Items for your house or office that help you live a more purposeful life, or fundamentally alter outdated business models or supply chains of our current consumer goods.
Corporate Social Responsibility (New!)
For corporate initiatives that use a company's platform and power to help advance change, either internally or for the community.
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.
Products designed specifically for the developing world, both ones intended for the bottom of the pyramid and those intended to help create leapfrog innovation.
Education
Companies or initiatives that help inspire better and more equitable learning.
Companies or initiatives that help inspire better and more equitable learning.
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.
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.
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.
Food
Projects changing what we eat, how we eat, and how we get our food.
Projects changing what we eat, how we eat, and how we get our food.
Health and Wellness
Products and projects that improve either personal or global well-being and longevity, from apps to devices, to new medical equipment.
Products and projects that improve either personal or global well-being and longevity, from apps to devices, to new medical equipment.
Impact Investing (New!)
Impact funds, social impact bonds, and other investments in change making organizations or initiatives that generate societal benefit along with financial return.
Impact funds, social impact bonds, and other investments in change making organizations or initiatives that generate societal benefit along with financial return.
Media & Entertainment (New!)
Movies, books, videos, and other projects that expose issues or create actionable change.
Movies, books, videos, and other projects that expose issues or create actionable change.
Politics & Policy (New!)
Innovative campaigns or policy initiatives that challenge the status quo for the benefit of the environment, equity, and society.
Innovative campaigns or policy initiatives that challenge the status quo for the benefit of the environment, equity, and society.
Spaces, Places, and Cities (New!)
Buildings, landscapes, urban designs, and policies that make cities and living in them cleaner, more efficient, more beautiful, and more equitable for their citizens.
Social Justice (New!)
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.
Projects in any category, created by undergraduate or graduate students.
Transportation
Projects that get you places—whether on two wheels or four—in new, interesting, and fuel-efficient ways.
Projects that get you places—whether on two wheels or four—in new, interesting, and fuel-efficient ways.
Best World Changing Idea APAC (New!)
The best world changing idea overall in the Asia-Pacific region.
The best world changing idea overall in the Asia-Pacific region.
Best World Changing Idea EMEA (New!)
The best world changing idea overall in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa region.
The best world changing idea overall in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa region.
Best World Changing Idea NA (New!)
The best world changing idea overall in North America.
The best world changing idea overall in North America.
Best World Changing Idea LATAM (New!)
The best world changing idea overall in Latin America.
The best world changing idea overall in Latin America.
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.
World Changing Company Of The Year
Organizations that submit two or more distinct entries to any of the categories above will be automatically considered. Companies will be judged on the quality, breadth, and ambition of their submitted work. Selected by Fast Company editors.
Have any questions or concerns? Email the World Changing Ideas Team at wciawards@fastcompany.com
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