What are the categories?

Agriculture (New!)

Technology, hardware, or processes that make farming more sustainable

AI and Data

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

Apps

Mission-driven projects that live primarily in a mobile format, in any discipline

Architecture

Buildings that have a positive impact, whether through sustainability, energy efficiency, or accessibility

Art and Design

Projects using design as the vehicle to address society’s most pressing issues

Climate

Projects designed to limit emissions, reverse global warming, mitigate the impacts of climate change, help build resilience, or otherwise help solve climate 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Items for your house or office that help you live a more purposeful life, or fundamentally alter outdated business models or supply chains of consumer goods

Corporate Social Responsibility

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

Crypto and Blockchain (New!)

Apps, platforms, and new applications related to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology that focus on equity, accessibility, and mitigating the environmental impact

Developing World Technology

Products designed specifically to improve the lives and livelihoods of those in the developing world

Education

Companies, organizations, or initiatives that help inspire better and more equitable learning

Enterprise (New!)

Innovative approaches to B2B products and services that make systems more equitable, sustainable, or accessible

Experimental

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

Finance (New!)

Banking apps, trading tools, and other products and services that make finance more equitable, sustainable, or accessible

Food

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

Health

Medical innovations that save lives, extend longevity, or increase access to care, including those rolled out in response to COVID-19

Impact Investing

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

Marketing and PR (New!)

Campaigns and initiatives created by agencies and firms that are designed to raise awareness of issues and make the world a better place

Media and Entertainment

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

Nature

Projects that support conservation, increase biodiversity, protect threatened animals and ecosystems, or otherwise help to solve nature-based issues

Personal Finance (New!)

Apps, initiatives, and other products and services that help people better manage their money

Politics and Policy

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

Rapid Response (New!)

Products, services, or platforms rolled out as a response to natural disasters, pandemics, or other crises that have the potential to scale and/or be replicated

Social Justice

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

Software

Projects designed to make the world more equitable, sustainable, or accessible, the main feature of which is a software component, in any discipline

Student

Projects in any category that are designed to make a difference, created by undergraduate or graduate students

Sustainability and Energy

Solar, wind, or any other creative solution for creating clean power (either for personal use or at a large scale), or new systems for better electricity distribution

Transportation

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

Urban Design

Landscapes, public spaces, initiatives, and policies that make cities cleaner, more efficient, more beautiful, and more equitable for their citizens

Water

Projects designed to increase access to clean water, fight drought, protect oceans, or otherwise help solve water-related issues

Wellness

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

Workplace

Projects that improve our lives in the office, increase employee rights, or make work safer, smarter, or more meaningful

Best World Changing Idea APAC

The best world-changing ideas serving or headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region

Best World Changing Idea EMEA

The best world-changing ideas serving or headquartered in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa

Best World Changing Idea LATAM

The best world-changing ideas serving or headquartered in Latin America

Best World Changing Idea NA

The best world-changing ideas serving or headquartered in North America

Small Business- Fewer than 100 Employees

World-changing projects from companies with fewer than 100 employees

Midsize Business- 100–999 Employees

World-changing projects from companies with between 100 and 999 employees

Large Business- 1,000+ Employees

World-changing projects from companies with 1,000 or more employees

On the Rise- 0-4 Years in Business

World-changing projects from companies that have been in business in 4 years or less

Established Excellence- 5-14 Years in Business

World-changing projects from companies that have been in business between 5 and 14 years

Enduring Impact- 15+ Years in Business

World-changing projects from companies that have been in business 15 years or more

General Excellence

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

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.