The 2024 World-Changing Ideas applications are now closed.
ELIGIBILITY
The Fast Company 2024 World Changing Ideas Awards Competition (the “Competition”) is open to all organizations and individuals involved in designing a product or service that was made public or came to market between January 1, 2023, and December 11, 2023. Entries do not, however, need to have been designed during that time period.
Entries are made in one of the 50 categories listed here.
There is no limit to the number of entries that may be submitted by any entrant, nor is there a limit to the number of categories you may enter. A completed online application and fee must accompany each entry.
Employees or agents of Mansueto Ventures, LLC (“MV”) (the “Sponsor”), and of the Sponsor’s parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising/promotional agencies, and the members of their immediate families and households are not eligible. Each entrant must have a valid email address to enter. Void where prohibited by law.
UNACCEPTABLE MATERIAL
Entries that contain pornographic material, propagate “hate” messages, make defamatory statements, or that are otherwise extraordinarily offensive are not eligible.
DISQUALIFICATION
Ineligible entries may be disqualified at any phase of the Competition without notification.
REFUNDS
Refund Policy: If you need to cancel your application, just get in touch with us by replying to your confirmation email or emailing us at WCIAwards@FastCompany.com. All sales are final. Refunds are not available, but you can receive an application credit for the 2025 World Changing Idea Awards if it is canceled before the 2024 final deadline of December 8, 2023, 11:59 p.m. PT.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ENTRIES
Entrants will receive an email acknowledgment when an entry has been received.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY/USAGE
The Competition assumes all entries are original and the entrant either owns the work or has permission from a client or other appropriate party to enter the work, with all rights granted therein. In the event that an entrant without such rights submits an entry, the entrant will not be eligible for the Competition. The Competition is not liable for any copyright infringement on the part of any entrant.
Submission of any entry acknowledges the right of Fast Company to use it for exhibition, promotion, and publication purposes in any medium.
Timely submission of an entry meeting the eligibility requirements and payment of the entry fee as stated herein ensures that an entrant’s work will be reviewed and considered for recognition. No other representation or warranty is made by the Competition concerning entries, and all implied warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed.
If an entry receives an award, the manner and details of announcing such nomination and award are strictly within the discretion of the Competition. Entrant understands that all awards may not be given or publicized in the same manner and some might be presented in a ceremony and others might not.
ENTRY FEES
The entry fee is $50 for the Students category and $245 for all other categories if submitted before the Early Rate deadline on November 10, 2023, at 11:59 PM (PT).
DETAILED ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS
Entrants must complete and submit the official entry form on this page between 6:00:01 AM (ET) on October 5, 2023, and 11:59:59 PM (PT) on January 5, 2024 (“Entry Period”). An entry is considered processed after a completed entry form is received by the Competition and payment of the entry fee is received. The Competition reserves the right to recategorize entries and to create new categories if appropriate.
The entry form requires the entrant to select a category for the entry, to provide a name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth; up to 7 .JPG images of the product or service; and a written statement not to exceed 500 words describing the product or service and explaining why it deserves the World Changing Idea Award. Entrants in the Student category must include in the statement the year in which they graduated. A video no longer than 3 minutes that explains or demonstrates the product or service is not required, but highly recommended.
Entries delivered in person, by mail, by fax, or by any other means will not be accepted. By entering the Competition, entrants acknowledge that they are aware of and agree with Fast Company’s privacy policy located at https://www.fastcompany.com/privacy-policy.
CONTACT
For questions or comments related to the Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards, please contact WCIawards@FastCompany.com. The Sponsor is not responsible for malfunctions of electronic equipment, computer hardware, or software; malfunctions of the entrant’s email provider; lost, late, or incomplete entries; or entries not received in time for the judging. Entries not containing the required information and entries submitted or received after the Entry Period will be disqualified. Any attempted form of entry other than described herein is void. The Sponsor is not responsible for problems downloading or accessing the entry form from the website or for any other technical problems related to website entries. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Competition in the event that it becomes infected by a computer virus or is otherwise technically impaired and award prizes from among all eligible entries received prior to cancellation or termination. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an online entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the email account is registered. Normal internet access and usage charges imposed by your online service will apply.
JUDGING/SELECTION OF WINNERS
Finalists in each category will be selected from all eligible entries by Fast Company editors and two individuals active in the corresponding industry. Entries will be judged on their business impact, beauty, originality, functionality, social impact, and depth of user insight.
Gauging impact or potential impact is not an exact science. Accordingly, the weight given to each criterion will vary with the goal of each product or service. The Finalists and Winners will be announced in an upcoming issue of Fast Company. The Winners and Finalists will be celebrated on the web at fastcompany.com.
GENERAL
Neither the Sponsor nor its parent, subsidiary, or affiliate companies, nor their respective promotional agencies, shall have any obligation or responsibility with regard to (i) entries that contain inaccurate information or that do not comply with these instructions; (ii) entries or notifications that are lost, late, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, damaged, or otherwise not received by the intended recipient, in whole or in part, due to computer or technical error of any kind; (iii) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, internet, or computer malfunctions, failures, or difficulties; or (iv) any damages or losses of any kind caused by any award or resulting from the acceptance of any award. The Sponsor in its sole discretion reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process or otherwise disregarding these instructions. Sponsor further reserves the right to cancel, terminate, or modify the Competition if it cannot be completed as planned because of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, or technical failures of any sort. Entry materials/data that have been tampered with or altered are void.
RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
This Competition is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and is not available to those residing in jurisdictions where such Competitions are prohibited. Issues concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. All disputes arising out of or connected with this Competition will be resolved individually, and without resort to class action, exclusively by binding arbitration under the auspices of JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service) in New York, New York. These Official Rules will bind all entrants, and their respective heirs, representatives, successors, and permitted assigns. These Official Rules supersede any prior oral or written agreements relating to rules or procedures for the Competition. These Official Rules may be changed at any time, but only by the Sponsor and only by posting new rules at https://www.fastcompany.com/apply/world-changing-ideas. These Official Rules will not be construed to impose upon the Sponsor any responsibility for any losses, debts, or other obligations incurred by any entrant.
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Have any questions or concerns? Email us at WCIAwards@FastCompany.com