DESIGN
BY
BETTER
The Annual Sustainability
Tackle three real-world challenges...
In partnership with Temasek Foundation, United Nations Development Programme, and GWS Living Art, with Vidacity as a Knowledge Partner and City Sprouts as an Impact Partner, this inaugural run gives you access to mentors, partner feedback, and a pathway to pilot your funded solutions at Earthopia Fest this May.
Nature-based Solutions
Sustainable, Quality Access to Nutrition
Active & Quality Aging
Sustainable, Quality Access to Nutrition
Challenge Sponsor — United Nations Development Programme
How might youth-led innovations leverage novel agrifood technologies to reduce food loss and improve food security in Singapore's smallholder value chains, while ensuring these solutions are accessible, scalable, and inclusive for low- and middle-income communities across the region?
Challenge Sponsor — Temasek Foundation
Active & Quality Aging
How might we enable healthy, socially connected aging for seniors in Singapore through accessible, nature-based activities and programs, by mobilizing youth teams to design low-cost, proximate interventions that improve physical activity, mental wellbeing, and intergenerational bonds, and that can be tested, measured, and scaled across neighborhoods?
Challenge Sponsor — GWS Living Art
Nature-based Solutions
How might we deploy nature-based solutions across streetscapes, open spaces, waterways, and community systems to lower heat stress, slow and reuse stormwater, and boost urban biodiversity, while staying affordable, modular, and easy to maintain in Singapore’s climate?
What you can expect...
If you are driven builder, designer, engineers, or an early-stage founder (students and young professionals welcome) who want to turn ideas into tested pilots with public-good impact... what's stopping you?
Expert Guidance
Through access to a panel of technical and business advisors, finalists will get support to build their ideas and innovate solutions with the help of industry experts in the respective challenge fields.
Funding for Build
The winning team from each challenge statement will receive a grant fund of $2,000 to bring their ideas to life with the support of experienced partners Adventurers Singapore.
Real-life Deployment
Winning teams' ideas gain the opportunity for real-world user-testing through deploying for public audiences to engage with at Earthopia Festival 2026 this May 29-31.
Ready to take on the challenge?
By 20th April 2026.
Submission Deadline
Form closes at 2359:00.
April
20
20-21
April
Shortlisting Period
All submissions will be reviewed carefully...
22
April
Announcement of Finalists
10 finalists will be selected across the three challenges.
2
May
Finale Pitch
A live presentation at Vidacity @ one-north to the panel of challenge sponsors and other teams.
Three challenge statements.
Three winning teams.
Each team will receive a $2000 grant to bring their ideas to life for deployment from 29-31 May at Singapore's first youth-led environmental sustainability festival...
Frequently Asked Questions...
What is the minimum number of people per team?
Each team is recommended to have a size of 3-5 to cover various skillsets.
However if you wish to build alone or just with a partner, go ahead!
What is the judging criteria?
Each challenge sponsor has a list of unique metrics to judge the effectiveness, and innovativeness of your ideas in addressing the challenge statement. More will be shared directly with finalists. Follow @earthopia.fest on IG to get the latest updates!
Is live pitching at the Finale mandatory?
Yes, all shortlisted teams are required to attend the Finale pitching infront of the Judges at the May 2nd Finale. It's also a great chance to network with the challenge statement owners and your fellow finalists!
Got a Question?
Send us a message and we'll get back to you within a couple of days :)
The Annual Sustainability