Value proposition

The world's largest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges

Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is the world's largest startup competition and ecosystem for showcasing the most innovative tech founders addressing the UN SDGs. Founded by legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalists, Young Sohn and Bill Tai, our mission is to empower entrepreneurs building innovative technologies that improve the world. The goal is to identify potential market-leading companies that can impact the world in a big way and provide the rocket fuel to help them scale faster. We partner with a number of leading tech conference on our programming (i.e. CES, TechCrunch, Vivatech, Slush, Harman Tech Forum) as well as our own standalone events and dinners (i.e. Neckerverse on Richard Branson's Necker Island). Check out highlights (video) from 2022.

XTC is unique in the breadth and depth of innovations covered. Every year, XTC attract thousands of applications from startup founders across 120+ countries, covering a wide spectrum of tech verticals and funding stages. We've had approximately a dozen startups exited, and collectively, XTC startup finalists have raised $3.5B+ as of 2022.

Tech Verticals: Advanced Materials | Agtech & Foodtech | Biotech | Cleantech, Energy and Environment | Digital Health | Edtech | Enabling Tech | Fintech | Mobility | Sustainable Smart Cities | Web3 & Blockchain - and more, including sub-tech and horizontal themes such as Climate Tech, Sustainability, Deep Tech, and AI.

The XTC innovation ecosystem is comprised of Fortune 500 corporations, VCs, startup founders, policymakers, foundations, universities, and leading tech conferences working together to create a better tomorrow.

Check out what our community members (VCs, corporate executives and founders) say about their experience with XTC (video playlist).

Startup, Tech, Community, Competition, and TechInnovation