Open Calls

She Shapes AI Opens 2025/26 Global Awards For Women In Responsible AI

by THEFUTURE.TEAM
October 16, 2025

Overview

She Shapes AI, founded in 2024, is now accepting applications for its 2025/26 Global Awards, opening 15 October 2025. The annual awards spotlight women leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators using artificial intelligence responsibly to create real-world social impact.

Participation offers more than recognition. It provides access to a global ecosystem of partners, experts, and opportunities looking for AI projects that combine innovation with ethics and accountability.

How to Apply

  • The application window opens on 15 October 2025 and remains open until 8 December 2025, 11:59 PM CET.
  • Applications are submitted via the Awards Platform (linked through the She Shapes AI site).
  • Prospective applicants should carefully review the award categories, evaluation criteria, and submission guidelines posted on the platform.

Who Should Apply / Eligibility

  • The Awards are designed for women innovators, leaders, entrepreneurs, or professionals working in AI or AI-adjacent domains.
  • Applicants should be driving projects, solutions, or leadership in AI with a focus on responsible, impactful, ethical AI.
  • Participants from around the world are welcome.
  • Participants can nominate themselves or nominate a leader who is creating impact with responsible AI.

Award Categories

The 2025/26 Awards spotlight female leaders and innovators who advance and use AI responsibly across ten categories, crossing sectors and disciplines. Each category celebrates a unique nexus of innovation, responsibility, and impact.

The categories are:

  • AI + the Future of Work
  • AI + Education
  • AI + Finance
  • AI + Health
  • AI + Food Agriculture
  • AI + Trust & Security
  • AI + Media & Creative Industries
  • AI + Climate
  • Thought Leadership in AI
  • AI Wild Card

Benefits

  • Visibility & amplification across She Shapes AI’s channels and partner networks.
  • Network access to leaders, investors, and organisations seeking responsible AI talent and solutions.
  • Entry into a global community connecting innovation with ethics and social impact. 

How to Apply / Nominate

  • Window opens 15 Oct 2025 and closes 8 Dec 2025, 23:59 CET.
  • Submit via the awards platform linked from the She Shapes AI site.
  • Review the categories, criteria, and submission guidelines on the platform before you start the application.

About She Shapes AI

Founded by Dr Julia Stamm, She Shapes AI is a platform and movement dedicated to amplifying women’s leadership in responsible artificial intelligence. The organisation builds bridges between AI innovation, ethics, and social outcomes by offering awards, training, events, and networks that support women in AI globally. 

The Global Awards are a flagship initiative, now in its second edition, aimed at elevating voices, projects, and leaders who are shaping AI with vision, integrity, and impact.

Welthungerhilfe Launches $1 Million Global Food System Challenge

by THEFUTURE.TEAM
October 16, 2025

Welthungerhilfe, one of Germany’s largest and most respected development organisations, has launched the Global Food System Challenge, offering $1 million in total awards to accelerate transformative ideas that make food systems more nutritious, sustainable, and equitable.

Founded in 1962, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) operates in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its mission is to end hunger and malnutrition through sustainable, locally driven solutions, focusing on food security, climate resilience, and rural innovation. The organisation is now taking the lead in managing this annual challenge, previously hosted by the Seeding The Future Foundation, bringing a development-sector lens to food innovation.

Overview

The Challenge invites mission-driven organisations to submit innovations that address one or more of three global priorities:

  1. Safe and nutritious food for all
  2. Sustainable production and regenerative practices
  3. Equitable access to affordable and appealing food

Applications open 15 October 2025 and close 15 December 2025.

Awards are divided into three tiers:

  • Seed Grants ($25,000)– Up to 8 Seed Grants will be awarded to organisations that are planning and nurturing high-potential, innovative ideas and have developed a prototype and/or initial proof of concept demonstrating feasibility. Innovation must benefit at least one, ideally two, domains of the Innovation Focus Area without negatively impacting others
  • Growth Grants ($100,000)– Up to 3 Growth Grants will be awarded to organisations that have demonstrated that their innovation is doable and have projected both economic feasibility at scale and high-impact potential to transform the food system. The innovation must benefit at least two, ideally three, domains with no negative impact on the others.
  • Seeding The Future Grand Prizes ($250,000)–  up to 2 Seeding The Future Grand Prizes will be awarded to organisations that have created innovations that are scalable, economically feasible at scale, trusted, and compelling to consumers, and have demonstrated major impact potential to transform food systems. The innovation must benefit at least two, ideally three domains with no negative impact on the others.

Who Can Apply

The competition is open to non-profits, NGOs, research institutions, and early-stage for-profit or social enterprises worldwide. Individuals are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate that their innovations have moved beyond the conceptual stage and can deliver measurable benefits across nutrition, sustainability, or equitable access.

Programme Context & Benefits

Now under Welthungerhilfe’s leadership, the Global Food System Challenge aligns innovation with humanitarian and development objectives. In addition to financial awards, winners receive mentorship, visibility through WHH’s global network, and opportunities for collaboration with major food-system actors, including NGOs, investors, and international agencies.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Welthungerhilfe Challenge Portal.

  • Opening date: 15 October 2025
  • Deadline: 15 December 2025
  • Submissions must include a completed application form, budget template, and institutional documentation (such as registration proof and financial statements).

Proposals undergo eligibility checks, expert review, and finalist interviews before the awards are announced.

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