Contest for USA, Canada, and International individuals, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in eligible regions for innovative technologies that address social or environmental concerns. Funding areas of interest include accessibility, education, financial inclusion, healthcare, and critical human needs. The following regions are excluded from participation: Quebec, Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Myanmar (formerly Burma), and Sudan.

The 6th annual Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge aims to recognize new business ideas that leverage technology for social impact from early-stage entrepreneurs around the world. Funding will help accelerate the adoption of breakthrough technology, products, and services that drive economic development and/or solve social or environmental problems.

The goal is to advance early-stage startups with a dedicated team that are beyond the idea formation stage (i.e. have completed a proof of concept for the core functionality of the product/service, at a minimum), but which have not yet generated substantial funding and/or revenue at the time of submission. Applicants may be nonprofit or for-profit business entities, or they may not yet have formed a legal business entity.

In addition to a cash infusion to develop your solution, it will be reviewed by Cisco technology experts and high-profile judges. You’ll receive peer and industry validation for your solution, as well as have a great opportunity for global recognition and publicity. Areas of impact include, but are not limited to, critical human needs like water or food security, healthcare, financial inclusion, education, accessibility, and the environment.

For 2022, in addition to the general prizes above Cisco is offering $350,000 USD in special prizes to support important solutions and focus areas.

The Climate Impact & Regeneration Prize will be awarded to a startup using technology to assist in any of the following:

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) drawdown and sequestration, or other innovations to stop the increase — or even reverse — GHG concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere
• Regenerative agriculture – moving large numbers of farmers towards restorative and regenerative agriculture
• Ecosystem resilience and regeneration – especially where this is accomplished in collaboration with Indigenous communities and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge.

Projects which combine any of the above in innovative ways will receive highest consideration.

HBCU Startup Prize

Cisco’s Social Justice Beliefs and Actions framework commits to the strategic recovery, sustainability and legacy of America's historically Black colleges and universities, post-COVID and beyond. Cisco believes in the importance of investing in African American/Black-owned startups. The HBCU Startup Prize will be awarded to a team with at least one founder who is a student or alumni of an HBCU, with an innovative technology solution that addresses a social or environmental problem.