The Con X Tech Prize is a global competition that provides seed funding to selected innovators to develop their first prototype.
The goal of the Con X Tech Prize is to build the ecosystem of early-stage conservation technology solutions. The prize supports bold ideas and grows interdisciplinary participation in conservation solutions with teams from around the world. Selected finalist teams receive seed grants to support their work over a twelve-week prototyping period. At the close of the prototyping period, one team is awarded the Grand Prize to take their work even further.
Funding a working prototype is just the beginning. It can help teams validate a project idea, launch a successful crowdfunding campaign, net a strategic partnership, or even raise a successful seed investment.
And one grand prize winner is Awarded
Con X Tech Prize, 2020
The third round of the Con X Tech Prize closed in May 2020, with 167 conservation technology ideas submitted from Uganda, Malaysia, Cameroon, the Philippines, Brazil, & more. Twenty of these projects, listed below, were selected as Finalists to be funded with $3,500 to create their first prototype.
Click any image below to view their project profile on the Digital Makerspace, or click here to view all finalists.
A Powerful Seeds prototype developed for the Con X Tech Prize.
Grand Prize winner
Powerful Seeds
Powerful Seeds, a low-cost seed coating device by Dronecoria, can increase the efficiency of reforestation efforts around the planet. Direct sowing with seed coatings have potential to address challenges of seed-based restoration including drought, seed predation, fungi attack, and others. They were awarded the $20,000 Grand Prize.
Two other honorees received $5,000 each. Green Fins Global Hub was selected for the Lemur’s Choice Award, and Furs for Life received the Erasing Extinction Award for their solution’s ability to best address human-induced extinction.
Con X Tech Prize, 2019
The second round of the Con X Tech Prize closed in March 2019, with 150 conservation technology ideas submitted. Twenty of these projects were selected as Finalists to be funded with $3,500 to create their first prototype.
Frontend prototype of the Blockchain Ecosystem Services system. Photo by Daniel Oberhauser.
Grand Prize winner
Blockchain Ecosystem Payments
Blockchain Ecosystem Payments combines satellite imagery with blockchain to open new doors for market-based conservation. Their application links blockchain smart contracts — rewarding communities to keep ecosystems intact — with remote sensing algorithms that detect land-use change. They were awarded the $20,000 Grand Prize.
Two other honorees received $5,000 each. LobsterLift was selected for the Lemur’s Choice Award, and Early Pest Detection Sensor received the Erasing Extinction Award.
Click any image below to view their project profile on the Digital Makerspace, or click here to view all finalists.
Con X Tech Prize, 2018
The first round of the Con X Tech Prize closed in June 2018, with 84 conservation technology ideas submitted. Out of these innovative ideas, we selected 20 to fund with $3,500 to create their first prototype. Of the 20 finalists, three were recognized and awarded additional funds at the close of the 12-week prototyping period.
Check out Real Deep Conservation VR’s finalist video to see the ACKBAR in action in the deep sea off California.
Grand Prize winner
Real Deep Conservation VR
Real Deep Conservation VR, created the ACKBAR, a marine lander designed to take 360-degree video at over 600m ocean depth, reducing the cost of deep-sea exploration exponentially and democratizing access to the deep ocean for enthusiasts and conservationists alike. They were awarded the $20,000 Grand Prize.
Two other honorees received $5,000 each. Find Green was selected for the finalist cohort Lemur’s Choice Award, and cargoscreen received the Erasing Extinction Award for their solution’s ability to best address human-induced extinction.
Meet all our finalists and connect to them on the Digital Makerspace.
Resources for Innovators
Interested in sponsoring a round of the Con X Tech Prize to find solutions to your conservation problem? Contact us.
