NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is prepared to offer up to $1 million in prize money for competitive proposals advancing technology and science, with a focus on lunar exploration and climate science.
The 2023 Entrepreneurs Challenge to Advance the Agency’s Science Goals for Humanity is open to those living in the U.S. age 18 years and older, competing as an organization or individual.
In addition to the prize money, competitors and their proposals will also receive attention from potential external funding sources and investors.
Judging will be provided by NASA personnel and external venture experts.
“NASA is particularly interested in reaching entrepreneurs from historically excluded communities, especially women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities,” according to a summary of the initiative provided by HERO X, the crowdsourcing platform assisting in the April 11 launch of the competition.
The competition will proceed with two rounds.
Round 1 requires participants to submit a “pitch deck”-style presentation along with a technical white paper that outlines technology concepts. The deadline for Round 1 submissions is June 28 at 5 p.m. EDT, followed by judging. Up to 20 proposals will receive awards of $20,000 and advance to a second round of competition. Round 1 winners are to be announced on Aug. 10.
Round 2 will require more detailed versions of the proposals, with a deadline of Oct. 26, followed by an in-person presentation before the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit and Expo in Washington. Up to eight proposals will be eligible for additional grand prizes worth $85,000.
Winners of the second round are to be announced on Nov. 29.
Finalists also will network with top NASA, military and industry leaders with links to venture capitalists and other investment sources.
In previous Entrepreneurs challenges in 2020 and 2021 winners received millions of dollars in investor funding, were accepted into accelerator programs and won Small Business Innovation Research contracts, the sponsors said.
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