A virtual global start-up funding accelerator, QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge, is now accepting applications. The funding startup program is designed to identify, accelerate, and implement groundbreaking solutions that help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from the growing risks of climate change, infrastructure failures, and urban challenges.
Powered by Leading Cities and the QBE Foundation, this challenge connects visionary startups with the funding, mentorship, and real-world city partnerships needed to turn bold ideas into tangible impact. Beyond non-equity prize money, the startups also compete to gain direct access to municipal leaders eager to deploy innovative solutions that make communities more resilient, sustainable, and future-ready.
Prize Information
- Participants considered for the PropTech Prize will follow the full Resilience Challenge curriculum—gaining access to mentorship, networking, and city partnerships—while also benefiting from exclusive PropTech-focused sessions and tailored support from QBE experts. This includes customized guidance in areas such as operations, access to data and analytics, use cases, and insights from QBE Ventures, Underwriting, Actuarial, CAT Modeling, and Risk. All PropTech applicants are also automatically considered for the $100,000 Grand Prize and pre-paid pilot opportunity.
- The AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge is a single competition, but upon application, startups have the opportunity to be considered for four prizes: the $100,000 Grand Prize for overall resilience innovation, two $25,000 People’s Choice Awards, and the $25,000 PropTech Prize, dedicated to sustainable, loss mitigation solutions for the commercial property sector. They are searching for innovations that can identify or minimize potential hazards more quickly, lessen the effects of property damage, reduce business disruption or home evacuation caused by property damage, and offer other creative solutions for property insurance and sustainability.
- Startups can apply for both prizes in their application, ensuring they are considered for all available opportunities to scale their impact. Discover the two prizes:
- The Resilience Prize
- $100,000 USD Grand Prize to implement a city pilot
- Open to all resilience-focused startups, regardless of industry
- Focuses on broad urban resilience, sustainability, and infrastructure solutions
- PropTech Prize
- $25,000 USD Prize in non-equity funding
- Open to startups tackling resilience through property technology
- Includes exclusive PropTech-focused networking and sessions
- The Resilience Prize
Who should Apply?
- If your solution strengthens communities, infrastructure, or the environment, then apply
- If you’re looking for funding, mentorship, and connections to global city leaders, then apply
- If you want to make a real-world impact with your sustainable solution, then apply.
Eligibility Criteria
- To make AcceliCITY accessible to innovators worldwide, the program is run in two divisions based on geographic regions. Each division accepts 50 startups, ensuring that 100 high-impact entrepreneurs receive the same world-class programming, mentorship, and opportunities—at times that work best for their region.
- QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge West Division: regions best suited for this timezone: North America, South America, Europe and West Africa
- QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge East Division: regions best suited for this timezone: Asia, Australia & Oceania, Middle East and East Africa
- Regardless of division, all participants go through the same curriculum, engage with expert mentors, and gain access to city leaders and industry networks. This structure allows startups from across the globe to participate without time zone barriers while fostering regional collaboration.
Application deadline: April 30, 2025
How to apply: Click HERE to begin the process
The QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge, a virtual global start-up funding accelerator, is now open for applications.
Designed to promote innovative solutions for resilience against climate change, infrastructure issues, and urban challenges, this program offers start-ups funding, mentorship, and city partnerships.
Start-ups can compete for the $100,000 Grand Prize, two $25,000 People's Choice Awards, and a $25,000 PropTech Prize. Participants benefit from mentorship in operations, data, and insights, with focus areas in urban resilience and property technology.
The challenge is organized by Leading Cities and the QBE Foundation, aiming to make communities more resilient and future-ready.
The program is open to innovators worldwide, divided into two regional segments, the West and East Divisions, each accepting 50 start-ups. All participants receive world-class programming and opportunities to interact with city leaders, allowing global participation without time zone constraints.
Eligible candidates should have solutions that strengthen communities, infrastructure, or the environment and are seeking funding and mentorship to make an impactful real-world change. Applications are due by April 30, 2025.
